“What's so funny?” He glanced back, whispering harshly like he was reprimanding me, but turned back to scan the room again. “Do you like danger or something?”
“Or something,” my flippant retort came out, having Ion stop in his tracks to turn to face me.
His heated gaze this time wasn't angry or fueled by the need to heal his past wounds. Instead, those fire-filled eyes roamed my face like I was something special to be in awe of. My heart skipped a beat, and I almost yelled at it for being so obnoxious. I was starting to think these men were making me just as crazy as they were. Even so, my body moved like it had a mind of its own, stepping closer to him like a magnet pulling for its other half.
Strong, lean fingers slid softly into my hair, holding me like I was precious. Something he was afraid of tarnishing. His ever-changing-hued eyes searched mine before he bent down, and I leaned into him, tilting my head up to accept him. His lips brushed against mine, soft as a feather, and a delicious shiver ran down my spine. I did like a sense of danger.
Finally tired of it, I threw out the book of right or wrong that I had held onto, and I ran my hand up his chest, knowing this might be my last chance to at least kiss two of the three brothers. “Kiss me, Ion.” He stiffened, his eyes squinting in confusion. Going on my tiptoes, I tilted my head up. “I want to know what you feel like. How differentyouare.”Before I die here or die by your father's hands, I didn't say that part out loud because it was a lot less sexy.
He snarled out his rebuttal. The hand holding the gun went to my back, and the cool hardness of the gun added to the ache at my core. Tugging me closer, our bodies flush, with no space for anything else to get between us. He eyed me for a second. Flashes of doubt and hatred passed by until they flooded with hunger desire, and he dove in.
His lips tasted like a cool summer breeze and a shot of tequila. Strong, yet it went down smoothly, and I hated that I wanted more. He wanted to fall into this taste that was only his.
Time seemed to stand still as we drank deeply from each other, pressing our bodies together like they never wanted to be separated again. This kiss burned like wildfire, but his skillful hands soothed my skin with soft, smooth circles along my neck. It was hot and sensual all in one, and I had to admit that he had some skills.
A crash sounded, and we jumped apart. Both looked like we got caught doing something we shouldn’t. He recovered quicker than I did, his hand with the gun pointing in the direction of the sound while the other hand shoved me behind him. Peeking over his shoulder, we moved step by step closer until we were next to the door’s entrance, and he moved with lightning speed, pointing the gun into the room.
After a few seconds of silence, he grabbed my arm and tugged me to his other side before lowering the gun to move behind me.
A flash of black was all the warning I had before Ion flew to the ground, wrestling with someone who had a gun as well. “Go!” He yelled. “I’ll take care of this and find you. Just go!” I broke into a run, not needing to be told twice.
When I took a moment to breathe, I realized I was next to the kitchen and thought I would check in with Nicu to see if he wanted to help Ion.
Grunting greeted me as I peeked through the doorway. Nicu was already on top of someone, raining down punches until they stopped fighting back. He got up; his whole front looked like a slasher movie, with dots and sprays of blood on the front of him and his face, but he never lost that cool composure. He just picked up the gun on the counter and shot out three shots at the body on the floor.Welp, that guy was for sure dead.
He smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt, still unaware of me. A dangerous thought crept into my mind. What if I took advantage of this chaos and escaped?
Peeking around the corner, staring down the long dark hallway that led to a door, I thought about what it would be like to run for it.
I would run as fast as I could, but with the rival gang outside, I ran the risk of them capturing me, and if they did that, who knows what they would do with me. They could use me against the brothers, kill me on the spot, or worse, take me and do unspeakable things to me since I was with their rival.
Trying to figure out if there was a better move, a flash of light sparkling from the other entrance to the kitchen caught my eye. Squinting my eyes, I made out the barrel of a gun, and it was pointed at Nicu's back.
The thought of escape vanished in an instant. My body decided before my mind caught up. That feeling I got deep in my gut, which pushed me to survive in any way I could, told me I needed to save this man. That everything would be okay if I saved him. I was normally not the type to rely on feelings and premonitions, but this time, my soul and body agreed before my head could have any say.
Taking a quick step forward and then another. What the hell was I doing? This wasn't part of the plan? Soon, I broke into a run, going as fast as I could. Why were my legs moving? Why was I doing this? It only took a few terror-filled seconds before I turned, getting between the barrel and Nicu right before the gunshot rang out. In that split second, I heard my mom's voice cry out. I heard many voices cry all around me, and I knew I wasn't alone. I wouldn't die alone, and there was comfort in that.
Pain radiated from my shoulder, and I heard someone yell out my name, but my vision began to blur. I heard a few more pops from a gun, but no additional pain came from my body.I hope Nicu’s okay. It was the only thing I thought as I felt myself falling backward, hoping that crashing to the floor wouldn't cause any more pain.
Someone called my name, but it sounded muffled and far away. I really hoped that I didn't die in vain for this guy. That would suck if I tried to save him and he got shot too.
Then—darkness.
18
NICU
Why? Why the hell would you do this?What was her angle? No one risked their life for nothing… especially not for someone like me. Clasping my hands together so hard they turned white, I leaned forward, staring at the wild-haired princess in her bed. Her cheeks were flushed, lips plump and red, eyes closed as if under a spell. She looked more like a princess from the fairytales, and yet kissing her wasn't going to wake her up from her drug-induced sleep.
Watching the rise and fall of her chest like it was a heart monitor, I forced myself to close my eyes, to stop watching so incessantly. Even now, I could still feel the weight of her soft, frail body in my arms as she collapsed. I caught her just in time for Ion to shoot her assailant. I still remember the horror on his face as I pulled my arm away, soaked in her blood. Kazia Lee. The woman who was our prisoner and yet risked her life to save mine.
This woman took a bullet for me.
Telling Ion to give me cover, I ripped the shoulder of her dress and looked at her wound. It went all the way through and seemed not to have hit any major nerves or bones. For once, the field experience I went through in the States came in handy.
In the middle of wrapping her up, Cezar busted into the room, calling for her, only to stop in his tracks at seeing her limp in my arms, blood all over. He took a step towards me like he was the grim reaper ready to claim my soul. I didn't have time for his antics, so I shook my head and threw my chin at the body on the floor. He took a deep breath, turned, and lunged for the body, stabbing over and over as he screamed.
Ion kept looking at me, silently asking if he should intervene. But the moment his eyes landed on the woman in my arms, his whole face darkened, and he turned to watch Cezar work.
