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)
He wished he’d learned from his brother. Rubin was an incredible psychic surgeon, risking his life without hesitation to save others. Diego guarded him carefully and ensured that those around him wanted to do the same. Rubin detested that he was surrounded by a unit of men willing to take a bullet for him. He would have been furious had he known Diego had added to the men’s need to protect him. He used his voice to influence subtly whenever possible. He felt he could have used Rubin’s help right at that moment. He was going down and was fairly desperate for someone to watch over Leila for him.
* * *
Rubin drove the four-wheel-drive pickup up the mountain as fast as the vehicle would allow him to travel. Using four-wheel drive slowed everything down going up the rugged terrain. He did push it to the maximum speed on any of the straighter stretches, but those were few and far between.
First, he’d gone over everything Diego had said before he left, and Rubin had gotten a bad feeling. He found Diego’s parked truck in the space below Luther’s home, where they often left a vehicle. He’d gone to check with Luther, knowing the old man would have a finger on Diego’s mental state. Instead of Luther, he found dead bodies strewn all over the vast acreage.
Going up the mountain, he stuck to the road until he saw vultures circling near the gorge. He found more dead bodies. Alarmed, he continued. There was another problem area with more bodies. It looked as if his mountain was a war zone.
Pulling the truck up to the cabin, he was instantly aware it was occupied. He’d seen the tracks of his brother running up the road. He was carrying someone. Ordinarily, his tracks were light or nonexistent. He hadn’t even tried to hide them. Instead, he ran fast, uncaring that someone might be able to track him. That was out-of-character behavior and meant someone was in need of medical assistance.
He opened the cabin door and found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. The woman aiming the weapon at him was pale, weak and slumped in the bed beside Diego. She also wore an expression that told him she would pull the trigger if he presented a threat to them. Diego was transfusing her, but he looked out of it.
As a rule, if someone were to enter their cabin, it would be Diego guarding everyone. The fact that he’d barely stirred was more alarming than ever. Ignoring the gun aimed at him, he crossed the room to his brother’s side.
“What’s happening here, Diego?” Rubin asked, removing the needle from his brother’s arm. “There are dead bodies strewn all over the mountain. I called for cleanup, but it’s going to take a miracle.”
Diego barely opened his eyes to acknowledge he knew who was beside him. Alarm spread. There were no visible injuries on Diego, but something was really wrong.
Rubin helped Diego lie back against the pillows. “I need to look you over. Are you wounded?”
“Help Leila first.” Diego didn’t open his eyes. He knew he was in a precarious position. He’d never once indicated to Rubin that he was capable of psychic surgery. When Rubin examined Leila, he would know. “She was shot. Lost her spleen. Had to try to repair several organs, veins and an artery. She was running around today, fighting off soldiers. Ripped things open. Did the best I could for her, but she needs an expert.”
Diego didn’t want anyone else helping Leila. He wanted her to view him as the one man who would sacrifice anything for her, but the truth was, Rubin was unbelievable as a surgeon. Whether hands-on or psychic, Diego didn’t know anyone better. He had instincts that never seemed to fail. Sure hands. That well of healing in him was unbelievably strong. Diego wanted what was best for Leila, and sadly, it wasn’t him.
“I take it Leila is the name of the woman aiming a gun at me.” There was a low note of amusement in Rubin’s voice despite the situation.
“Rubin is my brother, Leila. He’s an amazing doctor. His skills as a surgeon are legendary. He’s going to examine you and fix anything I may have missed.”
Fingers stroked featherlight caresses over his hand. Tentatively. Barely there. He managed to turn his head, although it took tremendous effort. Leila lay beside him, eyes closed, breathing a little labored, but her fingers were moving over the back of his hand. He turned his hand to capture hers, threading them together, needing her touch as much as he needed Rubin to fix everything that could possibly be wrong.
You didn’t miss anything. I don’t want anyone else. You saved me the first time, and I know you did just as well this time.