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“Right, I know. It’s nothing, okay? Just a string of bad luck.”
“Maybe,” he says softly.
I don’t wait for him to find out if I’m lying or not. I spin around and sprint for the door, reaching it only seconds before he’s on me. I shout and yank it open, but Benedict grabs my wrist and slams a fist into my face. Lights burst into my eyes and my head’s spinning as I stagger back into the room. Benedict growls softly, hitting me again, and I hold up my arms to try to block the blows but he’s too strong.
He throws me onto the floor and kicks me once in the guts. I groan and retch, almost puking from the pain. I curl up, trying to protect myself as Benedict stands over me, breathing hard.
“You shouldn’t have run,” he says through clenched teeth. “I almost believed you. And I hate when they run.” He pulls a folded knife from his pocket, flicks it open, and holds up the sharp-edged blade so that it catches the light. “But now we’ll play a game, and you’ll tell me the truth.”
I try to scream, try to cry, but he kneels down on my legs and presses the edge to my cheek. He cuts me slowly, and I moan in pain and thrash, but he’s too strong. He brings the piece up again, moving it down closer to my neck—
When a shape appears behind him, and something heavy slams into Benedict’s head.
The bastard doesn’t make a sound as he slumps sideways and hits the floor with a boneless thud.
I lay there, breathing hard, trying to clear my vision when the other person kneels beside me. I stare up into Gavino’s face, his lips pulled back in a snarl. “Are you okay?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. I can’t tell if Benedict broke ribs or internally damaged something vital.
“Come on, before he comes to.” Gavino helps me to my feet. “Shit, your face.” He rips a shred of his shirt off and gives it to me. I hold it against the bloody wound.
“I’m okay, really,” I say, but I lean against him as we hurry to the door. Relief courses through me and I look back once to make sure Benedict isn’t following. “Did you kill him?”
“No,” he says and hesitates in the hall. “Maybe I should. I was thinking about saving you first—”
“Don’t,” I say, tugging at him. “That’ll only make it worse. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
He works his jaw but finally nods. We walk to the stairwell together and head down, me leaning heavily on him for support. Once we’re at the bottom, we step out into the parking lot, but he hesitates, holding me back.
“Wait,” he whispers and we linger in the shadows.
“Wait for what?”
He squints, looking for something, then nods. “Making sure it’s clear. I think he was alone, but Benedict’s good. You never know.”
“Gavino, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Came to see if you wanted that job after all but found that asshole instead. I’ve been staking your place out ever since, waiting for him to leave. I guess he never did.”
“You’ve been here the whole time?”
“Came in as soon as I realized something was wrong.” He winces and frowns at me. “I’m sorry I was late.”
I stop walking, stare into his face, and get on my toes to kiss his cheek. “You saved my fucking life. I should be thanking you.”
He grins and puts his arm over my shoulder. “Damn right you should. Come on, let’s hurry before he wakes up.”
