Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I’ve already done that. Now I’m going to see it through.”
12
NIKOLAI
The fierceness in Lorenzo’s eyes when he talked about killing my father should have scared me. Instead, it turned me on. Seeing him standing there, looking so strong and gorgeous, ready to defend me like no one ever had, made me dizzy all over again.
He was wearing gray pants and a button-up shirt with the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up, showing his muscular forearms. I couldn’t stop staring. He was just as sexy dressed like that as he had been in a suit at my father’s party.
I was about to get lost in a fantasy, but reality slapped me when my arm twinged. How could I be thinking about sex when I’d just run away? I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t think about that. But the tears came—I couldn’t stop them any longer.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
“It’s not that.” I barely got the words out as I reached up to wipe my face. After drawing in a shaky breath, I said, “My mom, she helped me get away, and I don’t know what he’s going to do to her.”
Lorenzo’s expression was fierce. “She should have gotten you away from Dimitri long before now. It was her job to protect you as a child.”
“She tried, when I was little, but she didn’t have any more power over my father than I have now. She was a victim like he was.”
“But she stopped trying.”
I sighed. That was true. “She’s sober today, and she brought me money and a phone and your address.”
“She’s the one who told you to come here?”
I couldn’t tell if he was angry or just surprised. “Yes. I didn’t know it was your address. She just told me where to go and said I would be safe there.”
“Did you tell her about us?”
“No. My father may have, but I don’t think so. She said something about there being powerful people who wanted to stop my marriage. Does she mean your family?”
“Maybe, but I don’t know who would have contacted her. I’ll see what I can find out, but right now, I want to make sure you’re okay. A doctor should look at your arm.”
“No. It’s too big of a risk. I can’t let anyone see me.”
“Who set your arm?”
I wanted to tell him it had been done by a doctor, but I didn’t know if that was true. The man who’d tended me hadn’t shared his qualifications. “The man who did it took X-rays and definitely had medical knowledge.”
“So it wasn’t your father.”
I shook my head, unable to imagine him taking care of me, even in the cold way the doctor or nurse had.
“And after your arm was set?”
“I was locked in my room and barely fed. My father moved the wedding date up. I was going to be married tomorrow.”
“But your mother came and helped you run.”
“Yes. I should have made her come with me, or stayed, or… I don’t know. I can’t believe I just left her there.”
“You did the right thing. I thought we had more time. If you’d married Alina…” He looked almost scared.
“What do you mean we should have had more time?” Was he planning something?
Lorenzo shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. Right now, we need to figure out what to do with you.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’ll… I’ll do whatever you want if you let me stay here.”
He nodded. “Yes you will. You’ll do exactly as I say, and you’re not going anywhere. You’re under my protection now.”
“What will you want from me?”
He started to speak, then bit his lip. “We’ll talk about that later. For now, you need to rest.”
Some of the tension that was weighing me down lifted. I wasn’t going to have to run anymore today.
“Remington has a doctor who makes house calls for us. She is discreet and very good at her job. You will let her examine your arm. I need to know it was set correctly.”
I hated the thought of anyone touching my arm, but I knew he was right. “Okay. Why are you protecting me?” I regretted the question as soon as I asked. He didn’t owe me an explanation. I was never going to survive if I didn’t learn to keep my mouth shut around him.
“Because nobody should be treated the way you have.” I nodded. He was right, and it was a good answer, so why did my chest still ache? Had I actually thought he was going to confess that he’d fallen for me? I wasn’t that naive.
“I need to make some calls,” Lorenzo said. “Your father will eventually want to see if you’re with me, and I won’t be caught off guard.”
“Don’t get hurt because of me. I’m not—”
He held up his hand. “You’re under my protection. I’ve made that decision. My family and I will stand behind you. Your father will never touch you again.”