“Hurry.”
I ended the call.
Bastian stirred. “Put your shirt back on.”
“Can you just lie still and be quiet.” I pushed harder to try and stem the bleeding.
He winced. “Don’t want people seeing you in your bra.”
I shook my head. “Bastian, that’s the least of our problems right now.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Just hold on.”
He raised a hand and touched my lips. “Don’t worry, little bird, I’d never leave you.”
My battered heart really wanted to believe that.
CHAPTER 32
BASTIAN
Gritting my teeth, I tried to block out the pain. The bolt hurt like a motherfucker.
Lark was right. Dean was a coward. He attacked people he knew couldn’t fight back, and with me, he didn’t want to get too close so he’d resorted to this.
I felt the blood pooling under me.
“Hold on, Bastian.” Lark leaned over me, putting pressure on the wound.
My gaze locked on her pale face. Her mouth was pinched, her eyes turbulent. I really hated that she wasn’t wearing a shirt. I didn’t want anyone to see those pretty breasts cupped by lace except for me.
“Hey.” I cupped her cheek.
“Landon and the others are coming.” Her voice hitched. “Don’t die.”
“Baby, I’ve been hurt far worse than this.”
That didn’t seem to reassure her.
“Little bird, I’ll be fine. I’m tough and I have no plans to die. You know that.”
She swallowed, then pressed her free hand over mine. “Everyone I’ve ever…cared about has died. Maybe I’m cursed.”
My chest tightened. I tugged her down for a quick kiss. “I’mnotdying. I’m not going anywhere. Tonight, I’m going to make love to you in my bed. Slowly. I’m going to take my time. And tomorrow, we can hunt Dean down and kill him.”
She didn’t need to know that I’d never used the term “make love” before in my life.
Emotion moved over her face. “Bastian…”
I hated that she was so worried. I pulled her hand to my neck. To my pulse.
Her fingers clenched on my skin, rubbing over when my pulse ticked. I saw some of the tension in her ease.
There was the bang of a door. I turned my head and saw Landon, Cole, and Nash stalking into the ballroom.
Nash took us in with a brief glance. “Fuck.” His face hardened. “Did she do this?”
I watched Lark’s face shut down. “No. It was the asshole Red Ribbon Killer.”
“You found him,” Nash said.
