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The force with which his foot struck my ribs had me seeing flashes as I collapsed forward. I crawled backward; my hand slipping in my own blood. My movement had my shoulder inflamed from the strain of movement. Mal stopped, but for a moment, he seemed so enraged that he was more eager to kill me than to save himself. After his glower flicked from me to Armon a few times, his hands raised in surrender.
"Sweet One," Armon called from behind me, closer than before. The insincere affection in his tone made my mouth sour.
No. He was too delighted. I clutched my shoulder to staunch the flow of blood.
I heard him breathe through his teeth so close he must have been directly behind me. "I must apologize for shooting you. It was the only way to stop him. I'm sure Katya can help take care of your injuries when she's feeling better after her endeavor in your home." He came around, knelt in front of me, and removed his shirt. Ever so gently, he wrapped it over my shoulder and beneath my arm. "Perhaps we can begin to rectify this little misdeed of yours." He curled an arm around me and lifted me, then swiftly moved to my back.
The gun pressed to the tips of the fingers of my left hand. "You know how much I love it when you have a weapon in hand." He moved the pistol upward, so I held it. "I'll help you aim," he purred against my ear as his hand raised mine. "Good girl." The swell in his pants firmed at the small of my back.
I struggled with a dry swallow as I looked to the man who'd held a blade to my throat and had hit me with a force that ached worse than the gun wound.
"Just like killing your own family." Armon’s cruel words were spoken so sweetly. How many times had he already said that to add to my mental suffering?
I struggled to see clearly through my blurry, stinging eyes.
"He came to purchase and torture women who'd been kidnapped." Armon kissed the soft spot where my neck and shoulder met. "Have you learned nothing from what my sister endured?"
Mal was a terrible person, given that truth. My finger trembled on the trigger. But I couldn't. I couldn't kill him even if it was true. And it might be an exaggeration to trick me. The man may have only been defending himself when he threatened my life.
"I will even slightly lighten your punishment." Armon didn't let me look away. He raised his arm that held me against him and took hold of my chin, forcing me to watch as I used all my draining strength to hold my finger steady that his curled over.
The kick of the pistol caused me to drop it. I felt sick to my stomach as he held me upright, humming his delight against my neck, and pressing his erection to me.
"I'm going to kill you someday," I whispered, eyes darkening.
"I'm going to give you so many reasons to."
Part Two: Redemption
Chapter Nineteen
Sasha
Ihovered in a happy area between sleep and wakefulness. Who knew how long my mind lingered there before I heard a voice I recognized. Armon's voice. My deep breath had a fiery pain at my ribs, along my shoulder to down my arm.
The memories began to swirl. I'd shot someone again, but I couldn't stop it from happening. And Armon had knowingly and eagerly shot me just so he could spend the rest of my life punishing me. The bastard wouldn't even let me die.
The massive bed I lay on dipped beside me. I already knew who it was. At one point, I'd foolishly chosen him instead of saving my own family from being murdered. "Can't you kill me like you kill everyone else?" I finally looked over to Armon, who scooted closer to me on the bed.
"Katya wants to repay your kindness. You're friends, after all." He nodded over to someone, and I watched as she stepped into view.
She unhooked the IV from my hand. Even in the low lighting, bruises accented her glower. She didn't smile or offer any kindness to me. Had I not been sandwiched between the two, I would have scooted away from her fearsome expression.
In an attempt to calm myself, I examined the luxury room. This one didn't have a single torture device in sight. It only looked like a fancy hotel with glowing, white walls and wide windows showing the blue sea all around. I was trapped without hope of anything aside from a vast expanse of water. The courage I once had to jump overboard no longer remained, and in its place was a defeated coward.
"Are you stuck caring for me now?" I asked Katya, voice raspy.
"Just enough to give you the same hope you gave me." She seemed to have forgotten I tried my best to help her, but what did that matter now? Once she'd finished, she left the room.
I knew what must have happened to wake up in this state. I'd lost enough blood that I passed out. "How long have I been unconscious?" I asked Armon.
"How long since you helped one of the most evil men on earth escape his punishment? Almost three days." Armon lay on his side and curled an arm over where my ribs ached before he pulled me close. He seemed oblivious to my wince. Worse was when he pulled the sheet down and placed a hand on the bandaging over where I'd been shot. "I know I said I'd never hurt you, but it was the only way to keep you safe."
I didn't respond. It took every ounce of energy to try to hide my pain. That became impossible when he leaned onto me and nuzzled my neck.
"You have no idea how difficult it has been not to fuck your beautiful mouth after seeing you kill Mal." Even through the pain, his sultry voice stirred a need within me. The hand that lightly stroked my breast amplified my desire for the relief he could provide. He didn’t need to know that, though.
"Thank you for not assaulting me in my sleep," I muttered, attempting to move away from him. Hopefully, I would be rid of the need he was managing to elicit.
