Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“So, a lovely fellow. He wouldn’t be likely to help us.”
“I doubt he’d offer his services. I’m just telling you what a couple of old-timers swore to me. They’d caught glimpses of him and hid.”
“How can he be defeated, just in case he shows up while you’re asleep? Should I try flashing him?” She did her best to sound innocent and must have managed, because she was rewarded with that same faint smile.
“I was told to defeat him you needed divine intervention or powerful magic. I imagine you flashing him would be considered either.”
She laughed. Even though laughter hurt, she was extremely happy she could. Right in the middle of one of the worst messes she was trapped in, he made her laugh. It was genuine too. She could pretend when needed, but there was no need around Diego. It didn’t make sense, other than that they were thrown together in dire circumstances and he made her feel alive when she shouldn’t be.
He was silent for a moment. “Couldn’t save your spleen, Leila. There was no use in trying, it was shredded. If you hadn’t controlled the blood and your heart, you’d be dead. You did a good job. Wanted to make it right for you, but there was no getting that back.”
“You saved my life. I don’t know how, but you did. Thank you for that.” And he’d risked his own life for her. No one had ever done that for her.
“You’ll have to be careful of infections. You can live without a spleen, but you’re susceptible to everything that comes along. I did what I could to stimulate your ability to fight off diseases, but honestly, I was exhausted at that point and knew I’d crash hard. I’ll go in another time and do what I can for you.”
He sounded so tired. Too tired. That alarmed her. Inadvertently, she dug her fingers into his wrist as if she could hold him to her.
“Don’t,” she implored softly. “Diego, don’t leave me.”
“Not leaving you, beautiful,” he murmured softly. “Just too tired to stay awake. Hydrate. That’s important. Stay hydrated for me.”
“What about you? Drink water.”
“Can’t move yet.” Again, his lips curved into that faint smile. “No worries about the legends coming to life and trying to do you in. I protected our den.”
She didn’t know how he would protect it, but she was becoming a believer in him. “Do you want me to try to get you water?”
“No. Do you have any idea how many hours or days have gone by?”
“I don’t.”
He fell silent. In the darkness, his labored breathing was all she could focus on. She had to work to keep her heart under control. She wasn’t afraid of a predator finding them because of the scent of blood. She didn’t fear smoke wolf, silver man or bigfoot. She was terrified to lose him. Not because she would be alone. She’d spent a good deal of her life alone. It was Diego. He was a compelling, charismatic man, and she found herself actually enjoying his company, as brief a time as she’d had with him.
“I’ll examine you again the next time I come to.”
His voice reached her out of the darkness, a soothing blend of velvet and heat.
“I can tell I’m getting better. The pain is a thousand times less,” she assured him.
“Don’t want you to have any pain, woman.”
This time she didn’t get one of his killer, barely there smiles. She wished she had the energy to trace his lips. Map out his entire face. His bone structure was sharp, cutting edge.
“If I were reading a romance novel, which I will never admit I had access to, the author would describe your features as ‘chiseled.’ ”
That got her the smile. “Is that a good thing?”
“Yep. You really are a thing of physical beauty, Diego,” she said sincerely, wondering why she couldn’t stop her mouth from announcing every thought in her head to him.
Again, she got that brief flash. “Woman, you’re high as a kite still. We can’t have been out that long.”
“No, it’s the truth. I wouldn’t just say something not true. It isn’t drugs.” Although it was entirely possible she was blurting out the truth because there were still drugs in her system. “Which reminds me. Why are you carrying drugs with you? Isn’t that illegal?”
“My brother Rubin—who, by the way, is a brilliant doctor—and I come up a couple times a year to check on some of the locals. There are several who mistrust outsiders, especially doctors. We like to make certain they get care and any vaccinations they may need. If they need an operation and we’re capable, Rubin does the honors. In this case, I brought supplies with me. He’ll be coming up to do the rounds.”
“You’re kind of brilliant yourself,” she felt compelled to point out.