Darren cleared the distance between us, his body moving so swiftly it made me flinch as he crouched in front of me.I shut my eyes, my courage to face him fleeting by the second, the very real possibility that he would still find a way to blame me, making me wince.Or worse, he’d realize the actual truth.
But when his large hands reached out to cup my face, his movements were surprisingly gentle.
“Look at me,” he ordered, his voice soft but deceptive.
I sucked in a breath and slowly lifted my lids, falling straight into the deep blue abyss that swallowed me whole.I found myself frozen in place, uncertain of the moves the man crouching in front of me would make.
Words could not be formed in my mouth, the only method of communicating my anguish being the single tear I allowed to flow down my tender, swelling cheek.It caught Darren’s attention, his hands shifting my face to the side so he could get a better look at the damage his brother had caused again in such a short span of time.His thumb grazed the sliding tear, the slight touch encouraging me not to fight the wince it caused.Another detail he caught.
But then his gaze shifted to my bare knees, huddled closely to my chest so that the worst of my pain was blocked from his view.He sucked in a slow breath as his hands wrapped around my knees suggestively.
“Let me see,” he whispered, his voice like velvet, so calm and warm.
“No,” I begged with a gasp, gripping one of his wrists to stop him.
“Shhh,” he shushed me gently, coaxing me to let him part my knees so he could see what was hidden so far down between them.Cool air graced what I knew would be red and inflamed tissues, the movement drawing a sharp sting that made me grit my teeth.
Darren’s jaw clenched as his eyes soaked up the evidence of Daniel’s betrayal, his entire body tensing with the barely controlled rage I could feel radiating from him in waves.
“I…I tried to run, not fight…like you said,” I murmured softly.
I would not be taking the blame for failing at my own defense when Darren had literally ordered me to run instead of fighting on more than one occasion.
I could practically hear his jaw grinding away as he briefly closed his eyes in response and then released a slow, easy breath.
“Are you hurt anywhere else?”he asked evenly, his hard gaze returning to mine.
I shook my head.
“Any contractions or cramps?”
I shook my head again.
“Not so special anymore, now is she, Darren?”came Daniel’s voice from across the room.“You’re welcome.”
Oh, you fucking idiot.
Darren’s eyes closed as he ducked his chin, taking in a deep breath like it was his last moment for solitude.With my hand still on Darren’s wrist, I squeezed hard as my hateful eyes swung back into Daniel’s direction.
He’d been hauled up from the floor, held secure between two guards while his busted nose bled down the side of his mouth.Sloane stood directly in front of him, but her regretful and furious eyes stayed focused on me.
Darren then abruptly stood, his gaze lingering on me as he spoke.“Sloane, take Jaden out of here.And have Sid look her over immediately.Everyone else, get out,” he ordered.
Everyone sprang into action, guards exiting the room as Sloane reached down and helped me to my feet.She didn’t even ask me if I could walk, just swung me up into her arms and carried me out of the room.My eyes caught Daniel’s one final time before the door was shut behind us, and I knew it would be the last time I ever saw him alive.
It was almost impossible not to smile.
13
COURTESY
* * *
Istood outside the bar I had allowed Katherine’s father to maintain full ownership at my discretion.As long as he continued funneling me thirty percent of the profits from the underground fighting rings he ran in the basement, then he could do as he pleased.
The establishment itself was nothing special, just a little hole-in-the-wall bar on the shady side of the city, catering to the retired alcoholics and occasional bikers who passed through.With how broken down it looked, you’d never suspect the additional hidden basement concealing an upscale amusement park of violence and debauchery beneath it.
After parking on the street in front of the building, the SUVs of my security team idled in front of and behind my car, the driver of each always remaining at the wheel.The other three passengers from both vehicles exited, following me inside the decrepit bar.Two remained near the door, locking it behind us as we moved into the windowless parlor.