Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
I didn’t even have time to scream. The men moved fast—one lunging toward me while the other circled wide, something long and glinting in his hand. Sunlight flashed off the blade—a knife.
Panic crashed through me like a tidal wave as the closest guy grabbed my arm, yanking me forward so hard that my shoulder jolted. My shoes skidded on the asphalt as I tried to twist away, but he was too strong.
Luckily, Beck didn’t have the same problem. His fist slammed against the forearm of the man who grabbed me, hard enough for him to finally release me.
“Get the fuck outta our way,” the guy growled.
“Shit, man. Do you see his cut? He’s an Iron Rogue. Let’s get out of here,” his partner yelled, pivoting on his heel to dive back inside the van.
“Fuck,” the man who’d grabbed me muttered, his furious gaze darting toward me as he backed away. “Today was your lucky day, bitch. But not next time.”
“You won’t get another chance at her, motherfucker.” A gun was suddenly in Beck’s hand, drawn so fast I didn’t see where it even came from.
“Fucking hell,” the guy yelled, turning toward the van.
My knees gave out, dropping me butt-first onto the pavement. Then I was the one screaming when the first shot cracked through the air, the sound deafening and making my ears ring.
Beck didn’t hesitate, seemingly unbothered by the noise. Another shot rang out—this time into the front tire of the van, rubber exploding with a sharp pop. The driver floored it anyway, and the vehicle jolted forward, the other three tires squealing as the second man dove for the open side door.
He almost made it inside before Beck fired again, the bullet slamming into the frame of the van just above his head. The guy bumped into the doorframe before falling forward, his partner hauling him inside. The van swerved, metal groaning as it fishtailed and tore out of the parking lot with several more bullet holes in the side, courtesy of Beck’s gun.
I was on the ground, breathing hard as I gaped at the disappearing van. My shoulder twinged where the guy had grabbed me, but they were gone, and I was still here.
I was shaken and shivering a little. But at least I hadn’t been kidnapped. If Beck hadn’t been there to rescue me, I would’ve been in a heck of a lot of trouble right now.
He was beside me in a blink, holstering the gun like he hadn’t just fired a bunch of bullets in a hospital parking lot. His hands were on me instantly—skimming over my arms, his expression all dark fury and hard edges.
“You hurt?”
“I…” My voice cracked. “I don’t think so. Just frazzled.”
He let out a low, ragged breath, then reached down and helped me to my feet. His touch was careful, but his body vibrated with barely restrained violence. His eyes scanned the street, the rooftops, and the corners of the lot as though he was expecting someone else to come for me.
The idea should’ve been ridiculous, but I hadn’t expected anyone to try to grab me in the first place.
Beck hauled me in close, his arm banding around my waist as though he didn’t trust the ground not to fall out from under me. His other hand skimmed down my arm, fingers brushing the spot where the guy had grabbed me.
“Fuck,” he muttered, voice low and tight with fury. “That bastard put his hands on you.”
“I’m fine,” I whispered, bracing my palms against his chest.
His hand snapped up, gripping my jaw just firmly enough to stop my words cold. His hazel eyes were molten. Dangerous.
“Don’t say that,” he ground out. “Don’t tell me you’re fine after what just happened. You were two seconds away from being thrown into that van.”
“But I wasn’t,” I argued, even as my voice shook.
His touch was protective but commanding. He seemed very close to completely losing control. “If I hadn’t been here…”
“You were, though. And you stopped them from taking me.” I stroked his broad chest, hoping to defuse the situation. “Although you missed out on your chance to see my ninja moves in action. I was just about to kick some serious butt before you stepped in.”
His nostrils flared. “Don’t push me, Lindsay.”
“What? You don’t believe me?” I asked, blinking up at him as innocently as I could.
Beck stepped even deeper into my space, one large hand sliding into my hair and fisting the strands at the base of my neck. His hold wasn’t rough, but it was just tight enough that I gasped and went still, my breath catching.
“Now is not the time to give me your sass, baby. Save it for when I have you somewhere safe.” His deep voice was gravelly and sent goose bumps up my spine. “If you don’t get on the back of my bike in the next ten seconds, your ass’ll be red before I let you sit on it.”