Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
The cheetahs had abandoned their hunt and trotted after him, obviously unsure what to do with their unusual prey. Cheetahs were too shy of humans. I wished he were in the tiger habitat. I paused, stunned by my vengeful thoughts, but I realized I didn’t feel any pity for the man who had tried to kill me brutally so he could have a lifetime supply of drugs. And not just me, but also his uncle.
I chanced a look over my shoulder at Sasha’s still unmoving form. Hopping off the platform, I moved to his side and got down on my haunches, then pressed my fingers to his throat. I immediately found his pulse. After years of checking on Nestore in the same manner, I was an expert. Blood trickled from a laceration at his hairline above his forehead, and a fat lump was forming. That he was alive didn’t mean he’d stay alive. A head injury was no joke.
I reached for the walkie-talkie attached to the back of his belt. I had never used one before, but I had watched the staff doing it on occasion. I pressed a big button on the side that I’d seen others use before they spoke into the walkie-talkie. “This is Amelia Romano. I’m in the cheetah house. Sasha and I were attacked by his nephew. He needs reinforcements.”
The line crackled, then a distorted voice sounded. “Reinforcements are on the way. Get to safety.”
I glanced over my shoulder into the enclosure, where Lev was still being dragged around in a wide circle. He was crying. He wasn’t even trying to remove his wristband or get off the hook in another fashion. How could he give up this quickly?
His bad. His death wouldn’t be pleasant.
Sasha groaned.
“Hey,” I said quietly. “Don’t move. You have a head injury.”
Sasha’s eyes slid open, then widened. He grimaced, his eyes going cross for an instant before they focused on me once more. He tried to get his arm under himself to push up, but failed. “Don’t move!” I ordered. “You’ll make it worse.”
“I need to protect you.”
I let out a laugh. “It’s a little too late for that. I handled your nephew.” I pointed toward the enclosure, and Sasha followed my gaze. He sagged back. “That’s why he made you his wife.”
I pursed my lips but didn’t have time to dwell on the comment as the door to the enclosure slammed open and four armed guards stormed in. Rodolfo rushed to my side and pulled me to my feet.
“I’m safe,” I said, a little annoyed. “He’s inside the enclosure.”
Rodolfo still held my wrist as he scanned the enclosure. Lev was at the very end, but slowly the machine dragged him back toward the window.
“Let her go,” said a deep, familiar voice that warmed my belly. My eyes darted to the door, where Nestore towered in black clothes, a fur coat, and a bone crown.
Rodolfo released me when Nestore stalked into the room and cradled my face in his scarred palms. His expression was haunted. “I left you, and you almost died.”
“I’m alive.”
He shook his head with a growl. “I would have never forgiven myself.”
“I handled it.”
“But you shouldn’t have had to. I promised myself you’d be safe from violence.” He brushed his thumb across my lips, then showed me the blood.
“It’s not mine,” I said. “I bit his cheek to startle him.”
It was only then that I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Nestore bent down and kissed my forehead, then each of my cheeks, and lastly my lips. “Never again will I allow someone to get this close to hurting you. Never.” His voice rang with viciousness as he stepped back and turned toward his men. “Why did he get close to killing my wife?”
Rodolfo lowered his head. “She wanted to feed the wildcats with Sasha and his new helper. You know, his nephew.”
Nestore’s eyes slanted to Sasha, who stilled, resignation filling his gaze as if he knew this was his death sentence. “You vouched for him.”
“I thought he was clean… I’m sorry, sir.”
Nestore’s expression remained cold and pitiless. He moved toward the glass when Lev was dragged past it. “The cheetahs don’t know what to do with him. Maybe they need a little encouragement.”
“Aren’t you going to question him?” Rodolfo asked.
Nestore took a knife from his holder and threw it at the man. The blade impaled itself in his shoulder. Rodolfo cried out and gripped the handle, his skin becoming pale.
“Never doubt me again,” Nestore snarled, then held out his hand. “I need my knife back.”
Rodolfo curled his fingers around the handle, his face scrunching up with agony, and perspiration shining on his forehead. He pulled the blade out, then sagged to his knees. With a trembling hand, he held up the blood-covered knife. Nestore took it from him, then held out his free hand for me. I put mine into his, and he led me out toward a door in the fencing around the enclosure. He unlocked it with a key dangling from a small key chain in his pocket. “Do you want to join me?”