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At least I felt better keeping the gun close. Given I never wore a watch, I had no idea how much time had gone by. I moved to the bed, trying to relax. Then I paced the room after what seemed like fifteen minutes had passed. What in God’s name was happening? If Viper had been close to the house, then why hadn’t he released me?
No. Something was terribly wrong. I was certain of it. I moved toward the door. There had to be a release button somewhere. Almost as soon as I started feeling around the doorjamb, I heard a click. Then the door started to swing open. But I hadn’t found a switch.
Jerking back by a few feet, I clicked off the safety, holding the weapon at chest level, prepared to fire.
Then a figure appeared.
“Whoa.” Viper threw out his hand, a look of relief crossing his face.
“Danny.” My hands were shaking uncontrollably. He reached out, easing the weapon from my fingers. He had a cut on his lip, the area around one eye swelling. “Were you in a fight?”
He smirked. “Something like that.”
Shit. He’d tussled with my brother. I would give the man a piece of my mind.
“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe. We’re all safe.”
“God. I thought something happened to you.” I no longer recognized my voice, the agony and worry caught in my throat. I inched closer, darting my eyes back and forth across his face. I brushed my fingertips across his cheek, a scattered breath escaping my mouth. He rolled his knuckles down the side of my face, smiling as if that was going to help me forget about the ugly situation we were in.
“You need to trust me, little minx. I do know what I’m doing. Besides, I made you a promise I will continue to keep.” He pulled me into his arms, squeezing as he lifted me onto my toes.
“Mike? Please tell me he’s okay.” That way I could smack him.
“Don’t worry, the stubborn man is safe. However, he’ll be staying here for the long term.”
“What happened?”
“We had company.”
“Jesus. Thank you.” I couldn’t stop shaking but part of it was from frustration. “He gave you crap. Didn’t he?”
“It doesn’t matter at this point. What does is that we’re on borrowed time. We’re okay for now, but I refuse to allow Torino and his thugs to track us down.”
I could tell by the sound of his voice that nothing was okay and wouldn’t be until this was over.
Or one or both of us was dead.
He pulled back, a smile on his face, but it was obvious he was in pain. Then I homed in the stain on his dark shirt. Blood. It had to be blood. “Oh, my God. You’ve been shot.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not bad.” As he cupped the side of my face, rubbing his fingers across my skin, I clung to his shirt. There were so many things I wanted to say to him, the emotions as deep as I’d ever experienced before.
“I…”
He slid his index finger across my lips. “Don’t worry, baby. You don’t need to say anything.” As he lowered his head, his breathing labored, I tilted mine until our lips were almost touching. His heated breath tickled my skin, the look in his eyes something I hadn’t expected.
Love.
Seconds later, I sensed we had an audience and tensed. Then someone cleared their throat.
“You’re a crazy man, Danny Briggs. You’re insane. You need to let me to look at the wound. I insist. Okay? Please?” I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“That I’ll do. Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” He pocketed the gun I’d almost used, guiding me from the safe space.
As soon as I stepped foot in the office, Mike breathed a sigh of relief. “Mike.” I walked closer. Then I cracked my hand across his already bruised face. At least he’d gotten the brunt of the ridiculous fight, his lip cut and his eye already starting to swell. God, I shouldn’t be angry with him, but I was.
“What the fuck?”
“That’s for interfering with my business. You have no right to try and tell me what to do any longer.”
