Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Chapter 24
Riley
Alexan barely reacts as the young doctor stitches him up. There’s blood all over the tile on the bathroom floor, but nobody seems all that concerned.
“Baby,” Alexan says, frowning at me. “Your pacing’s making me nervous.”
I stop walking back and forth. “Oh, sorry my walking is getting to you. I guess the fact that this guy pulled a bullet from your shoulder—” I wave a hand at the doctor. “That doesn’t faze you at all.”
“You’d be surprised at how often this happens,” the doctor says, yanking on the thread and tying it off with neat, quick motions.
“He’s right. This isn’t the first time I’ve been shot.”
“It was a good one though.” The doctor puts in another stitch. “Really had to dig in there for the bullet.”
I sit down heavily on the side of the bed, staring at the ghoulish tableau. “I’m feeling a little sick,” I murmur.
“Please don’t puke on the comforter,” Alexan warns.
I curl up in a ball on my side and pull a sheet over me as the doctor finishes up. The two men make jokes about all the terrible wounds Alexan has gotten over the years. When they’re done, the doctor shakes his hand. “Thanks for keeping me in business,” he says. “Make sure you tell all your friends to keep getting shot.” He wags a finger. “But not in the head! I can’t fix those.”
The doctor leaves, and I’m alone with my husband. He sits heavily down beside me and puts a hand on my leg.
“You’re okay,” he says softly, rubbing me in circles.
“Are you sure?” My voice is muffled from the pillow. “I don’t feel okay.”
“Baby, look at me.”
I hesitate, not sure I can bring myself to come out of my little cave.
“I messed up,” I whisper, guilt hammering down my chest. “I got caught. I told you I could do it, and I nearly got you killed instead.”
“That’s not what happened at all.”
“How can you say that? You got shot trying to protect me. You had to kill two men.”
“It’s not your fault. None of that was your fault.”
I slip the sheet back and look out. He’s frowning at me, concern in his expression. His hand is still on my leg, gently stroking me.
“How is it not my fault?”
“Because I’m the one that fucked up.”
I frown and shake my head. “That’s not true.”
“No, baby, I’m the one that should be apologizing.” He shifts deeper into the bed and sits with his back against the headboard. He pulls me against him, hugging me tightly. “Listen, when I was breaking into that laptop, I took my eye off the cameras. I didn’t notice when that guard went to check the second floor. If I had warned you in time, you would’ve been prepared.”
“I left too soon. I should’ve been more careful.”
“Baby, tracking the guards was my job. What happened back there was my fault.”
I don’t really believe him. I mean, he’s right; he should’ve been watching them more closely, but I don’t blame him at all for what happened.
If I were better at sneaking and stealing, it wouldn’t have mattered.
But I’m not as good as I think I am, and seeing that fact play out really bothers me.
I should’ve been able to handle it, but I couldn’t.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“For what? For the truth?”
“No, for coming back for me.”
He holds me tighter. “Baby, I’ll never abandon you. Not while you’re my wife. Not while I’m breathing.”
I stiffen, surprised at the deep emotion in his voice. Alexan’s usually so cold and reserved, but every once in a while, I get a glimpse of real passion. Right now, I can practically feel it burning me.
“Can I admit something?” I ask quietly.
“Anything you want.”
“I was really impressed by your driving.” I glance up at his face, smothering a smile.
He sighs, shaking his head. “That’s some dark humor.”
“Yeah, I know. You like it, right?”
“I love it.” He bends down and kisses me lightly. “I promise, Riley, I’m never going to put you in a position like that again.”
“Never say never.” I push myself up and sit straighter. “I mean, it was kind of fun.”
“That’s not the word I’d use for it.”
“You weren’t in there. When I was sneaking through the office and picking those locks—” I take a deep breath as the adrenaline hits me again. “God, I was alive.”
“Glad you enjoyed yourself.”
“Right up until I got caught.”
“That whole operation was a nightmare from my point of view.”
“Come on. Don’t you like that stuff?” I nudge him with my elbow gently, careful not to get near his wound. “There’s a reason you do this, right?”
He hesitates, staring across the room. His face tugs down into a frown, and he glances at me like he’s considering something.
“This is all I know,” he says finally, stroking a piece of hair from my face. “I joined the Brotherhood at a young age. Before this, I was drifting. I had no purpose, no real friends, no real future. The Brotherhood changed that.”