Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I spin to face him, putting my hands up, making sure to block the line of path to Blair. I can hear her going down the creaky steps. She made it. “Don’t.” Gino grabs the gun from his brother. “We need that one. Go after the other one,” he orders Eduardo.
I move in front of the stairs to block Eduardo. I know it’s useless, but I’m trying to buy Blair every second that I can so she can get away. I’m also hoping that Jax and the rest of the Marinos have figured out where we are and are closing in on us.
“I may not shoot to kill you, but don’t get it twisted, little girl, I will still shoot you.” Gino points the gun at me. “Move and I’ll spare your kneecaps.” I move over ever so slightly to allow room for Eduardo to pass.
“When I catch your little friend”—Eduardo stops in front of me—“I’m gonna teach her a lesson." He reaches down and grabs his crotch. A rage I’ve never felt before fills me, and before he knows what’s coming, I lift my knee and slam it into his balls.
He doubles over, and I try to bolt down the stairs next, but he snags me by the ankle, making me fall forward. I hit the ground, catching myself on my palms.
“Get the other girl!” Gino shouts at his brother as he grips my hair, pulling me to my feet. I let out a scream as he drags me back toward the mattress, shoving me down onto it. I roll over to my back. He stands over me, the gun trained at my knee. I close my eyes, bracing myself as I hear a pop, but I don’t feel anything.
My eyes spring open to see that Gino is now pointing his gun toward the stairs. A loud groan echoes in the stairway.
“Eduardo?” Gino calls out for his brother. It takes a beat, but he finally shouts back.
“Here, got her.” My heart drops. Does he mean he caught her or killed her? The creaking of the stairs is loud, my heart pounding in my chest. Eduardo comes into sight. I let out a gasp when I see Jax right behind him, a knife to his throat.
“Put the gun down,” Jax tells him. His voice is deep and gruff. It’s different from what I’m used to, an icy coldness to it.
“Not a fucking chance. You’ll kill me.” Gino turns the gun back on me.
“How about you put the knife down?” he counters. Jax is still moving toward us, Eduardo in front of him.
Jax’s eyes come to me for a brief moment. The intensity of them has goosebumps breaking out across my skin.
“I’ll put the knife down.” He moves the knife, sliding it across the front of Eduardo's throat, blood spraying out. I let out a scream as Gino goes to turn the gun back onto Jax.
Another pop sounds as Jax shoves Eduardo’s body forward hard, right into Gino. I scurry across the bed as the gun goes off again before Gino hits the floor. The gun slides out of his hand and across the floor.
I pounce on top of him and start hitting him as hard as I can. He shifts, taking a swing at me, but misses as I am lifted off of him and pulled back. I know it’s Jax. He turns, letting me go, and I stumble into Z, who braces me by my shoulders.
“You’re safe,” he tells me. I won't feel safe until I have Jax.
I turn back to him when I hear a scream. Jax is now on top of Gino. His fist is slamming into his face over and over again.
“Take her downstairs,” I hear Z say, and someone grabs my forearm, but I jerk it out of their hold. I’m not going anywhere. I cringe when Jax grabs the man's head and slams it into the ground. The crack is loud.
“I think he’s dead,” I say.
“Likely.” Z shrugs. “Let him get his anger out.” No one makes a move to stop Jax. I step toward him.
“Jax,” I call to him. His whole body freezes as he turns his head toward me. “I want to go home,” I choke out, so many emotions taking over. When I reach out for him, I see my hands are shaking.
He stands, coming toward me, blood covering him as he pulls me into him. His mouth crashes down on to mine.
“Bunny,” he says, his hands cupping my face.
“I’m okay,” I tell him. I can still see a wild look in his eyes. “I knew you would come.” I smile at him.
“Always.”
“I love you.” He closes his eyes, dropping his forehead to mine.
“I thought I might never hear those words from you. Say them again for me.”
“I love you, Jax.” He opens his eyes again.