Page 135 of Heartless
Once.Twice.
And again.And again.
The wet, sickening sounds of skin-covered bones crushing jetted bile to my throat.
The man who’d been bashed into the ground had stopped moving.But Jake was still punching.
Stop.Someone stop him.
Nigel’s other man just stood there, seemingly unperturbed by the savagery of the beating.My foggy mind registered movements.Then, Silas appeared.
He hooked his hand around Jake’s descending arm.“He’s had enough.”
Jake hit the man again.With a robust hold, Silas hauled Jake off and away from the man.
Stepping in front of Jake, whose body was launching toward the unconscious man, Silas gripped his shoulder.“Fuck Jake.Look at her.”
When Jake turned to me, my stomach twisted at the undiluted fury in his gaze.But I was unable to move.I wanted to go home.I wanted my mom.I needed her arms around me and smell her vanilla perfume.
****
Jake
Sienna’s face was deathly pale.Her enlarged eyes were brimming with tears.A shadow had formed where the fucker had marked her.My bloody fist clenched.
Sergio grunted.“You left me no eye.”Pulling out a knife from the back of his waistband, he jerked his chin.“Get the girl out of here.”
When I reached for her, she whimpered.I made my voice gentle.“Let’s go, baby.”
“My car...my car’s on the road.My purse is in there.I have to—”
“Sile will take care of it.”I wrapped my arm around her shaking body and led her toward my truck.
****
In the penthouse, Siennaambled slowly toward the couch.She’d been shell-shocked on the way here, keeping her face down, and her little fists in her lap.After locking the front door, I followed her in.
When I touched her shoulder, she jumped and whirled around.
“My car,” she whispered.“I left my car on...The groceries.The fish is—”
I went to curl my hand around the unmarked side of her face, and she scuttled back.Fuck.She was in pain.I retrieved my cell from the back pocket of my jeans.“I’ll call a doctor.”
She shook her head and winced.“No...no.I don’t want a doctor.I don’t want to see another stranger.I don’t—”
“Okay, baby.Okay.”
After pocketing my cell, I reached for her, and she shifted back.“Sienna—”
“Can I take a shower?I need to—"
The elevator doors opening on Sile cut her off, and she stared at him.He lifted her purse and the branded canvass shopping bag.“Here are your things, sweetie.”
She pointed at the shopping bag then clenched her shaking fingers.“I wanted to cook for Jake...Now...it’s all spoiled...everything...everything is...ruined.”
I edged closer, and she jerked back.
Sile set the bags on the coffee table before nearing her.“Sienna, come here, sweetie.”
