Page 11 of Brutal Mercy

I melt onto his bed. I don’t know why it thrills me so much that it’s his bed I’m in. What is wrong with me? I must be responding this way because he’s been so nice, opening his home to me, even getting a doctor to make a house call. Fuck, I don’t even want to think how expensive it might be or how I’m going to afford it. But it’s a problem for another day.

Two more men in scrubs I’ve not met enter the room, carting a big machine. They look about my age, maybe a few years older.

Dr. Moreno approaches the bed as they set up the x-ray, positioning it over my ankle. “Is there any way you could be pregnant?”

“Um, no.” I blush. I can’t help it. I’m in a room with only big, imposing men, being asked if I might be pregnant.

Awkward.

Because the last thing I want to do is explain that in order to get pregnant, one needs to have sex. And being that I am still a virgin, it’s literally the least likely scenario. Unless it’s the second coming. But really, because it’s my life, if that’s the case, I know which side would pick me, and it ain’t the good one.

“Good. Now I’m going to place this cover over your midsection to protect it. And then we’re going to get a look at that ankle and make sure nothing’s broken.”

I nod in understanding and lie there through his thorough exam, wincing as he moves my ankle. And they even x-ray my knees too, at Hades’s request, to make sure nothing is broken.

“Good news. You didn’t break anything. But that ankle is terribly sprained. I’m going to wrap it up for you to keep it immobile and leave a supply of bandages so you can change them out every couple of days. You need to stay off it for the next two weeks. You’ll need crutches to move around, which I will get sent over. And I’m giving you some medicine for the pain and swelling.” He withdraws two syringes from his white lab coat pocket.

“Wait.” I try to move away. Oh god, look at those sharp needles.

“Just let him give you the medicine. It’ll make you feel better.”

I whimper and turn my face toward Hades. They don’t understand. I don’t like needles. I’m terrified of them.

The cool antiseptic swabbed over my arm makes me wince.

“Just a slight sting. You’re doing well, Luna. This first one will help with the pain. And the second one is for the swelling. I want you to keep this foot elevated and iced this week. And I’ll leave behind pain meds for you. Take one every six hours as needed for the pain. Plus, I want you to take ibuprofen every six hours with that for the swelling and inflammation.”

“No. But I—” My eyes slide shut as the narcotic works its way through my bloodstream. What the hell did he give me? I can’t keep my eyes open and barely feel the second shot.

“Just rest. We’ll speak again when you wake,” Hades murmurs. His icy gaze makes me feel impossibly warm as the drug filters through my body.

But I have to tell him about my sister. She’ll be frightened and all alone when I don’t come home tonight. What if Diego is still at the store when she gets home? What if she walks in and he hurts her?

The pain medicine drags me to sleep with a whimper before I can say anything.

Chapter four

Hades

Thatsadisticfucker.Ialready despise the cartel for their methods. But this? Assaulting a woman in broad daylight goes beyond the pale and proves what type of vermin they are. The Massimos might be thieves and murderers when it’s warranted to protect our family and business, but we do not harm women and children. We certainly don’t rape women. There are lines we don’t cross. Ever.

“I want the perimeter patrolled tonight. In case this could be a plant by the cartel.” Because in all my years as head of this family, nothing like this has ever happened before. There’s no playbook for an event like this. But I don’t think she’s with him. Her story feels too authentic. And she continues to extend her trust my way. I’m not about to question why. But I also don’t feel like disabusing her of the notion that she can.

“You want her locked up until we know for sure?” my brother asks with a nod toward the woman sleeping in my bed.

My gaze strays her way. Locking her up in the shed, or even one of the other bedrooms, is the sane route until her full story checks out. But when has sanity ever mattered? Because I can’t bring myself to harm her in any way. Not after she fought off an attack and ran ten miles. Her survival instinct is unmatched. And I won’t do anything to smother it. “No. I’ll keep an eye on her. She’s too injured for a cell. And the last thing we need is for her to catch pneumonia or some shit.”

“Agreed. A young woman like her will draw the attention of every law enforcement agency. We would wind up behind bars for sure this time, and they would toss away the key. What do you want me to do?” Ares asks, deferring to me as my second in command.

My gaze lands on her face, on the bruises marring her ivory flesh. She is achingly beautiful, a true goddess among mortals. And even though she’s half my age, I doubt I’ll be able to get the image of her sprawled on my floor, in nothing but her tiny panties, with her pants around her knees, staring at me with a blush filling her cheeks like she was being naughty and I caught her.

She has the most gorgeous fucking tits. They’re plump enough to fill my hands with pretty pink areolas I want to wrap my lips around.

I won’t fuck an injured woman.

But seeing her in my bed, a vicious possessiveness whips through me. And I want her story to be true. Because an insidious part of me wants to keep her. Right where she is, in my bed.

I haven’t even fucked her yet, and she’s got me in her clutches. Her siren song calls to me. And fuck, but I want to hold her in my arms again. I’ve done so twice, and both times, it felt as if it was where she belonged.

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