Page 201 of Rosetti Family New York
"You're a fucking idiot, Sloane."
"There were only three guys. I thought—"
Arms still wrapped around me, like I'm the one who might vanish.
"Three?" I cut her off before she can say more. "There must be more than ten out there. Must have brought in the reinforcements."
"Because they're scared of me," she says, but I know she doesn't believe that.
I can't help the way my mouth curls up at the corner.
"Because they're scared of the Callahans, idiot."
Sharp. But maybe not sharp enough to make her stop doing this.
She's still shaking, and I hold her tighter. Hold her like I'll make her stop breathing myself if she ever runs off again. She squeezes with all her strength, a laugh catching in her throat as she leans back to look me in the eye.
"What next?" she asks, voice quivering ever so slightly.
I brush her lip, wipe the blood away. Make sure she knows.
"You're coming home."
The adrenaline burns through my system as we roar away on my bike, Sloane's arms wrapped tightly around my waist, her face pressed against my back. The Queens streets blur into the highway as we make our escape, and I can feel her heartbeat hammering against me, keeping time with mine.
I push the bike harder, faster, putting distance between us and Reyes' place. The winter wind bites at my face, but I barelynotice. All I can think about is her, alive, breathing, holding onto me like I'm her anchor.
I pull off at a viewpoint overlooking the bridge, cutting the engine. The city spreads out beneath us, lights glittering against the dark sky. For a moment, neither of us moves. Her arms stay locked around me, her breath warm against my neck.
Finally, she slides off, legs shaky. I follow, watching her carefully as she walks to the railing and stares out at the skyline. I hang back, giving her space, even though every instinct tells me to keep her close.
"You okay?" I ask, my voice gruff.
She doesn't turn around. "Been better."
I pull off my gloves, stowing them in my pocket. My knuckles are raw, bloodied, evidence of what I've done tonight. What I'd do again in a heartbeat.
"You could have gotten yourself killed," I say, the words harsher than I intend.
She turns then, facing me. There's a bruise forming on her cheek, a cut on her lip. Something fierce and primal surges through me at the sight. I want to go back, finish what I started with Reyes and his men.
"I know." Her voice is small, shaken.
It hits me then, the realization of how close I came to losing her before I even had her. How it would have destroyed me to find her too late. I've seen death before, caused it with my own hands, but the thought of finding her body in that room makes me physically sick.
"Don't do that again," I say, stepping closer. "Ever."
She nods, but there's a shadow in her eyes that tells me she's not making any promises.
"Why did you come for me?" she asks.
The question catches me off guard. As if there was ever any other option. As if I could have stayed away.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" I growl.
"A real one," she says, her gaze unwavering. "You told me not to go. I went anyway. You could have left me to face the consequences."
She's right. That's exactly what I would have done with anyone else. Let them learn the hard way, if they lived through it. I've never been the type to clean up other people's messes, to risk myself for someone else's mistakes.
