Page 76 of The Crownless King
Just as she was taking an easy breath, Bronx swerved the car and cursed again. Amaya glanced at the mirror on her side and her heart thumped hard. In the car directly behind her was a male hanging out the window, a gun pointed in their direction.
“Bronx!”
“I see ‘em, your Highness. Hold on.”
He flung the car to the right, turning down a side street, and Amaya gripped the bar over her head and held on tight. She kept her gaze on the car behind them, whimpering when they made the next left turn with their SUV. Bronx mashed down on the gas and the SUV lurched forward. The next right turn theytook slammed her into the window and she winced but kept her thoughts to herself.
She could taste fear on her tongue as Bronx went through his evasion techniques. A wave of soothing energy filled her as Levi tried reassuring her over their bond. It didn’t last long, though, because two or three shots rang out behind them and hit the back window. Up until that moment, she hadn’t even realized they were riding in a bulletproof car.
‘I will always see to your safety,’Levi assured her.
She would be sure to thank him for that the moment she saw him.
‘I know one way you can thank me.’
‘Your distractions won’t work, King. I’m about to lose my life in a car chase,’she scolded him.
His chuckle echoed through her mind.‘Bronx got you, baby doll. Breathe.’
That was easier said than done when another bullet hit the back of the SUV. Bronx swung the car around a corner, dodging the cyclist who had the misfortune of riding their bike along that street. Another left and Amaya just knew she was going on to glory. The street was one way and narrow, and if they made it out, she was going to kiss the ground.
She glanced back and the person had vacated the window, thankfully. At the speeds they were going down these side streets, it was too dangerous. She looked up in time to see them quickly approaching a red light. She smashed her feet into the floor in front of her, but Bronx didn’t touch the brakes. Instead, he flew across the interstate and Amaya swallowed a scream. She turned to see if the car behind them would attempt it and theydid, but they didn’t make it. A black pickup truck slammed into the truck chasing them, sending it spinning in the intersection.
Bronx didn’t slow the SUV one whit, continuing to speed through the rest of the city. She held her chest and forced herself to breathe. The buildings of downtown Black Hollow were distant in the side mirror and from what Amaya could tell, only normal rush hour traffic filled the roads. There were no suspicious vehicles darting in and out of traffic behind them, and Bronx kept a steady path.
‘Almost home, love,’Levi’s presence in her mind reassured her.
Amaya leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, willing her pulse to calm. Their vehicle slowed and she opened her eyes, so happy to see the front gates of Levi’s estate. She barely waited on Bronx to pull into the driveway and put the SUV in park before she was jumping out. Levi was waiting for her on the porch. Sprinting towards her mate, she didn’t breathe until the king wrapped her in his arms.
She buried her face against his chest, thankful for the rumble of his voice against her cheek. None of the words he said penetrated, but the tone of his voice and his hands slowly stroking her back worked together to calm her. Levi walked them into the house with her still clutched in his arms. She didn’t move until the door closed and locked behind them.
Levi lifted her chin with his fingers. “Go rest, baby doll. I need to take care of this.”
She shook her head. “Come with me, please.”
His jaw clenched, indecision all over his face. He was torn between taking care of her and handling the situation. Amaya needed him now and she wasn’t ashamed about it. Reluctantly,Levi sighed and nodded. He guided her upstairs and into their room. She took a deep shuddering breath and headed towards their closet. Shedding her clothes and dropping them into the hamper, she wanted a shower before anything else.
“Will you stay?”
Levi watched her as she started the water, his touch soft in her mind as he gauged her mood and needs. He tilted his head and nodded after a moment of perusing her mind.
“I just—”
“You don’t have to explain, baby doll. I’ll just sit here so you can see me.”
She exhaled a relieved breath. It was exactly what she needed. If he touched her, she would likely break, and she didn’t want that. But…she needed eyes on him. He was her touchstone and just his presence close to her made Amaya feel secure.
Levi sat on the toilet and watched as she took a quick shower. He held open a towel for her as she stepped from the water, wrapping her in it.
He followed her into the closet, still careful to keep from touching her, his watchful gaze on her as she found a gown and slipped it over her head. Levi was a step behind her as she crawled into the middle of the bed and slipped beneath the sheets. Ever present in her thoughts, he knew the moment she was ready for him. He slid into the bed behind her and gathered her in his arms. The first tear splashed on his chest seconds later, the rest flooding out of her as the adrenaline flowing through her crashed.
Her body shook and Levi held her tight, no words needed between them. She wrapped her legs around him, trying to crawlinto his skin as all of her fear and anxiety poured from her through her tears. She didn’t know how long he held her, but by the time she was down to shuddering breaths, her mind was clear and all the tension stored in her body was released.
Sensing the storm calmed, Levi kissed the top of her head. “Better?”
She nodded and burrowed into his chest.
His chuckle vibrated through her. “How much closer you trying to get, baby doll?”
