Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Alexan steps forward. He leans in slightly. “Where is he?” he asks simply.
Ricky stares at Alexan, clearly afraid. A little thrill runs into my stomach. It’s one thing living with the gorgeous hulking monstrosity all the time, but it’s another to see the way other people react to him too.
And I like it. The way Alexan demands respect.
“They showed up for him.” Ricky looks from Alexan to me, clearly panicking. “I couldn’t do anything. I swear, I tried, but—”
“Who came?” Terror jolts into my stomach. “Ricky, who the fuck came?”
“They’re out back,” he whispers, looking down at the table, then back up again. “Don’t go out there. Please, Riles, he wouldn’t want you getting involved. Just… just let them figure it out, okay? You can wait here with me, and—”
I’m already running. I sprint to the door, ignoring the looks I get, and fling it open. There’s an alley alongside The Hen, and that must be where they took him. I make it two steps before Alexan’s got my arm.
“Hold on there,” he snarls, pulling me back.
“Let me go,” I say, struggling toward the alley entrance. “Alexan, please. Brenden’s in trouble. Let me go!”
“You’re being too loud,” he snaps and drags me back. He pushes me against the wall. “Deep breaths. Come on, fucking breathe, Riley. I’m going to take care of this, alright? But you’ve got to stay calm. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Alexan.” I’m hyperventilating. I have to struggle to get myself under control. “They’re hurting him again.”
“I know.” He reaches into his jacket and pulls a gun from a concealed holster. “But I’ll handle it.” He lets me go and turns to the alley.
I follow him. I know I shouldn’t. This isn’t something I should see, but I have to know Brenden’s okay. He gestures for me to wait further back, but I don’t listen as he stalks down the narrow gap between buildings, his expensive loafers sloshing through stagnant, dirty water.
There are figures down near the dumpsters. Dread fills me, cold and biting. Alexan doesn’t slow as one person turns away and comes toward him.
The man is short. He’s maybe my height, but stocky, with dark buzzed hair and an ugly scar near his chin. “Who the fuck are you?” he demands.
Beyond him, two more men are kicking something. It looks like a burlap sack. But then the sack moves, and I realize it’s Brenden, bloody and battered, curled up in a little stretch of mud.
Alexan doesn’t answer. He darts forward, blindingly fast, and bashes the scarred man in the mouth. The scarred man staggers back, blood spilling from his lips, as Alexan drops to one knee and raises his gun.
He blows the skull off one of Brenden’s attackers. I cover my mouth to keep from screaming. Blood splatters all over the dumpster in a spray of gore and red. The body slumps sideways and falls as the other attacker turns, pulling his own gun, looking terrified.
Alexan moves. He’s sleek and powerful. I’m in awe as he easily shoots the scarred man in the gut, grabs him by the neck, and jerks his head to the side. His spine cracks with an audible snap. Alexan uses the scarred man’s corpse as a shield, shoving it forward.
The last attacker staggers backward to keep the body from landing on him. That leaves Alexan enough time to cover the distance between them. The attacker tries to raise his gun, but Alexan knocks it sideways, knees him in the stomach, elbows him in the throat, and puts his gun against the man’s temple.
“Who do you work for?” Alexan asks.
The man curses at him in rapid Spanish.
“Try again.” Alexan lowers the gun and shoots him in the foot.
The man screams and falls to the ground. Alexan kneels on his throat and rips the gun from his hand. He tosses it aside.
“Who do you work for?” he asks.
“Los Sombras,” the man says, whimpering, tears rolling down his face as his face turns red. “Los Sombras, Los Sombras, por favor, no me mates.”
Alexan leans harder on his neck, making him gag. He stays there for what feels like a very long time until the last Los Sombras attacker fades and slowly dies.
I can’t move. It happened so fast. There were three of them, and now there are none. All dead under Alexan’s vicious and ruthless onslaught. My husband slowly stands, and I see him for what he is.
Magnificent. Brutal. Deadly. Beautiful.
I’ve never wanted him more in my life.
He glances back at me, his gaze dark and hooded.
“Riley?” My brother’s voice snaps me out of it. “Alexan? What the fuck?”
I run to him. Brenden’s covered in filth and blood. One eye is swollen shut, and he’s missing at least one tooth. He spits more blood and groans, hand pressed against his side as he struggles to sit up.