"I had no idea," I whispered.
"Most people don't. But I've seen that guy change over the years, and even though he's a grumbly asshole around you, there's an energy inside of him that's been missing. I want it to stay, so... just be patient with him. He's a pretty damn loyal guy, and if he lets you into his world, he’ll never do you wrong."
I was starting to see that about Dylan already, and even though our relationship was probably going to end in a broken heart, I couldn't seem to walk away.
Ben started to say something else, but the door to my room burst open before he could. When two men stormed into the room, my blood literally went cold.
Dylan hadn't found Blake because he was right here. In my hospital room. Jonnie at his side.
25
Ben reacted in a split second, rolling off his chair into a fighting position. From what I could see, neither Blake nor Jonnie had visible weapons—no doubt they didn't want a gunshot to warn everyone in the hospital that they were here—so this was going to be an old-fashioned fight.
Ben dove right in, and he could fight. Nothing like Dylan, but more than enough to hold his own against two morons. I reached for the call button, hoping someone would get here in time to bring security in before anyone got hurt.
"She’s my sister," Blake snarled when he took a punch to the side of the head, and he looked more than a little pissed about it. "She belongs to me, and I'm here to collect her."
Ben snarled. "You're the reason she's in this fucking hospital bed, and I would hazard a guess it's not the first time."
Blake smiled. The motherfuckeractually smiled.
My eyes darted to the door, but there was no sign of a nurse or doctor yet. Had Blake done something to ensure they wouldn't interfere?
Ben was still fighting, and when he smashed Jonnie's head into the side of my bed, I could have cheered. Ben’s gaze met mine, and he shot me a cheeky grin as he lifted his eyebrows a few times like he was impressed with his own skills.
Just as I smiled back, Blake appeared over his shoulder. I screamed out a warning, but it was too late. The blade swung in a perfect arc to lodge right into the side of Ben's neck.
Ben's eyes widened minutely. For a split second, our eyes locked as another scream escaped from me. Blake tore the blade out. A stream of blood splattered across the white sheets and floor, and a second later, Ben dropped to the floor.
Screams tore from me, right up until Blake backhanded me, hard. "Shut the fuck up, you stupid cunt. This is all your fucking fault, and I should have drowned you when you were a kid like I’d planned."
My breaths gasped in and out, my chest heaving as the shock sent me spiraling into a dark place in my mind. Ben had just been stabbed—probably in the carotid artery, if that blood spurt was any indication—and was right now bleeding to death on the floor.
Another death because of me.No!Not me. Because of Blake.
He needed to be put down like the damn rabid animal he was.
I hit the call button again, and he laughed. "No one is coming for you, Brookie. I needed time in here to find my fucking property."
The bracelet. He was here for that, and then he’d probably make good his desire to murder me. Blake flipped over the chair as he grabbed my toiletry bag off the side table.
"It was a brilliant plan,” he said conversationally as he searched. “Hide the chip on my innocent, stupid-as-fuck sister, and then send you to a camp in the middle of nowhere while I made all my negotiations.” His tone hardened. “Only you couldn't fucking stay put, could you? I've spent days tracking you down, all the while dodging Delta and Terrence’s goons."
I snorted. "Terrence is it? I thought they captured and tortured you. Was kind of hoping you were dead."
My ability to hold my tongue around Blake was gone. One strength I would take from Ruth and the sacrifice she’d made to save my life was that no longer would I ever be a victim to a man again. Even if I died, I’d rather do that on my own two feet than cowering under their control.
Blake stepped closer, and I held his gaze, my own angry and defiant. He seemed somewhat taken aback by this attitude, and even though I knew he'd make me pay for it, I didn't regret taking a stand. "Nothing can fucking kill me, Brookie," he whispered insidiously. And now that he was so close and standing still, I could see the bruises littering his skin. Clearly he'd been through some shit, but also, clearly, he was not dead. "And once I get my hands on that bracelet, I will be exactly where I've always wanted—top of the world, rich as fuck, and answerable to no one."
I had no idea where the bracelet was—hadn’t seen it since I’d woken up in this hospital bed. Hopefully, the time it took for him to search would be enough for Dylan to arrive.
Jonnie chose that moment to groan before cursing as he dragged himself up. Blake pounded a boot into his side, snarling. "Get the fuck up and help me search."
I rolled out of bed on the opposite side of them and took off for the door. Fuck waiting around for him to realize the bracelet wasn't in the room, and this way I didn’t have to wait for Dylan.
I didn't make it far, though. Pain radiated through my skull when Jonnie grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me backward. "I don't know where the fuck you think you're going, Brookie," my brother's slimy friend sneered, throwing me back onto the hospital bed. "You're mine now."
"AfterI get that bracelet," Blake snarled, slamming the door of the little closet so hard it broke from the hinges. "Whereisit, Brookie? Where did you hide it?"
