Page 75 of The Lieutenant

Gasping, I lifted my weight. Her eyes were closed, her head lolled to the side.

“No!”

CHAPTER 22

Havros

“You were fucking lucky the two of you weren’t killed,” Dimitrios barked. He was pacing the floor as he usually did when he was overwrought, rubbing his forehead as he’d been doing for the last five minutes.

My mind was still processing what had occurred barely an hour before, but I was currently thinking at some point he would eventually rub his skin off. The thought was ridiculous, but allowed me to breathe.

Something I’d barely done since gathering Kara into my arms. She’d felt so tiny, so lifeless. I’d cradled her as the worry had slowly turned to rage. She’d almost been killed because of my world. My fucking life.

The decisions I’d made.

I sat back in the chair, rolling the glass of whiskey across my eyes. I’d added ice in hopes the cool surface would help the brutal headache.

It wasn’t working.

Very little would stop the rush of adrenaline or the anger except tearing the heads off the two men who’d attempted the assassination.

“We survived.” My words were bland. Yes, other than bumps and bruises from me shoving her to the hard surface, she was fine. Yes, a part of me was furious with her for not following my orders. When she’d opened her eyes just outside the club, the crowd staring at us in near panic, I’d fallen into their haunted depths.

She’d pawed at my chest, whispering she was thankful I was alive. Me. She’d almost lost her life and she’d been worried about me more than her own safety. I wanted to squeeze her in my arms and punish her at the same time. How could she be so selfish? No, that wasn’t the correct word. Selfless. As if the woman had no self-preservation skills.

I pulled out my phone, downloading the photograph Kara had taken of the unknown man inside the club. The moment I’d seen it, my instincts had screamed he was an enemy, yet I hadn’t done a goddamn thing about it. I rose from the chair, showing both brothers the picture. “Does this guy look familiar? Have you seen him inside the club at any point?”

“Not that I can remember, but I don’t make a point of studying everyone who walks through our doors,” Christos offered.

“No, he doesn’t look familiar. Why are you asking?” Dimitrios asked. “We can check the cameras, but there are enough dark areas he might not appear.”

I returned to the seat, sitting down slowly. “A photograph Kara took at the club tonight. Something about him seems off. Like he was casing the place.”

“Entirely possible. Did he look like the shooter?”

Glancing at Christos, I shook my head. “No, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have been the driver.”

“We can run that through the international database I have access to.” Dimitrios had more tricks up his sleeve than almost anyone I knew. He seemed to sense I was questioning with whom. “A couple of people in Interpol owe me a favor.”

“And we should make them pay up. I’ll send a copy to you.”

Jonas knocked before he and Tobias walked into my apartment. Guards were posted just outside my place, the club and both Christos’ and Dimitrios’ houses as well since we had no way of knowing if I’d been the target or the shooter had been hoping to catch any one of us.

Willow was with them, Dimitrios requesting she be brought to us. His concern was as deep as mine. She rushed to him, throwing her arms around his waist.

“Thank God you’re all okay,” she said in her sweet, caring voice.

Dimitrios kissed the top of her head. “I wasn’t the target.”

She tipped her head. “Jonas told me. How’s Kara? I know you’re worried about her.”

It would seem everyone in the family and the upper-level soldiers knew what I was sharing with Kara was more involved than just a business relationship. If only I hadn’t lost my mind, allowing my dick to make the last few decisions.

“She’s resting, but only because I insisted that she do so. She’s pigheaded, but she’ll be fine. I’m glad you’re here.” Maybe Willow could talk some sense into Kara about her reckless behavior. Or maybe not. Willow was as tenacious as Kara. She’d almost lost her entire family, yet she’d fought like a warrior to learn the truth. She’d also provided valuable assistance to Dimitrios, which had enabled him to find Leandro’s killer.

Just like how Kara would help me now.

She’d tried to remain in the meeting, but I’d forbidden it, shocked as hell that she’d turned around and stormed off. We were both teetering on the edge.

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