Page 36 of Assassin's Mark
I glared right back. “Just tell her.”
His expression said he’d rather strangle me, but I ignored it. “Tell her why she’s here and when she can go. You worry about your brothers; she’s worried about her kid. You get that, I know you do.”
He didn’t move for long seconds. The slow release of his arms told me how very reluctant he was to cooperate,but he did it anyway, eyes narrowed on me instead of the woman in front of him. I braced myself for whatever alpha bastard bullshit he was about to spill.
“You’re getting pushy,” he barked.
I shrugged, fighting back a swallow of fear. Not that there was anything to swallow; my throat was as dry as a desert, my heart pounding so hard against my ribs I thought they might crack. But I had nothingto lose, right? No one had helped me, but I could help her and her daughter. No child deserved to wonder where their parent was, if they’d ever return. If they cared enough about you to try.
“What’s your name?” I asked her.
The woman rubbed her hands up and down arms that I knew probably ached from Levi’s grip. “Leah. Leah Marrone.”
“Leah.” I nodded in what I hoped was a reassuring way, thencocked a brow at Levi. “Tell her,” I said again, the words rasping the sides of my throat. “Please.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “What’ll you give me if I do?”
Bastard. I didn’t respond aloud; I didn’t have to. He knew anything he wanted was his for the taking—hell, he’d proved it more than once. And I was fooling myself if I thought I wouldn’t give in.
Levi’s chuckle said he knew ittoo.
Leah stepped away, turning to face off with her enemy once more, though I noticed she kept a healthy distance. “I have to go,” she said.
Levi grunted. “I get that. And you will.” He glanced at Remi, eyes haunted. “Help us stabilize him, tell us what he needs, and I’ll make sure you get back to your daughter safely.”
Leah looked to me as if for reassurance.
“It’s okay. They won’t hurtyou.”
The words burned in my throat, but if I believed anything anymore, I believed them.
She didn’t; her snort said so. “How would you know?”
“Because they took me too.”
The surprise that flashed across her face made my cheeks heat. Levi had kidnapped me, and I was vouching for him. Standing up for him.
Don’t forget sleeping with him.
I ignored my bitch of a conscience and held Leah’s eyes.“He’ll keep his word,” I assured her. “Just help us get Remi stable. He wasn’t safe in the hospital; his brothers can keep him safe. And you’ll see your daughter as soon as he’s out of the woods.”
Her gaze ricocheted between the two of us, eyes narrowed. Whatever she saw, she didn’t fight, simply turned her back and went to Remi’s side. Levi’s focus shifted to me, his burning gaze trailing downmy body, and I wished suddenly that I had something, anything that would keep me busy and far, far away from that look.
