Page 55 of Absolution

My eyes followed him as he slowly prowled around to the back of the couch. He stopped directly behind me and leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“I’m surprised by how quickly you forgave Leo for abandoning you. I mean, the man leaves you behind at such a tender age without any protection. Any big bad wolf could have swooped in and done terrible things to you.”

I shuddered and jerked away. Gideon ran a fingertip down my cheek and across the top of my shoulder. He strolled out from behind me to stand near my side.

“Don’t you fucking touch me,” I ground out.

Before I could blink, he snatched me up by my jaw. “I’ll touch you anytime I please, you little whore, and you’ll scream when I do it.”

He slammed his mouth down onto mine and thrust his tongue down my throat. In a blinding rage, I bit down as hard as I could, ripping my teeth into the organ. He roared in pain. No one was allowed to kiss me but Leo. I shuddered with the taint of Gideon’s taste inside me. Agony exploded inside my head, and my mouth opened releasing his tongue.

“You god damn bith,” he spit out wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand. When he saw the damage I’d done, he backhanded me so hard I fell onto the couch. He grabbed me by the hair and threw me to the ground. Without my arms to catch myself, I landed on my face. Gideon jerked me onto my back and squatted over me.

“You’re gonna pay for that.”

His bloodied face distorted in pain was the last thing I saw before his fist made everything go black.

Chapter 35

Leo

There wasa vague buzzing sound in my ear. My eyes fluttered open when I faintly heard my name being called. Slowly awareness came over me, and I shifted, almost puking at the rush of pain.

“Jesus, Leo, wake up.”

I opened my eyes and my blurred vision came into focus. Squatting in front of me was Paddy. Memories assailed me, and I jerked upright with a roar of pain. I clutched my arm as my gaze frantically darted around the gym trying to locate Gina.

“Stop moving, son. There’s an ambulance on the way.”

I ignored him and scrambled to my feet.

“Fuck, he took her. God damn it,” I yelled.

“Leo, what the hell happened?”

“Someone took Gina.”

“Shit.”

I tore off my shirt and assessed my wound. No major damage.

“Grab the first aid kit.”

While Paddy took off, I dug my phone out of my pocket and quickly dialed Connor’s number.

“Black.”

“Gideon has Gina. Fucker shot me in the shoulder and then knocked me unconscious.”

“How long?”

I glance up at the clock on the wall. “Ten minutes maybe.”

“You need a hospital?”

“No, flesh wound. I need Josie to track down Gideon. Now.”

“On it. I’ll call you when she gets something.”

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