Page 47 of Unholy Cross

Her parents had sought out Birsha about hergift.He wanted her to stay at Noble Vale to study her, but her father had refused.Then they were killed in a car accident.She had always thought Birsha had something to do with their deaths, but with a sick feeling, she realized it was her uncle that had caused the crash.Right after that, Birsha had swooped in and carted her away.

And now, her uncle wanted her to cure him of a disease that was killing him.She’d rather see him in Hell, than help him.

A low growl erupted and the next instant she fell to the ground as Cross attacked.He pummeled the hell out of her would-be kidnapper.She looked back and saw Cross as he kept at it.Over and over until her uncle lay like a mauled piece of meat.

“You never should’ve touched her, asshole,” Cross muttered.“You might wish you were dead but I assure you, I’m not even finished teaching you a lesson.”

The savagery should’ve scared her, but she wanted her pound of flesh as well.She rose and walked over to him.His knuckles were bloody and raw, and she quickly healed them.Cross rose from squatting over the man to wrap his arms around her.

“Did he hurt you?Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she whispered.

Cross’s eyes widened.“You screamed.You’re talking.”

“I had to save you.”Her voice was scratchy from disuse, and the tone seemed unnatural to her ears.

He wrapped his arms around her.“I was floored when I saw you in the bar.How the hell did you get here?”

“Uber,” she rasped.It was impossible to project her voice.

“Christ,” he said, shaking his head.“I didn’t hear my phone go off.I’m sorry, Sweetheart.”

“You yelled.”

“I was shocked.It scared me to see you here, knowing you had to take a cab or something, and I didn’t respond very well.”

Lorelei searched his face and found only sincerity.She reached up to brush her fingertips over his chin, and he caught them to kiss each knuckle.

“He laid his fucking hands on you, so he has to die.”

“I know.He’s the one who sold me to Birsha.He’s my mother’s brother.”

She’d never acknowledge him as her uncle.He wasn’t family.The contrast between him and Cross’s family was startling, and it made her realize sometimes family isn’t who you’re born into.Sometimes it’s who you choose to be with.She lost her parents to this demented man, but she had a new family with Aera Cross and his brothers.

Pulling back, he cupped her face.“Then he must suffer.Are you okay with that?”

“Yes.I want to help.”

Smiling, he kissed her gently on the lips.“Anything you want, Sweetheart.It’s yours.”

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