Page 57 of Scorched King

Sasha stumbled, and I dove forward to catch her before she crumpled to the ground, landing on my knees to make it happen.

“Mother fucker!” Cash screeched, clutching his bloody head. “You shot me.”

“Told you I would. It was your choice and you chose not to listen.” I turned to the door. “Bear get this fucker out of here.”

“Is she okay?” He looked as scared as I felt and wasn’t moving because of it. But I didn’t have time to reassure him.

“Goddammit. Cain!”

“On it, boss.” Cain pushed his way past Bear and grabbed a hold of Cash, allowing me to turn my full attention to her without worrying about whether Cash would attack again.

“He shot me! I’m fucking bleeding. I need a doctor.”

“Only thing you’re going to need in your future is a coroner.”

“What?!” Cash screeched from the outer room. “You’re fucking crazy. She’s fine!”

“Fuck that,” I heard Zook growl. “Give me a fucking shovel. All he’s going to get is a dirty fucking hole.”

“But—"

I blocked out the rest, pressing my fingers to Sasha’s neck. My heart jerked when I couldn’t find a pulse, forcing me to search another spot. “No, Sasha. This is not fucking happening.”

Only when I finally found the steady beat of her pulse did I take another breath. Although I left my fingers there for a minute and allowed that sensation to soothe my angry soul.

Seeing Cash’s hands squeezing her throat had nearly stopped my own heart. Not in my wildest thoughts did I think he would take it this far. I’d underestimated the asshole, and that was a huge fucking mistake.

“Is she alive?” Bear asked on a broken whisper. Hearing his pain nearly doubled mine.

“Yeah. She’s just unconscious.”

“I’m going to fucking kill him.”

I shook my head. “No.That fucker is mine.” I turned my head to address the rest of the men crowded into my guest bedroom. “Listen up! Take him to the cellar and don’t bother being gentle about it. But nobody kills him. That pleasure’s mine. Got it?”

There was a lot of grumbling, as I imagined they all wanted a piece of the traitor. And while I’d make sure they all got their pound of flesh, his death would be on my hands and my hands alone.

“Consider it handled,” Tel said, poking his head into the door. “Since he’s bleeding all over your carpet, we’re gonna haul him out now.”

“Good. And someone fucking call the paramedic.”

As soon as my instructions were followed and they’d hauled the traitor out of my house, I lifted Sasha into my arms and carried her through the bedroom, past the living room and across the cabin to my bedroom. I’d have to burn everything in that room, maybe even remodel it. Anything to erase the image of Cash’s hands wrapped around Sasha’s neck.

I’d probably never let her out of my sight again. Right now, I didn’t care how unrealistic that sounded. The amount of traumathis woman had endured was enough to fill several lifetimes. And I was drawing a fucking line and letting the world know enough was enough.

She was mine now. My woman. MINE. And nothing bad was going to touch her again.

“Paramedic is on her way. She said about five minutes. Are you sure we don’t need to call 911?”

I gave Bear a look that halted him. We both knew that we couldn’t risk anyone knowing what was about to happen here tonight. If Sasha’s life was in danger I’d be rushing her to the hospital myself.

“JD?”

I looked down at Sasha to see she’d opened her eyes just as I pushed my way into my room.

“Hey, babe.” I tried to smile, but I couldn’t force it. Instead I gently laid her on the bed and followed her down. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was nearly choked to death,” she whispered darkly, her voice hoarse.

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