Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Ten-four.” I slide my gun from my holster in a fluid motion thanks to years of practice, flicking off the safety before signaling for Smoke and Silver to man either side of the door while Silas covers me.
“On three,” I tell them. “One… two… three.”
We spring into action, moving like a well-oiled machine as we breach and make entry. The gruesome scene in front of me will haunt my nightmares for as long as I live, but I don’t have time to truly take anything in because Clint springs up from atop of Scarlet’s prone body and charges me like a rabid animal, practically frothing at the mouth.
My training takes a backseat as pure instinct takes over. I don't think, I just act, firing a single shot hitting him right between his eyes—no second thoughts, no regrets.
My ears ring in the sudden silence, the smell of gun powder coupled with the stench of mildew and the coppery tang of blood hang heavy in the air. But I only have eyes for my girl.
“Make sure he’s down,” I command, rushing to her side. “I’m here, Princess. I’m here.” My voice cracks as I take her in—bloodied, broken, and bruised with her hands tied behind her back. “You’re safe now,” I vow, ripping my shirt over my head and laying it over her to give her a shred of dignity.
I press my fingers to her neck in search of a pulse, praying to any and every higher power I can think of that I’m not too late. “Got it,” I shout, and Silas signals to a guy I’ve never met before. “She’s alive.”
Oh my god. She’s alive. I press a hand to my chest, glancing up at the ceiling, before focusing all of my attention on her. I might not ever let her out of my sight again.
Silas calls my name, but I don’t look away from her. Not even for a second.
“Yeah?” I ask, tears burning the backs of my eyes.
“This is Patch,” he says nodding to one of the unfamiliar men. “He’s our medic. Why don’t you let him look her over so y’all can get on the road?”
I stick out my hand for him to shake. “Heard a lot about you,” he says, his deep voice a perfect match for his gruff exterior, shaking my hand with a firm grip.
“I look forward to getting to know all y’all better,” I barely choke out the words as I let my hand fall back to my lap. “But right now, I really want to get her home.”
“Loud and clear, man.” He kneels down on the other side of her. “Give me a minute to check her over and we’ll get you out of here.”
I’m transfixed, watching Patch’s every movement as he checks her over. He’s far gentler than I expect from a man his size as he runs his hands along her neck, checking for obvious breaks.
He grabs a small flashlight from his pocket, peeling her lids back one by one and shining the light into her eyes. “Pupil reactivity’s good. Won’t know more until she’s conscious.”
“Gonna move your shirt and check her chest,” Patch says.
I grit my teeth and give him the green light.
He moves my shirt with great care, making quick work of inspecting the cut between her breasts. “A lot of blood, but it’s not too deep. Shouldn’t need stitches.”
“You think we’re safe to unbind her arms?” I flick my eyes down to the small puddle of blood seeping out from beneath her.
“Put one hand here.” He shows me exactly where he wants my hand on her upper arm, triple checking my placement before having me carefully roll her forward. “Glue,” he hollers. Silver grabs a bottle from the bag at his side, passing it over in a matter of seconds.
“She’s got a nasty cut on her arm,” he warns me, guiding her back to a supine position after unbinding her arms. “Gonna clean it and glue it. We can assess for stitches once were out of here.”
“Got it.” I try to brace myself for it, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the gnarly cut spanning the length of her forearm. The fucking psycho basically filleted her. “Mother fucker. I’d kill him again if he wasn’t already dead.”
“I’d get in line behind you,” comes Silas’s growled reply.
Scarlet stirs as Patch cleans the gash on her arm, whimpering as she tries to curl in on herself.
“Steady, Princess,” I murmur, softly stroking my fingers along her jaw.
“El-Ellis.” Her voice is nothing more than a rasp, scratchy and barely audible, but, goddamn, if it isn’t the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. “You’re h-here?”
“I’m here. You’re safe.” I say those four words over and over again while Patch finishes getting her ready for transport.
I expected her to be shaking, sniffling, and sobbing, but she’s almost... detached