Page 51 of Seductive Desires

There was a loud bang. Stephen and his two buddies jumped but I was expecting it. Back up had arrived. I didn’t hesitate, lunging at Stephen, tackling him to the ground. He was so shocked, his gun went flying, landing a few feet behind him. I landed on top of him, scrambling until I sat on his chest, throwing my fist into his face over and over again.

Mateo chose that moment to wake up, his head jerking up. He had just enough time to scan the room before the security guards moved. He was on his feet, doing what he could with his hands tied behind his back. He headbutted the smaller one, who lurched back with a cry, blood pouring from his nose. The bigger one swung but Mateo ducked and weaved, keeping him distracted and away from me.

Apparently, it never occurred to Stephen that I would fight back because he was frozen beneath me, his mouth hanging open. It wasn’t until the third punch that he snapped back into reality, knocking my hand out of the way and backhanding me. I landed on my back and he tried to climb on top of me. I slapped and scratched him, keeping him distracted as I moved my legs underneath him. Just as the door flew open, I kicked out, sending Stephen sailing off of me.

Dmitriy moved with quick efficiency, taking out the two security guards who were trying to get to Mateo. I gasped, taking way too long to pull myself together before I twisted, pushing myself onto my feet. I was about to turn toward Mateo when another blast went off and I was shoved to the ground. Mateo’s body covered mine as more shots popped off. I felt him jerk against me and time moved in slow motion.

Dmitriy’s shout was muffled, more guys pouring into the room. They pulled Mateo off me, one of them sliding a knife through the bindings in his hands to release him but he wasn’t moving. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I could see the blood running over him but I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. My ears were ringing and my throat hurt. Why did my throat hurt?

Dmitriy’s hands wrapped around my shoulders, shaking me. I was screaming. That wasn’t ringing in my ears, that was me screaming. “Mariana! Enough! We need to go! NOW!”

Two men had Mateo’s arms over their shoulders, dragging him from the room. I slipped as I lunged to follow, nearly landing on my face. I slipped in blood. I was covered in it, in Mateo’s blood. Too much blood. There was a trail of drips down the hall, all the way out of the building. They didn’t wait for me, taking off the minute he was pulled into the back of their SUV. Dmitriy dragged me to his car, tossing me inside. He tore off after them, throwing me around the car whenever he turned a corner. I had to buckle my seatbelt out of sheer self preservation. I felt like we wouldn’t make it to the hospital unscathed the way he drove.

We pulled up behind them just as they dragged Mateo out of the car and onto a gurney. For the second time since I met him, I watched as they wheeled Mateo through the emergency room, past the double doors that I wasn’t allowed to go through. Only this time, I couldn’t hold it together. I dropped to my knees, gasping around sobs. I can’t breathe. So much blood. Mateo…

Spots danced around the edges of my eyes and blackness washed over me. I didn’t fight it. My vision went right as I watched Amari race through the doors of the ER. Better late than never, I guess…

ChapterTwenty-Five

I wokeup in a noisy ER, Jo and Gabi hovering over me.

“Oh look! She’s opening her eyes!”

“Finally! I was about to start pinching to see if she’d wake up.”

I groaned, pushing the heels of my hands against my eyes. Too loud. When I blinked up at them again, Gabi grabbed my hand, grinning at me.

“Before you freak out, Mateo is fine. He’s up in his own private room now and you can see him once you’re discharged.”

I frowned, my brain taking a minute to catch up to what she was saying. All at once, the meeting with Stephen, the fight, Mateo getting hurt, it all slammed into me. My blood ran cold.

“Stephen? What happened to him? Is he here? Did he get away?”

Jo sat on my bed, patting my hand. “He’s gone, Mariana. You don’t need to worry about him anymore.”

I shook my head, confused. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “He shot Mateo. So Dmitriy, ya know…” She slashed her finger across her throat. Gabi smacked her arm. “Ow!”

“Jo has never had much tact. When I was going through stuff, she got me plastered.”

Jo snorted. “That was funny.”

Gabi rolled her eyes.

While they bantered, I took stock of what Jo said. I know I had asked them not to, but I couldn’t feel an ounce of regret that Stephen was dead. I didn’t feel much of anything really. I am free, finally. For the first time, I could go anywhere, do anything, be with anyone without worrying about Stephen finding me. I should feel elated, shouldn’t I?

“What’s wrong?”

Jo and Gabi’s focus was back on me. Gabi still held my hand, patting it lightly.

“I don’t know. I just thought I’d feel different.”

“Different how?” Jo asked.

“Happy? Relieved? Ecstatic?”

Gabi frowned. “Well, you haven’t had time to really absorb it yet, it could be a more defining moment later. Give yourself a minute, Mari, you just woke up. Mateo got hurt, I’m sure you’re worried about him. You don’t need to have specific reactions at specific times.”

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