Page 13 of Betrayed in the Dark
“I can handle myself! I was taken because I had a momentary lapse of judgment and wasn’t prepared, but I don’t need a bodyguard! Especially not—”
“You were fucking shot at!” His chest heaves violently, his eyes wide and dark. “You were seconds away from being killed right in front of my eyes.” His eyes soften, his tattooed-covered hands running frantically through his thick dark hair. The same hair that I used to run my fingers through as his head rested against my chest, and he would fall asleep. “Don’t you understand the severity of what could have happened?”
Of course, I understand.
My chest tightens as visions from that night float before me.
I was getting ready at my house for the annual Halloween party, looking in my mirror, when a figure moved behind me. I quickly reached for the gun hidden in my nightstand, but I was too late. An arm wrapped around my chest, binding me to the perpetrator, and the moment my eyes looked up to see who it was, he pressed a cloth to my lips. One that, I’m assuming, was soaked in chloroform as I woke up later, bound to a chair with Scarlett hysterically entering the door before me.
And that’s when chaos ensued.
The moment the gun fired, I saw my life flash before my eyes.
And it made me mad.
No, it made me pissed off.
Pissed off that I was dying engaged to a man I despised.
Pissed off that I had let everything spiral so far out of my control.
But then, a body flew before me, shielding me. Protecting me from death as it took the bullet for me.
Eli’s.
And for the first time in months, my heart slowly started to beat for a man I used to love with everything inside of me.
Eli’s eyes bore into mine as if trying to read my thoughts. Trying to place all the puzzle pieces together, forming a perfect picture of the chaos inside my mind.
But before he has a chance to say anything else…
Before he drags me back into his orb…
Before I unravel in front of him…
I turn and walk away.
With my head held high and my heels clacking against the marble floor, I escape to the safety of my room, where I can shatter into pieces. I lock the door behind me and slide against the wall until my ass hits the floor, and I have my knees wrapped in a tight hug.
Slowly, I drop to my side, curling into the fetal position as sobs take over my body. And as I let the tears fall, there’s only one thought invading my mind.
How will I survive being so close to the man who has my heart, whether he knows it or not?
Chapter four
Eli
Sweat trickles down my temple, my muscles ache, and my chest burns from exertion. But no matter how long I spend sparring in the ring with Mauro, I can’t shake the unease surging aggressively through my veins.
Mauro catches me off guard, landing a hook to my left side that sends me tumbling back against the ropes. I shake off the pain and step toward the center, where he waits, bouncing on the balls of his feet, anticipating my next move.
He tilts his head to the side, his eyes observing me as he relaxes on his feet and raises a hand to signal for a break.
Fucking finally.
A harsh breath escapes my lips as I look up at the ceiling, my taped-up fingers kneading the back of my shoulder.
Mauro grabs our water bottles and hands me mine.
