Page 90 of Rami

“No, it’s not that. I mean my vagina will need a pain reliever.”

“I’ve got methods for that.” He slid out of her then slowly rolled her onto his back. “One sec.” He got up and padded over the floors. His wide shoulders nearly took up the whole room and his muscles rippled as he walked. Tattoos adorned his back. He strode with the utmost confidence, clearly not giving a damn that his high, tight ass was on display.

He disappeared into the bathroom, and she heard water running. He came back into the room, his manhood jutting out. Her mouth went dry. God, was he ever soft? Or was that just his size?

He stepped into briefs then picked up the pill bottle on her nightstand. “Need one?”

She shook her head. Despite the recent jostling and rushing of blood, her head wasn’t pounding as badly as it had earlier. “The incision is tender, but that’s about it. The headache isn’t bothering me right now. Maybe the food helped.”

Rami chuckled. “The food, huh?”

He lay on the bed and pulled her to snuggle against his chest. One hand was warm and firm on her back, the other rested possessively on her leg, which was drawn up over his thigh. He faced her, keeping their bodies in close contact.

“I want you to tell me everything.” His tone was flat and lacked all the lust and humor it had held just minutes ago.

Her belly flipped. “What do you mean?”

Rami brought his knuckles to her cheek and gently traced the bruise that was surely there. She hadn’t looked in the mirror yet today, didn’t really want to—her appearance would be a stark reminder of the previous night.

“I want to know everything they said, their threats, if they touched you. I don’t want to push you, but it’s killing me not knowing what you went through.”

She traced her bottom lip with her tongue. She didn’t want to relive those moments. She could smile, flirt, kiss, and, hell, even fuck her way to distraction, but all the memories loomed. Ready to sweep in when she let her guard down.

Maybe Rami was right. Talking to him about what had happened to her in the trailer had helped. It hadn’t taken the sting away, but really, what could other than time and maybe therapy?

“Can you tell me? Please.”

She nodded.

“Take your time.” His fingertips brushed away a strand of hair from her face. She kept her gaze lowered as she brought herself back to the rest-stop bathroom—shots firing outside the door, Rami shouting at her to stay inside, bullets blasting against the door handle.

Tears stung her eyes as everything she’d experienced rushed out. The fear. The pain. The terror and helplessness she’d felt as she watched Rami get shot.

Rami held her as she sobbed. Her tears soaked the pillow and his shoulder. She told him about how Gabriel had tried to pull her pants down but she’d scratched up his face. Everything came pouring out like acid rain from an angry sky.

“I’m so sorry. None of it should have happened.” Rami’s voice was husky. His hand on her cheek was gentle, but the one now between them on the bed was fisted. The knuckles were white.

She dashed away the tears beneath her eyes. “It’s okay. It’s all over now.”

“Earlier you said something about a video.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Wayne was going to—” She glanced away and sucked in a shaky breath. “I’m not sure exactly. He wanted to do something for the camera. Kept saying that you and my family had to pay.”

Rami’s face hardened, and his dark eyes flashed with menace. She had no doubt what kind of rage he’d release if those men were alive right now.

His Adam’s apple moved beneath his stubble and his thumb smoothed the corner of her eye, where another tear had leaked out.

She sniffed and cuddled close to his chest, breathing in his musky scent. “All that made me tired,” she said with a yawn.

“Mmm.” He kissed her forehead. “Rest, babe.”

In the warmth and safety of his embrace, she slipped off to sleep.

***

Rami toyed with the silky strands of Ivy’s hair just inches from the spot where the tracking device had been. He ignored the pond scum and debris still wrapped in her locks. She needed a shower, but she needed rest and comfort first.

And he needed bloodshed.

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