Page 259 of Like Grim Death: Part One
She’ssorry.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I speak against her spine. “But I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”
I’m going to find out who did this to you, pretty girl.
Just fucking wait.
But I think I already know. I think I know, and I don’t want to, because it was me who did it. It was me who invited him here, when Lucifer told me not to.
“What can he do for you that I can’t?”
I straighten, staring at Ella’s back as Cain massages his big hands over the top of her spine, attempting to settle her. My eyes take in the pain. The trauma.
This, Luce. He can dothis.
“It’s not the first time.”
Did I know this all along? Something was off with her, yeah, I knew that.I knew it, and I ignored it, because it was easier for me to have her distracted.
My temper is rising, and my head starts to hurt.
But Ella whispers again, her eyes wide and watery as she holds my gaze, her cheek still pressed to the floor. “Find Rain, please.” It’s the quietest plea. The softest and sweetest. “I’ll be okay.” I realize she’s been feeding me lies forthis.Her green irises are startling as they flash on me.“Find. Rain.”
My pulse starts to thrash inside my ears.
I lift my eyes to Cain’s dark ones, his hands still relieving Ella’s pain in the only way he can.
“Where is he?” I manage to choke out. “Luce? Sid?”
Cain’s lips are pressed together, and he doesn’t answer me. Does he not know? What the fuck is going on? Why is everyone evenhere?I’m glad they are, but how did they know? Did they hear her?
“Brooklin?” I turn to look at Ezra, who is staring at his phone as he types something out and I like to assume it’s the doctor he’s reaching out to.
Ezra’s eyes flick to mine. “She’s in her room,” he says. “Lucifer and Sid ran out into the hall, which is why we woke up. But Atlas saw Ella was here,” he jerks his chin, “and…”
Lucifer and Sid ran out into the hall.
“We sent guards after them.” That’s Atlas.
I cut my gaze to his. His blue-brown eyes are wide, but he’s staring at Ella, beneath me.
I want to murder him, thinking of him drugging her before we all had sex. I didn’t catch the signs. I didn’t fucking know, because I was drowning in jealousy, and I made myself do it anyway.
My jaw feels tight when I speak to him. “You and me have a lot to talk about when this is over,” I whisper, “and if you had anything to do with this,” I cock my head to my girl, my hands still around the back of her neck, “I’m going to rip Natalie apart while she’s still alive—”
Before I can finish the threat, gunshots erupt around us from toward the living room, rapid-fire, more than one weapon.
I don’t think. I grab my own gun, swiping it up from the floor, at the same time I throw my body over Ella. Atlas, Cain, and Ezra fan out around us, guns drawn as they turn toward the entranceway to the living room, a few feet down the wide hallway, sparks lighting up in the darkness as bullets spray. We didn’t plan for this—whatever it is—but this is what we were born to do in these moments of suspense. Put our bullshit aside and protect each other, like family.
I dip my head to the back of Ella’s neck as she trembles beneath me but wisely doesn’t make a sound. I’m worried she’s going to black out though, and I’ll probably need her to move soon. “I’m going to take care of you. Keep breathing—”
The gunshots ricochet in the suite again.
“Lights!”Ezra hisses and a second later, it’s Atlas who moves to throw off the switch.
We’re surrounded in darkness, and I have no idea who was shooting or whom they were aiming at.
I hold my breath, my arm around Ella’s shoulders. Her breathing is loud, dying sounds. My pulse races, my jaw clenched. I want to spring to my feet. I want to carry her to the fucking doctor myself. I want to tell whoever the fuck breached our security and broke into the penthouse that this is a medical fucking emergency and war should cease until I get her out.
