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294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
“I got this,” he declared, hurling a knife so close it nearly grazed me, likely finding its mark in Blondie.
Within seconds, the alley was empty except for us, Blondie and Buzz Cut stumbling away with a trail of curses. My hands shook with the intensity of the encounter. My nerves shot. The dark-haired man let out a chuckle, his deep voice annoyingly calm in the aftermath.
He’s laughing?
“Excuse me? I think you owe me an explanation. And a thank you wouldn’t hurt,” I scoffed, my frustration palpable.
“Good. We’re going to your place.”
“Wait, what?” The words tumbled out before I could think.
“Don’t you want to finish saving me? I thought that’s why you were flying around kicking ass.”
His words hung in the air, laced with a half-mocking challenge. For a moment, I hesitated, torn. Was I really considering taking a bloodied stranger to my home?
Leora.
Suddenly, she was all I could see. My heart started running a million beats a minute. Her name was as beautiful as her, striking in a way that captured you, enamored you, ruined you. The glow of her tawny skin set against her dark braids gave her the aura of a warrior goddess—both my doom and my salvation wrapped into one.
What the fuck is going on with me?
“I’m Zarek,” I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could clamp down on the impulse. Stupid, revealing my real name, but the confession was already hanging between us. “I thought you should know, given you sort of saved my life back there.”
“Sort of?” she quirked an eyebrow, pausing.
Now, here I was, lurking in the shadows of her apartment building after ensuring she returned safely from her trip to Milton. I had made certain no threats lingered this time. The memory of seeing Calzone Romano, that thug from that chaotic night, lurking near her place still sent a shiver of anger through me.
When he had dared to climb her apartment stairs, instinct overrode everything else. But dealing with him—well, it was simpler to leave her with a trashed apartment than to leave her with a body to explain.
He sighed dramatically, putting down his food. “Okay, jeez. Two years ago, her ex-boyfriend stabbed her twice. She was in the hospital for three weeks.”
The room seemed to tilt a little as his words sank in. Logan just nibbled at his chicken wing like he hadn’t just obliterated my world.
I frowned. “Why are you only telling me this now?”
“Because you were too busy dying in guilt. Thought you might want to know why she’s tougher than you think.” Logan’s tone softened.
I processed this, feeling a twinge of guilt.
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I grumbled, not quite meeting his eyes.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Logan continued, “Thank her for not kicking your ass for being stupid. Go talk to her, Zarek. This is the woman you were stalking, man. That’s gotta tell you something.”
“No, no! Stop!” I screamed as he began to pound on the door. “There are explosives everywhere in here. Casteel’s set us up to blow. I need to find another way out or…fuck.”
I heard him curse from the other side.
“Is there a timer?” he asked urgently.
“Yes, about four minutes left now.”
“Leora, I need to get you out. Let me break the door,” he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
“No, Zarek! If you break the door, the house will explode. Please, just back away,” I begged, tears streaming down my face.
“Leo, are you saying you can’t use this door at all?” Logan’s voice joined in.
“Exactly,” I replied. “There’s a device linked to the lock. If the lock breaks, the house goes up. You all need to get out now!”
Why are you so fucking beautiful?” She pouted, “Look at those damn dark brown eyes. Ugh. And these lips, even I don’t have such luscious lips. And those lashes. You’re putting all women who do eyelash extensions to shame. It’s like you—”
I stopped her rant, putting my lips on hers.
She thought I was beautiful?
I briefly thought about taking her to the bathroom to show her how beautiful she looked in the mirror
Her words found their place deeper in my soul than I thought. Fear was care. Fear was love. And I loved this little family I had. I loved Leora. Fear was having to lose them. Having them lose me. Leora hadn’t pacified me. She hadn’t rejected my fear. In fact, she asked me to feel it. She made me allow myself to feel it. And in that moment, I knew I had to tell her. Tell her that she was also feared for. Cared for. And loved.
“There was a time, Leora. When I thought I couldn’t have anybody fearing for me. And it wasn’t too long ago either. That time ended the day a woman dressed in a denim jacket came to my rescue and beat up the bad guys. It was when she willfully showed me she wanted me, unapologetically. It took me a while to realize that I could want her too. Hell, I really wanted to not want her, crave her, love her,” I cupped her cheeks, “But it’s too late now, Mi Corazón.”
Zarek had his back towards me when Zane’s eyes turned and locked with mine. He smiled and signaled Zarek to turn.
It was almost as though all the air left his body. He didn’t move, didn’t breathe for a good few seconds and finally took a deep breath. His eyes wandered over my dress that
hugged all my curves in the best way, and a sultry smile took over his lips. He strode towards me, his steps determined. I closed the distance too, meeting him halfway.
His arms snaked my waist and his lips brushed my ears.
A throat clearing caught our attention. We both turned and saw Logan wiggling his brows. I was pretty sure both Zarek and I rolled our eyes.
“Leo, you look stunning,” Logan walked up to me and almost snatched me away from Zarek and kissed my cheek. I heard Zarek growl.
Zarek snatched me back and tucked me against his chest.
“Mine,” He scowled.
“Territorial ass,” Logan whined.
I stepped out of both their vicinity, “Let me go meet the others…cavemen.”
I could no longer control the sudden urge to sob. Tears flowed down my cheeks and Logan leaned back to wipe them away. Suddenly the door opened and Zarek strode in.
He jerked to a stop, his eyes widening, “You made her cry?”
“I…no…I was just,” Logan fumbled and Zarek grabbed my elbow and consumed me in a tight embrace.
“What did you do?” Zarek snarled.
“Nothing. I just said that I can’t lose her.”
I sniffed and added, “He also said that I’m like a sister to him. That blew the damn flood gates.”
I heard Zarek chuckle and hold on to me a little tighter.