Page 7 of Brutal Mercy

I scoop her up into my arms. She stares at me with her lush, perfectly plump lips parted. Up close, I note her graceful high cheekbones and pert nose. But it’s her hazel eyes with flecks of green and gold, gazing at me with such trust, that take me aback.

How can she trust me? She doesn’t even know me to offer me such trust. And if she did, rest assured, she would be running for the hills.

“Gio, close the gate.” I toss the comment over my shoulder, unable to take my eyes off my unexpected guest.

Her inky lashes flutter as she struggles to stay awake. Whatever happened, it’s taken all her strength to reach the compound. That takes an incredible amount of grit. And fuck me, but I like the way she feels in my arms. She fits as if she has been made for me.

“I’ve got you.” I don’t know why I say it.

But my words of reassurance are enough for her. And she lets go, passing out in my arms. “Gio, contact Dr. Moreno. Tell him I need him here on the double and to bring his x-ray machine.”

“Yes, sir.” Gio nods his dark head, already lifting his cell phone to make the call.

“Add extra men to the patrol detail at the gate. I want at least four extra men today and tonight.” I don’t have to say it’s in case of an attack. Gio’s been my bodyguard long enough to understand the world we live in. And he understands this could be a fishing expedition by our enemies.

Even though it doesn’t feel like one. I know malice and evil. And she doesn’t feel that way to me.

But I wouldn’t be the first man taken in by a pretty face.

I carry her inside. There are twenty bedrooms in this house, and most of them are open. After some internal debate, I head directly for my bedroom. Probably the dumbest decision I’ve made in years. But I can’t seem to move past the trust she extended my way.

When I reach the second floor, Athena sees us and arches her golden brow. “Who is she? What happened to her?”

“Not sure? But someone beat her.” The bruises on her face were made by hands. And one of those hands had a ring on it. I know the damage a ring can do. “Be a dear. Grab some clothes for her and bring them to my room. I’m sure you can rustle up something soft for her to wear.”

“Sure. I’ll bring some stuff in.” Athena is the spitting image of our mother with her golden tresses, slender, waif-like form, and dark indigo eyes. She was a surprise baby for our parents and is twelve years younger, but she’s a Massimo and was raised just like Ares and me. Sometimes I think she’s more vicious than Ares and I combined.

“Good. Once Dr. Moreno examines her injuries, I’m sure some fresh, clean clothes will do wonders.”

“Sure. I was going to head back to Denver—”

“Not tonight. Not until I know whether she was sent here to infiltrate the compound. Whatever plans you had in the city, you need to reschedule them.”

Athena blows out an exasperated breath. “They aren’t my plans. It’s the children’s charity gala tonight that I’m supposed to attend for Massimo Enterprises.”

Fuck. Now I remember. But it can’t be helped. These are extenuating circumstances. “I don’t care what the event is. The compound is going on lockdown until further notice. And get the door for me, would you?”

Athena rolls her eyes and marches ahead of me to my bedroom door. She shoves it open and steps back out of the way. With a nod, I sail through the door and carry the woman to my bed.

I can’t begin to explain why I brought her here. Fascination, perhaps. Because I’ve never had anyone look at me the way she did.

I carefully lay her down on the mattress, but as I start pulling my arms away, I’m not eager to release her. It is the strangest sensation. Because she’s done what no one has ever done, to my recollection. She’s captivated me. The feeling of holding her in my arms thrills the dark corners of my soul. Which is preposterous. If I want a woman for a night, there are a bevy of women I can contact who understand the score. Who know we’ll only be together for the time it takes us to fuck and no more.

I finally retract my arms from her form, which reminds me of a fifties pinup model. There’s some flesh on her bones, and I like it. I remove my hands, but not before brushing the hair from her face. The silken strands stick to my fingers, like they don’t want me to stop touching them either. And I’m once more struck by her beautiful face. She has a smooth peaches and cream complexion with gently arched black brows. And fuck, but her plump lips have my dick hardening. Because I can imagine with perfect clarity what they’d look like sucking my cock.

“Here.” Athena marches inside with a bundle of clothes and sets them on the bench at the foot of the bed.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll run down to the kitchen and grab some bottled water. She could be dehydrated, depending on how long she was out there.”

“Appreciate it.”

I pull up a chair beside the massive platform bed with the tufted headboard that’s as black as my soul. The dark burgundy bedding reminds me of blood and power. It only takes a second to lose both if you strike hard enough with precision.

I fold myself into the chair to watch over her. It’ll be thirty minutes at least before the doctor arrives.

But while we wait, I contemplate what I’m going to do with her. She obviously doesn’t know the type of man I am. But I find myself intrigued with her on multiple levels. Who is she? Who was she running from?

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