Page 145 of Ruthless Protector

They fucking beat her…

“D-don’t fucking m-move.”

I just stood there as some young punk stepped out of the kitchen, wielding a fucking knife. He took one look at her, and then fixed those wide eyes on me before muttering with a heavy French accent, “I…I didn’t do this…I didn’t do this to her.”

I screamed my rage, unable to stop myself any longer, and charged.

I hit him hard. Agony slashed across my side. I remembered the knife. But I didn’t care and didn’t hesitate, lifting my gun and smashed it into the fucker’s face. He dodged the blow, throwing his head forward to smash into my face. Agony roared through me, intense and wretched. Stunned, he drove me backwards across the room until we tripped.

The gun flew out of my hand as we hit the floor. But I just grasped at the agony in my side, finding the blade plunged deep. The asshole looked down, his eyes widening in horror. I gripped the hilt and wrenched the knife free. It tore from me slick and smooth and, as I lifted the blade, the asshole above me screamed.

I plunged the knife deep, striking like my own set of fangs, and buried the blade into the side of his neck. Blood spurted, smacking me in the face. His eyes widened in shock. But he was done now…

“Laz?”

The sound of my name on her lips drew my gaze.

She stared at me, her brow creased down the middle as though she thought she was dreaming. Movement from deeper in the house drew her focus. She stiffened and paled as terror crossed her face. Her swollen, bloodied lips parted as a big bastard stepped out of the hallway and settled his savage gaze on me.

He looked at my gun lying on the floor, just out of my reach, and smiled.

Time moved slowly as he lifted the gun, and took aim.

“Lazarus!”she screamed.

All I heard was that scream.

And knew in my heart it was the last sound I’d hear…forever.

53

Kat

“No!”I screamed as the piece of shit that had beaten me took aim.

All I saw was Lazarus dying…all I saw was my life over. I shoved forward, stumbling with my hands tied to the back of the chair, as a shadow burst through the door of the apartment. Logan was a blur, sweeping his gun through the room and firing.

Bang…

A single shot was all it took.

Blood bloomed in the center of the bastard’s forehead before he buckled. My knees went with him, sending me crashing to the floor.

“Kat?” Lazarus’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Still, he called my name. And that was all I'd prayed for, just to hear him once more.

“Laz,” Logan growled from the doorway. “We have to go.”

Lazarus bent, grasped the blade embedded in the young guy’s neck, and yanked it free. I blinked as the room spun. Agony was a fist in my belly. I tried to breathe through the pain as it clenched and clenched. I couldn’t help but flinch as Lazarus took a step toward me with the knife in his hand.

He stopped for a second, then picked up his gun and hurried toward me. “Easy,” he murmured. “I’m here now.”

Tears slipped from my eyes as he sawed at my bonds. My arms screamed with agony as they burst free. I slipped, falling to the side, before he caught me. The knife clattered to the floor as he slipped one arm behind my back and slid the other under my knees, lifting me.

The smear of blood between my thighs was neon bright under the murky lights. I whimpered at the sight as Lazarus pulled me closer until he froze. Blood marred the gray sweatpants that were once his. He scowled, unable to understand, as agony rocked me.

“The baby,” I whimpered.

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