“No. I mean, you almost clawed out my eyes, but other than that I’m fine.”
I cringed. “I’m so sorry. Is Ro—”
“I’m good, too,” Rome’s voice came from somewhere beside us. “Got shot, but I’ll live. Thanks for asking.”
“Thank God you’re alive!” I let go of Kingsley and stumbled in the direction where Rome’s voice had come from. I found an arm and squished it.
He let out a grunt. “Told you I was shot, right?”
I instantly let him go. “Sorry.” Now my hands were slick. I wiped my palms on my pants, grimacing when I realized I was wearing my white pair. “You’re bleeding.”
“Usually happens when lead penetrates skin and flesh.”
I wanted to smack him. “I’m panicking here, okay? I just got chased through the jungle by psychos out for my blood all the while thinking you two were dead. You can’t expect my brain to work. Now tell me what happened.”
“Bossy much?” A grin was audible in his voice. “They discovered me, and I shot at them. Unfortunately they shot back.”
“Are you serious?” The way he’d uttered the words so nonchalantly made it sound like he was joking. But Rome wasn’t one to joke about stuff like this.
“We better get out of Dodge before they come back,” Kingsley cut in.
Even though I wanted to know more details, I didn’t argue. According to Rome, the men were gone, so we used the flashlights to get back to Silent Wharf. Relief washed over me when we left the jungle behind.
“Can you ride your bike?” Kingsley shone the light of my phone on Rome’s shoulder.
I sucked in a breath at the sight of blood glistening on his black button-down. So much blood.
“Yeah, shouldn’t be an issue.” Except his face contorted when he lifted his arm.
“You need to go to the hospital, or you’ll bleed out,” I demanded, not caring how commanding I sounded.
He straddled his bike, clearly favoring his arm. “Stuffed some fabric in there. Won’t bleed out that quickly.”
Only now did I notice that the bottom of his shirt was ripped. “Geez, Rome.” I shook my head. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Is that your blood, Harley?” Kingsley pointed at the bloody hand prints on my white pants.
I grimaced. “No, that’s Rome’s.” And my hands were stained, too. I lifted my gaze to my boss. “What exactly happened?”
Sighing, he raked a hand through his hair. A darkness lingered in his eyes, like he was just emerging from the place he’d gone to when he had to pull the trigger. “I killed two of them. You guys distracted your ex and the other dude, and I could escape. I’m pretty sure they took all the weapons.” He tilted his head back with a groan. “Which means I have to start the search all over again.”
“He killed two men,” I muttered as I frantically scrubbed my hands in the sink of the tiny guesthouse bathroom at Saint James. Kingsley and I had managed to sneak into the monastery and dodge everyone to avoid being asked why my pants were bloodied.
A strong body nestled against me from behind, calloused hands stilling mine. “It was his life or theirs,” Kingsley said quietly.
Warmth spread through me when he took one of my hands, pumped soap into it, then started massaging my palm. “I know. And I’m aware that this comes with who he is, but still . . .” I closed my eyes, relishing Kingsley’s touch. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this mess. What if they think you’re an accomplice to murder?”
Although I was certain if the police found out, Rome would take the blame. He wasn’t one to throw others under the bus, not even if they were actually involved.
Kingsley rinsed my hand with warm water, then switched to the other. “I chose to be there, and I would do it again if it means I can protect you.”
Red soap water dripped into the white porcelain sink. That was me in Kingsley’s life. He’d been clean before me, then I came along and defiled him.
“Stop blaming yourself, Harley. I make my own choices.”
The kiss he pressed to my temple left my skin tingling.Lord, I love this man so much.