Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Gregor,” I scream, my voice sounding above the ringing in my ears.
David, Cane, and Clay run for the car that smashed into Gregor’s. Sid, Ally, and I run for my husband. Smoke comes from the car, and I freak out.
“Sid, Ally, get back,” I demand.
I drop to my knees and look inside the car. Gregor’s head is bleeding, and he looks dazed. I have to get him out.
“Baby, can you hear me?” I sob.
“Cee,” he whispers.
“I’m going to get you out of here. Can you move?”
“Get back, baby… not safe,” he replies.
“I’m not leaving you here.”
Ignoring the broken glass, I crawl closer to get my body inside. With a shaky hand, I reach for the seat belt. It doesn’t open on the first try but I don’t give up.
“Get back, Chloe,” he groans.
“No, you said we need to be a team. It starts here. We’re in this shit together, Gregor. I love you. You’re not leaving me again,” I cry.
The belt finally releases as I pull and push at it frantically. I survey his body and see his right arm looks limp at his side. I’m going to need help to get him out.
“Get back, Chloe,” Clay commands. “I’ll get him out.”
Reluctantly, I back out of the window. Clay has a better chance of pulling his brother out than I do. Still, I don’t go far. A spark comes from the front of the car.
“Hurry, Clay,” I cry out.
All at once, the front of the car ignites, and Cane lifts me to drag me away. Clay pulls Gregor from the car. Royce appears and helps Clay rush to get Gregor to safety away from the flaming vehicle. The car explodes just as we take cover in the lobby of the building.
When Cane releases me, I rush to Gregor and throw my arms around him. I can’t stop sobbing. He kisses the top of my head and wraps one arm around me.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” he murmurs. “Let’s get you to the hospital.”
“Me?” I pull away to look up at him in confusion.
“Baby, your legs and palms are bleeding.”
I look down and sure enough, my leggings are covered in blood. The sting from the tiny cuts starts to register in my brain. I look at him and his bleeding head, then his arm that I’m pretty sure is broken or at least dislocated.
“I’m fine. We need to get you to the hospital. What were you thinking?”
“Protecting my family at any cost,” he says with a weak smile.
I nod. “Yeah, okay. I got it,” I say and close my eyes against the tears.
* * *
Gregor
I groan as I turn my head and open my eyes. Cee is tucked into my side, holding me closely. I smile even as I wince against the pain.
My body aches, but I’d do it again if I had to. When I saw that car headed for Ally I didn’t stop to think. I ran the light and placed my car between her and the danger headed her way.
I promised Cee I’d take care of her and Ally, and I will. We tried to handle things quietly. I think now it’s time to make a little noise. I told Clay at the hospital that it was time to set things in motion. I have my answers and I understand everything going on.
King is in no way subtle, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take to make sure things are handled. For Cee, I’d shift the world on its axis. That means taking care of Ally’s mess.
I brush a lock of hair from Cee’s face. Her bandaged hand flexes on my chest. I think it pained me more to see her hurt than to have a dislocated shoulder and fractured wrist.
She said she loves me. I know those words gave me the strength I needed to help Clay pull me out of the car. I wanted to hear them again to make sure she really said them.
“Go back to sleep,” she mutters.
“I want to watch you,” I reply.
She lifts her head and gives me a sleepy smile. “I’m not going anywhere. You need to rest,” she says with a smile.
My heart swells. I hear the words and the depth of their meaning. I’ve been waiting so long to take this breath. She’s mine. I can see it in her eyes. The walls are no longer in our way.
“I love you,” I say as I watch her face.
She lifts her hand to cup my jaw. Her eyes search mine for a few moments. I realize I’m holding my breath when she speaks.
“Sid told me she’s pregnant. It made me realize something as I stood there. I’ve been so upset with you over what never was. Now here we are with a chance to have it all and I’ve been blocking us both from having what we want most.