“Someone who wasn’t there before?”
I nod and gulp in more air, but my heart won’t slow down. Any minute, I’m sure the door is going to bang open, and Benito will grab me. Only this time, there will be no way out. He’ll have the Royal Bastards behind him, and he'll never let me out. Or they’ll punish me for sure, and then . . .
The street swims in front of my eyes in a kaleidoscope of colors. My knees fold, and I crumble to the sidewalk. My shoulder hits the concrete first, then the thud of my head.
“Shit!” Maxie grabs for me. “Martina?”
“What happened?” Marisol’s voice filters over me.
Maxie lifts my head, then cradles me againsther body. “Go in and get one of the guys. Something’s wrong. She just passed out.”
“No, no, don’t get them.” My head lolls against Maxie’s shoulder.
“It’s all right, hon.” She holds me tighter. “You need to lie down. You’ll never make it to your apartment.”
“No, no, you don’t understand. He’ll take me back if he sees me . . . He’ll, no, no . . . ”
“Hon, just try to relax.”
“Fuck, what the hell happened?”—a familiar male voice I can’t place.
A flurry of other voices and being lifted into strong arms. Doors slamming, more voices, then something soft under my head and body.
I open my eyes, but I can’t get my bearings.
“Don’t let him take me . . . Don’t let him take me back,” I plead.
The mattress dips alongside me, and a cool cloth is placed on my forehead.
“Babe, what happened?” Diesel’s voice.
I thrash my head from side to side. “Don’t tell him I’m here. Don’t let him take me.”
“She said that outside too.” Maxie’s face floats over me.
“We were just sitting at the bar, and all of a sudden, she freaked out, saying she had to go.”
“She probably drank too much.”
“No, it was like something spooked her,” Maxie said. “She ran out the front door, and I thought she was gonna be sick. Then she started hyperventilating and collapsed.”
I force my eyes open because I have to tell them I’m in danger. I have to tell them about Benito. What if he came into the apartment with Diesel? What if he’s already here, and Diesel lets him take me?
Diesel sits on the edge of the bed and strokes my hand. “Tell me what happened, babe.”
I grab his wrist with all my strength. “Please don’t let him take me.”
“Who, baby? Don’t let who take you?”
“Benito. Don’t let Benito take me.”
CHAPTER 15
DIESEL
I swivel my head to Blood and Smoke standing in the doorway of my bedroom. Martina closes her eyes, and I flag over Maxie to sit with her, then I follow Blood and Smoke into the living room.
“What the fuck?” Blood runs his hand through his hair. “She knows Benito?”
