I framed and palmed her face, looking for the origin of the blood splatter on her skin, but quickly deduced it wasn’t hers. That truth was both one of relief and concern.
“Are you hurt?” I asked her, my forehead pressed to hers.
She nodded slowly and drew in a long, trembling breath. “I’m broken.”
Seventeen
SILAS
Helena had been asleep for a little over an hour. I’d helped her shower and wash away whatever tragedy had befallen her today. While I hadn’t known her very long, I’d never seen her so distraught. The fierce woman I’d come to know had melted away, leaving a shattered girl in her place.
Leaning against the door frame, I watched the soft rise and fall of her chest.
I’m broken.
Those shuddering words were the last she’d spoken. Anger flared red hot at the thought of someone hurting her. I wouldn’t deny that truth, but I also refused to examine them any further for the time being. I didn’t press for an explanation. Once she was ready to speak, I’d be prepared to listen.
“You’re sure you don’t want to tie her down to the bed? What if she wakes up ready to take your head again?”
Santino had a plastic bag with ice cubes pressed onto the side of his face where he’d met the blunt end of her shotgun.
“I’m not going to do that,” I said, waving him off as my eyes fell on the smooth, bronzed skin of her back, rendering my statement only partially true. Visions of Helena tied up and spread for me on a bed had my dick hard.
“Watch your back, brother. Don’t trust this broad. She’s a loose fucking cannon.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He huffed a breath and shook his head, placing the bag of melted ice in my hand. “Will you? This woman had a 12-gauge aimed at your chest an hour ago.”
“Something big happened to her.”
Santino threw his arms up. “That makes it all right?” He released a resigned breath when I said nothing and clapped the side of my face. “Look, I can’t tell you what to do here. All I’m saying is, be careful and keep checking in.”
I offered a nod and followed him across the suite, resting my forehead against the metal door after closing it behind him.
The rational part of me knew what he said made sense. Helena was a wild card, impulsive, and difficult to get a read on. Hot and cold. The list went on. We could share drinks and witty comebacks, then fuck until sunrise, yet she would still greet me the following day with hot steel to the temple.
“Over there planning my death?”
Her voice was slightly hoarse. I turned around, surprised to find her fully awake, dressed in one of my T-shirts. While her eyes still bore traces of tears, her expression was void of any emotion.
“How’s his face?” she asked, crossing her arms and moving to sit on the arm of the sofa.
“You don’t care about his face,” I accused with a slow smile, now standing before her.
“You know me well.”
“I’m getting there.” Before she could utter a response, I slid an arm under the crook of her knees and one behind her back, lifting her against my chest. Much like earlier, she didn’t attempt to fight me this time, either. I filed that away as another win.
“Is this some caveman kink or something?”
Holding back a laugh, I sunk into the soft cushions, bringing her with me. “Knowing where your arms and legs are while we talk is important.”
“While we talk.” She looked away and shook her head.
“You almost killed me today—again. And I’d like an explanation.”
She reached for my chin and stroked with the backs of her fingers. “An explanation of why I almost blew a hole through your chest?”
