Page 85 of King of Rage

An hour later, Stella rushed into Shane’s hospital room at Bristen Hospital. Shane lay on the bed with a bandage wrapped around his arm, a tablet resting in his hands.

Nial, who had driven them to the hospital, took up a position beside the door. His gaze moved along the hallway as he noticed several men dressed in black pacing outside the room, their weapons concealed beneath their clothing. He let out a low whistle, wondering what the hell was going on and why so many men were protecting Shane.

“What the hell?” Stella cried, her voice sharp with worry as she hurried toward the bed. “Triston told me you weren’t hurt!”

She glared at him.

“That lying asshole!”

Shane lifted his head from the tablet and smiled when he saw her. He removed his glasses and placed them on the bedside table.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a scratch, not a gunshot wound.”

“Whatever.” Stella frowned as she moved closer and reached for his arm to examine the injury more carefully.

“Stop touching him.”

Lucius’s sharp command came from behind her, making Stella jerk back in surprise before her fingers could reach Shane’s arm.

Both Stella and Shane turned toward him.

Lucius stood near the entrance, leaning against the wall with one foot braced behind him and his arms folded across his chest. His expression was haughty and displeased, his attention fixed on Stella with irritation.

She shot him a glare sharp enough to make him turn his head away, but the dark, jealous look on his face remained.

“Who did it?” Stella asked in a quieter voice as she turned back to Shane, her expression once again filled with concern.

“The same psychopath who’s been trying to kill me for years,” Shane replied, as though he were discussing nothing more than an everyday inconvenience. “It’s an old rivalry. But I’m going to end it soon.”

He glanced at Stella, his expression softening with remorse. “I’m sorry your apartment was wrecked.”

“You’re sorry?” Lucius’s furious voice cut through the room.

He pushed away from the wall and strode toward the bed, his eyes burning with anger.

“You’ve got armed men following you because someone’s trying to kill you,” Lucius snapped, his eyes fixed on Shane. “And you didn’t just drag yourself into this fucking mess. You dragged Stella into it with you.”

“Lucius, stop it. None of this is Shane’s fault.” Stella hurried around the bed, her voice rising as she moved toward him.

Lucius turned on her, his jaw clenched. “The fuckers broke into your apartment and attacked him!” he barked. “The fact that he’s still alive is a goddamn miracle. And he isn’t even your real husband, Stella. You don’t have to keep acting like you’re bound to him by some fucking ‘until death do us part’ bullshit.”

“Oh my God.” Stella stared at him, her face tightening with disbelief. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”

“Come with me.” Lucius reached for her hand before she could take another step, his fingers closing around her wrist. He pulled her toward the door, his expression hard with determination. “You’re staying with me from now on. I’m not letting you get yourself killed over someone else’s problems, and you’re not going anywhere near this man again.”

Stella dug her heels into the floor and tried to pull free. “Lucius, let go of me!”

Shane’s expression darkened as he watched Lucius drag her away. He pushed himself higher against the pillows, wincing slightly at the movement, then fixed Lucius with a cold, furious stare.

“Let her go,” he ordered. “She’s made it clear she doesn’t want to leave with you.”

Lucius stopped. His shoulders stiffened as he turned back toward Shane, his grip on Stella tightening for a moment before he finally released her. He took a step toward the bed, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Stay the fuck out of this,” he warned, lifting a finger toward Shane. “From now on, Stella has nothing to do with you. Do you understand me?”

Shane let out a humorless laugh. “You’re hardly in a position to give me that order.”

His hands curled into fists against the bedsheet as he sat straighter, his anger no longer restrained.