Page 98 of August

“Ah!” Alvarez jumped, rising a couple of inches above Gigi’s head.

August fired. The bullet blasted from his weapon and slammed into the man’s shoulder.

Blood sprayed. Gigi’s screams filled the room. Panic hit August in the chest and seared through his arteries. But then Gigi’s wild gaze landed on him, and her eyes filled with relief. She was okay. She was alive.

He ran forward, needing to disarm Alvarez before he did anything else. The man stumbled to the floor holding his shoulder, knife still in hand. A slew of Spanish curses rattled from his spit-covered lips. Pain contorted the man’s face. Using the butt of his gun, August struck Alvarez’s hand and the knife went flying. August kicked it away.

“Hands in the fucking air!” Ghost’s command rattled the room. Seconds later Rami and Toth swept inside the tight space. The dog barked and whined, clearly confused but also not in attack mode.

“Over here.” August signaled to the guys.

Toth went to the kid with the swollen face and Ghost ran forward to detain Alvarez. August bent to Gigi’s level, grasping her cheeks in his palms.

Relief spasmed in his chest. “Baby.” He searched her face and body. Her cheek and jaw were swollen and bruised, her shirt ripped. “What’d they do to you?” he growled through clenched teeth.

Her bottom lip trembled, and she jerked her shoulders. “Untie me.”

Removing a switchblade from his pocket, he quickly moved behind the chair and then cut the tape binding her. Before he could right himself, she launched herself into his arms.

Without another word, he carried her from the room and the godforsaken house.

***

Oh, god.

He was here. He really was.

August had found her in time. She’d been so far removed from the idea that he’d make it. That he’d get to her before Alvarez maimed her.

He almost hadn’t.

She didn’t smother her sobs. Didn’t even try to stop the flow of tears because there was no stopping the rain after a drought.

His hands were impossibly huge and warm running up and down her back. She hadn’t lifted her head since he picked her up, kept her face snuggled into his neck and inhaled the scent of spice and lime she’d been starved of. “I can’t believe you’re here.” The words came out on a wisp of awe.

He held her tighter. “I’m sorry it took me so long. Sorry they got to you in the first place. It’s my fault, babe. I never should have—”

She burrowed further into him. “Don’t.” She sniffled. “I didn’t think you’d find me.” The rough crunch of rocks beneath August echoed in the dark night.

“I did.” His voice was uneven. “What did you do to Alvarez when he had the knife to your throat? Did you have a weapon behind your back?”

Later she might smirk about it, but not now. “I pinched his, uh... junk.”

August howled. “That’s my girl. You nearly gave me fucking heart failure when I saw the fire in your eyes.”

“Before you got there, I bit his tongue. He kissed me, so yeah, that was disgusting.”

His shoulders bunched beneath her arms, and she sensed his anger.

“It’s all over now,” he said, his voice heavy.

Gratitude filled her. She was safe. Had it all been one horrible dream? It seemed unfathomable that she’d almost died. Had almost been mutilated seconds before August burst through the door.

He slowed, and she heard the sound of a hatchback opening. He deposited her in the back of the SUV, set down his gun, and stripped off his gloves. The interior light shone on them, and she brought her attention to his face. His strong jawline, his overgrown scruff, the fiery emerald eyes that’d stolen her heart so long ago.

Somehow, over those two years, she’d forgotten. Forgotten how strong his hold on her heart was. She’d allowed herself to fall away from him. To ignore the connection bound by current and spirit and something else she couldn’t explain.

“I love you,” she said on a sob.

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