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“N-no.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
He closed his eyes for a long moment. “Good. Pequeña, I need you to just hold on a bit longer for me, understand? We’ll be home and safe soon.”
Home? Safe?
What the heck did that even feel like? Nothing felt safe at the moment, and she didn’t have a home anymore.
But she guessed Alejandro’s house would feel safer than being out here in the open.
What did he mean about holding on, though?
Confused, she nodded.
“That’s a good girl. You are being so brave.”
A car pulled over, and one of the back door’s opened. Both Cairn and a young guy lifted The Scot into the back seat.
She winced at the sight. “He needs someone to hold pressure on the wound.”
“Mikey, get in the back and hold pressure on the wound,” Alejandro ordered before he reached into their previous car. What was he looking for? He drew something out.
Snuggly and Roger.
Oh God! How had she forgotten about them? She reached for them, but then remembered that she was covered in blood.
“I have them,” he said to her.
He led her around the front of the new vehicle, where there was only one seat. Where was he going to sit? He sat then pulled her in with him, settling her on his lap.
Cairn pulled away from the warehouse, driving fast. Alejandro settled the seat belt around both of them. He put his arm firmly around her middle.
“How is he doing, Mikey?” Alejandro asked.
“Pulse is a bit fast. But he’ll be okay. He’s tough.” There was a note of worry in the younger man’s voice, though.
“Course he will be,” Alejandro replied. He turned her so she was facing away from Cairn, holding her tight.
A tremor worked its way through her. Shit. Nausea bubbled in her stomach.
“Stop shaking,” he ordered in her ear.
Right. Sure. She’d get right on that. Did he really think she could stop shaking just because he ordered it?
“I c-can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” he replied quietly.
She shook her head. He was insane.
“You’ll do it because I ordered you to.”
She moved her head so she could stare up at him. “You’re nuts.”
He placed his hand over her mouth, giving her a stern look. Crap. Had she said that out loud? She hadn’t really meant to.
“While I enjoy some of your sass, Pequeña,” he whispered. “You will not give me any in front of my men, understand?”
She nodded. Right.
“Good girl.”
Damn. Another shudder. But this one was less about fear and an adrenaline drop and more about those words.
Good girl.
She’d never been interested in being a good girl. Being good always seemed so boring.
But she liked hearing him praise her.
“You’re still trembling. I don’t like it. You will stop now.”
Lord. He was nuts. He definitely needed someone to help wrangle that ego.
She wasn’t going to stop shaking just because he said so.
He tightened his hold on her until she felt his warmth infiltrate the coldness of her skin. She buried her face in his chest, breathing in his scent, his strength.
It was getting harder and harder to think about her life without this man in it. Sometimes she just wanted to grab hold of him and never let him go.
“That’s it. See? Given some time and patience, you can learn to obey.”
What the hell?
What did he mean?
She glared up at him but he just ran his finger over her cheek.
“You’ve stopped trembling like a good, obedient girl.”
And there were other times when she wanted to strangle the asshole.
Good, obedient girl, her ass.
26
Alejandro walked into her room.
After they’d dropped The Scot off with Aaron, he’d brought Cat up to her room. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to comfort her further. He’d had to go put out some more fires and get updates.
Sometimes it felt like he never stopped. There was always something that needed his attention.
But eventually, he’d managed to get everything settled down. As much as it could be. He’d also postponed the meeting again.
Joder.
He ran his hand over his face as he paused, unable to sense where she was.
And then he heard a noise from the bathroom. Relief flooded him as he stormed over. He had to see her. To make sure she was all right.
She’d promised none of the blood was hers. Still, he’d checked her over before he’d left her.
But there was still this worry that she was hiding something from him.
“Cat, what are you . . .” he trailed off as he saw her.
She was lying in the bath, all of her gorgeous, smooth skin on display. With a gasp, she tried to cover herself, but it was too late.
There was no erasing what he’d seen.
“Mierda,” he muttered quietly. “Eres muy hermosa.”
She sucked in a breath, staring up at him in shock. Surely, she had to know how beautiful she was.
He walked closer, his gaze on hers. Her cheeks were flushed, face filled with embarrassment. But there was also hunger there.
