Page 83 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

He slipped the case from my fingers with an almost imperceptible nod. Had I not been watching him, I wouldn’t have seen the flash of torment in his eyes. Though it hurt like hell, I was gratified to know that this was hard for him, too. I wasn’t the only one who had experienced a life-altering change over the past week and a half.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” I headed out the back door, then quickly cut across the porch and entered the greenhouse. It was muggy inside, and the riotous scent of flowers greeted me when I opened the door.

Snatching up a small pot and trowel, I filled it with dirt, then strode down the row toward one of my favorite flowers. The gift was twofold; I wanted to do something nice for him, but I also wanted him to remember me when he was far away.

I stopped in front of the brightly colored stargazer lilies, a bittersweet smile twisting my lips. Maybe he would throw it away the moment he left Pine Ridge. But maybe, just maybe, he would look at it months or years from now, and remember the time we spent together.

Carefully digging out a bulb, I potted the flower and packed the dirt in tightly around it. A whisper of movement caught my attention, and I started to turn.

“Don’t move.”

The pot hit the ground and shattered at my feet as the cool muzzle of a pistol pressed against my temple.

Twenty-Four

RODRIGO

I’d never felt this kind of pain before. It was as if someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart to shreds. I’d endured physical abuse that had pushed me to the limits, but it was nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that now swirled in my stomach.

I’d never allowed anyone close, never allowed anyone to affect me. But Lily had somehow penetrated the walls around my heart, embedded herself deep in my soul. My heart was reserved for her and her alone.

I would never allow anyone to replace her memory. Never for the rest of my days would I forget the time I’d spent here, and the woman I’d come to care for—deeply.

That was one more reason I needed to leave. Love changed a person, made them vulnerable. I couldn’t afford that. Lily was already in jeopardy, and I needed to put as much distance between us as possible.

Part of me acknowledged that it was already too late. I didn’t want to examine my feelings too closely, not until I was far, far away. If I gave in to the urge to open up and validate my emotions, I was afraid I would never leave. Lily was my once in a lifetime.

And I had no choice but to leave her behind.

The sound of Lily returning drew my attention to the back door, and I crossed the room to help her. But she wasn’t alone.

My blood ran cold at the sight of the man behind her, a matte black pistol pressed to her skull. My fingers itched the grab the knife still tucked into my waistband, but I knew I wouldn’t be fast enough. She’d be dead before I even got close to him.

Araña’s man turned the pistol on me, a smirk curving his lips. “We meet again. And look—I found your plaything.”

Lily’s eyes were wide with fear, and I forced myself to look away from her, to focus on the man. “You came for me. Let her go.”

He raised a brow. “Hmm… I don’t think I will.”

His hand slid over her hip and pulled her against him. Lily cried out, and I instinctively grabbed the knife.

“Put down your weapon.” A second gunman appeared in my peripheral vision.

Fuck.

I’d been so focused on Lily that I never even heard him approach.

My grip tightened on the hilt of the knife, and the man behind Lily raised a brow as he redirected the pistol to her temple. A malicious smile curved his lips as he slid his hand higher. My stomach somersaulted as he roughly grabbed her breast. Her eyes closed under the assault, her teeth sinking into her lower lip to stop the soft whimper that bubbled up. Red bled into the edges of my vision.

“Touch her and die.” I tried not to look at her. I knew she was terrified. I set the knife on the floor, then kicked it away.

“That’s good.” The man watched the knife skitter under the table, then turned his gaze back to me. “Where’s Morrison?”

I stared blankly at him, unsure who he was talking about. “Never heard of him.”

His head tipped slightly to one side. “You kill him?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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