Shaking my head, I release myself from her trance. The door opens, and I lift my gun, firing two shots into Christian’s back.
I don’t think, I pounce like a thief in the night, rushing toward them. Christian releases Dove at the last second, and before I can grasp what is taking place, he shoves her toward the open door. Fear like I’ve never felt before, pulses through me with its own heartbeat as I watch her disappear into the dark space. I hear every stair she hits, my heart cracking inside my chest, and as Christian turns to face me, a sadistic smile on his lips and a gun in his hand, I lift my own and shoot him in the head at point-blank range.
Shock flickers in his eyes, and then blood and brain matter explode everywhere, painting the hall in death. Christian’s stare becomes vacant and reflects back at me. He crumbles to the ground, landing in a heap at my feet. I step over his body and rush down the stairs, my hands shaking, and my body vibrating with fear as I reach Dove.
She is lying on her side, her arms cradling her head. I kneel next to her on the floor, not sure if I should pick her up or if that would hurt her more. I gently grab her arms and pull them away from her face, so I can get a better look at her. Brushing the sweat-slicked hair from her face, her eyes flutter open and find mine in an instant.
“Are you okay?” I ask, my voice raw with emotion.
“My head hurts, but I’m okay… are you? Are you okay?” Her eyes move over the front of my shirt before she reaches for me, her hands fisting the material in her hands.
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” I murmur against her forehead as I pluck her off the floor and cradle her frail body in my arms. I’m not sure what kind of injuries she has, but I need to get her out of here. More of Christian’s men could arrive at any second, and I’m not going to fall into that trap. Racing up the steps, I meet Ivan’s dark stare at the top.
“Is she okay?” he asks gruffly, his eyes flicking over her face.
“I don’t know. He shoved her down the stairs, and she’s complaining that her head hurts. She’s not bleeding, but I need to get her to Xander’s and have the doctor check her over before I can be sure.”
Ivan nods, and I walk out of the house, carrying the woman I’d die a million times over for. No one will ever hurt her again, not while I’m still breathing.
45
Who knew that your life could fall apart and come back together so fast in one day? Zane pulls me tight to his side and kisses the side of my face. I feel his heartbeat in his lips.
Taste the fear in the air. His arms are like steel bars wrapped around me, and I’ve never been happier in my life to be confined to a space, because I know I’m the safest I’ll ever be while in his arms. A shiver rips through me, and goosebumps pebble my flesh. This could’ve been really bad, terribly bad, but because of Zane, Ivan, and the rest of Xander’s men, I’m safe. I don’t know what Zane had to do to get Xander and Ivan to help us, but right now, I don’t care enough to ask. I’m sure I’ll find out sooner rather than later.
Everything is going to be okay now.
I’ve survived Christian and escaped Matteo; the worst is behind us.
“I’m pissed at you for forcing me to leave you unprotected. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself,” Zane growls into my ear like an animal, crushing me to his chest.
“I’m okay. No one hurt me,” I reassure, shifting in his arms, so I’m facing him. I cling to him like a second skin, letting the warmth of his body seep into mine.
“You took a pretty good tumble down the stairs. That’s not nothing, and the only reason it wasn’t worse than that is because we got to you in time. Imagine if we had been five minutes later?” Zane’s fear has never been so real to me. I always knew he was worried, but I’d never seen real fear on his face for me until tonight when he rescued me.
“I know… I know, but you weren’t, and I’m okay. Everything is okay. I love you, and I’m sorry, so sorry.” Tears fill my eyes and slip down my cheeks. Zane wipes them away with his thumb, and I stare up at him through blurred vision, waiting for him to say something.
I won’t ever tell him, but I was so afraid, afraid that I would never see him again, never get to tell him how sorry I was for pushing him away, for trying to save us both.
“I accept your apology, Dove, but we aren’t done talking about this, not by a long shot. I could’ve lost you today, and I know what you did was to protect me, but it’s my job to protect you. My job,” he snarls, and I feel his anger, his fear rolling off of him and slamming into me. “Did anyone touch you? Alberto? Christian?”
“No one touched me. I wouldn’t let them.” Burying my face in his shirt, I inhale his unique scent of soap, and manliness, trying to calm myself. I’m alive. I’m safe. I repeat the same words over and over again to myself. Zane holds me so tightly it’s hard to breathe, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I stay like this cradled in his arms, my head against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat in my ear until the SUV comes to a rolling stop. Lifting my head, I discover we’ve been brought to Xander’s mansion.
All I can do is hold my breath and wait for something bad to happen. It’s a battle of mobs at this rate, and Zane and I are the only two pawns left on the chessboard.
The doors to the SUV open, and I slide across the leather seat with Zane at my back, his hand wrapped around my wrist like he’s afraid I’ll run away or something.
Coming to stand outside the vehicle, I marvel at the huge wooden door before us. It’s massive and intimidating, just like Xander Rossi. I suppose I shouldn’t expect any less from such a man. Zane tugs me to his side, giving me a look that I can’t quite read.
The door creaks loudly as it opens, and Xander’s impassive face comes into view. Instead of looking at me like I’m a bug he needs to squish, he gives me a warm smile, it’s almost cheery if you could picture a man who kills people for a living being jolly. It actually looks more like a shark smiling at you with all of its pointy teeth on display.
“Welcome home, baby sister.”
The air in my lungs stills, and I’m positive my ears have deceived me. He didn’t just say that, right? Sister? He has to be on drugs or something.
“Ssss-sister?” I barely get the single word past my lips.
“Yes. Come in, please, have a drink, sit down, and we can talk. You’ve had a tiring day, Dove, and I don’t want to exhaust you further. The doctor is already on his way to check you over, but while we wait for him, we can talk.”
My mouth refuses to work. Whatever words I’d prepared myself to say, sink deep into the back of my mind. Zane holds me tightly to his side as he gives Xander a weary look before guiding us into the mansion.
This has to be a trap. No way am I this man’s sister. I don’t have to know all that he’s done to know that he’s a man of power and evil. He might have treated me nice while I was here, but I’ve heard enough stories. He’s the head of a notorious and ruthless crime family, after all. It’s not like he’s Santa Claus.
Zane guides me into the house and through the massive foyer, and I’m in awe of the beauty of the house. Ella isn’t just a sweet person but also has excellent taste in decorations.