Page 104 of Wild Blades

“You broke my fucking nose. My mouth.” Zane rolls about on the floor, cupping his hand over his nose, groaning, and crying like a baby.

“She should have fucking killed you.” Wade pulls me into his arms, not caring I’m soaking his virgin white shirt in Zane’s blood, as he holds me close to his chest. “You’re safe now. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” His heart racing in his chest, I use the beat as an anchor to reassure me that I am safe.

Tears run down my face with relief. “I’m okay. You’re here now.” Snuggling into him, I feel like a mess.

“I’ll kill him.”

I grab onto his suit jacket to stop him. “Don’t leave me.”

“What the hell is going on?” Marcus appears, bellowing, witnessing a snapshot of what he thinks happened. “Did you do this, Wade?” He storms the hall, pointing at Zane.

“I wish I had, but I’m not responsible.” He peels me away from his chest, revealing the damage his son did. I must look a sight, made worse because I’m covered in Zane’s blood. “Your son attacked Kali. She fought back.”

Marcus’ eyes grow hot with hate that I know is for his son. “You need immediate medical attention, Kali.”

“I’m okay,” I lie, feeling more than a little sorry for myself. I don’t want to go to the hospital. “I just want to go home.” And forget about this evening.

“He tried to strangle you.” Wade gently brushes the skin over the areas Zane dug his fingertips into.

Looking down at his son, balled up in the fetal position, Marcus’s voice sounds sharper than a scalpel when he announces, “I’ve had it with you. You’re off the team for the rest of the season.”

“You’re lying.” Zane’s voice is muffled behind his hands.

“It’s done. I’m done with you,” he roars back.

I gasp. “Marcus, please, you don’t have to do that.” I clutch onto Wade’s bicep to keep me upright. I need to sit down; I feel like I might pass out.

“Don’t listen to her. He deserves it. And she’ll be pressing charges.” Wade looks down at me, checking me over, concern wrinkling the edges of his eyes.

“I’m not pressing charges,” I argue.

“You cannot let him get away with this, Kali. What if that were someone who couldn’t defend themselves?”

I’m praying I am the only woman Zane has ever done this to. I shake my head, not wanting to discuss it further, and Wade seems to understand.

“We’ll talk about this tomorrow. I’m taking you home.” In an unexpected move, Wade scoops me into his arms in a bride over the threshold style. The relief from no longer standing washes over me and I drop my head into the nook of his neck.

Panic rolls my stomach. “We need to leave through the back door,” I say softly. The thought of anyone seeing me like this is unimaginable. There are reporters here tonight. They’d have a field day if they saw me or knew what Zane had done.

Marcus pulls out his phone from his pocket, and within minutes security is ushering us through the kitchen and out theservice entrance of the hotel. Marcus owning the hotel we’re in tonight has its perks.

An awaiting limo greets us outside where Wade carefully places me onto the back seat and slides in beside me. Closing my eyes, I curl into him, body shaking.

“I’ll call you first thing tomorrow morning.” I pry my eyes open to discover Marcus peering through the open door. Worry lining his brow, he addresses Wade, “Please text me when she’s home.” Then asks me, “Can you call someone to come stay with you tonight?”

“I’ll stay with her.” Wade whips his dress jacket off to cover me up, swaddling me. He holds me close to his side as if I’m going to disappear into a puff of smoke.

“I bought a house across the street from Kali. I don’t have the keys for it yet, but I know the area and the street. She’s safe with me.” He fusses with his jacket, tucking me in.

A worrisome thought swoops through my brain as quick as a swift bird; has Marcus already worked out we are dating? Wade may not agree with me, but we need to speak to him soon.

Marcus ping-pongs his gaze between us. I wish he’d say what he’s thinking. A small smile makes the little lines crinkle around the edges of his eyes. This close to him, I’m only just noticing he wears contact lenses, although he’d look much better in black rimmed spectacles. They would match his black suits he wears daily and accentuate his silver hair and skin tone.

“He’s off the team. I am deadly serious about that,” Marcus announces, laying his hand on Wade’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “Look after her. She’s my secret weapon.”

“Trust me, I know, she just KO’d Zane.” Wade sounds amused about that.

“I need to watch the security footage back of you whooping the little shit’s ass. Something I should have done myself a longtime ago. You have no idea what he’s put me through. I’ve protected him for too long. You’re nothing like him, Wade.”

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