Page 25 of Soft Tissue Damage
My heart races as I stare into her beautiful eyes. “You’re not stupid, and this is not your fault. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”
“No, I was just scared. Mr. Grant, are you all right? Your head.”
I reach up and touch the back of my scalp where I was hit by one of the men. I’m sore, but he didn’t break the skin, and I don’t think I have a concussion. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She breathes a sigh of relief. “I would have felt terrible if you were injured because of me. Please don’t say that I’m not allowed to look after Rosie anymore because of this.”
Elena thinks I’m going to fire her? These are her thoughts as she’s just seen me kill four men? “Elena, are you sure you’re all right?”
Tears cluster on her lashes. “I went the wrong way. To the completely wrong part of town. I have no sense of direction. Look at what you had to do to save me.”
Hadto?
I don’t know abouthadto.
Wanted to.
“Elena. You do know these men are dead, don’t you? You know I killed them?”
She gazes around at the blood-covered bodies and then back at me. Her face hardens. “You should have heard what they were going to do to me. They deserved it.”
Holy shit.
My head is bent over Elena, and I cradle her face in my bloody hands. My gaze drops to her lips. My heart pounds as heat and desire pour through my body. The defiant look in her eyes and the scent of blood all around us makes me want to push her up against that wall and kiss her hard.
“I won’t tell anyone what you had to do to save me,” she promises. “Not even Leon.”
Fire races through me. Leon may have seen her first, but I’m the one who went after her when she was in danger. Leon would have left her here to be gang-raped and probably killed.
Her nipples are showing through the creamy lace bra she’s wearing, dark and dusky pink. Pretty enough to make my mouth water. I feel a stab of jealousy that my son is the one who gets to see Elena naked.
I unbutton my shirt, take it off, and help her into it. It’s bloodied, but at least it’s in one piece. “Let’s get you out of here.”
After a few steps, Elena’s knees buckle. I catch her, lift her into my arms, and carry her out to my car. Elena’s armslock around my neck, and she holds on as tight as she can. She’s gripping me like I’m her only safe place in the world. The adrenaline is wearing off, and she starts to shake.
My truck has a bench seat all the way across, and when I get into the driver’s seat, she plasters herself against my bare chest and holds on tight.
I’m smiling to myself as I peel away from the curb. I just killed four men, and Elena is clinging to me for dear life.
She lifts her head and tries to move back. “Sorry, I’ll let you drive.”
“I can drive just fine with you sitting right there.” I scoop her back against me and hold her to my side. Her hand finds the center of my chest.
When we get back to my house, I switch the engine off, and we sit in the dark. Elena is still clinging to me.
“Do you mind if we just sit here for a minute?” she asks in a strained voice, her cheek pressed against my shoulder.
“I don’t mind at all.” I push my hand into her hair and rub the nape of her neck, trying to ease some of the tension in her body. She moans softly and burrows into my chest.
“You feel really safe,” she whispers.
“Elena, I just killed four men.”
“I know. Thank you.”
I groan softly, pleasure surging through me. I killed four men, and she’s not screaming at me. She’s not running away. She’s thanking me and holding me.
“Do you think anyone will find out it was you whokilled those men? I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
