Page 18 of Suck

His face lights up while hers pales with hesitation. Once again she second guesses herself. “It’s okay angel. I trust him and you’ll have fun. I guarantee it.”

“As do I señorita.” Eduardo bows and offers his hand in an old-fashioned yet elegant request. “No one is better than me.”

His arrogance is earned and his dramatic flourish garners him an excited twitch from her. She looks one last time to me for approval and as soon as I nod he glides her off the cushion and onto the dance floor. My men crowd close, limiting the breadth of their movements but she doesn’t seem to mind. She spins from his twirl away from his body and back again before he dips her. The tips of her long hair brush the concrete for a breath before he sweeps her back up and against his chest as she laughs.

Feigning disinterest in her is difficult with her fucking glowing under the purple and green rays beaming across her glittering dress.

“So then we have an understanding Señor Diavolo?”

“Yes, and I trust that...”

Darkness suddenly engulfs the club and shocked shrieks fade out to complete silence, more deafening than the painful thudding beat just a second ago. Totally black until cell phones start lighting up in a disorienting glow swiping through the foggy air.

A roar explodes from my chest in the quiet when a blue tinged ray sweeps across my angel revealing a bastard’s hand around her mouth and the tip of a black Glock shoved into the side of her head with my ally crumpled at her feet, his white suite now drenched with blood.

Genuinely devastated by the loss, I can’t think about him now and my attention returns to Macy. Our eyes meet and all I know is her panic. And, that the motherfucker holding her is a dead man. I whip out my weapon and fire a round into Omar’s forehead, who’s now on his feet, before I aim for the asshole who has Macy. He receives a slug to the face too. No time to enjoy any torture for their attempt to kidnap her. Not with Macy hitting the floor too and the stampede starting from my massacre.

I race to her, huddled down on the sticky marble on her hands and knees. Too shocked to move, she’s as still as a statue before I haul her up. I control her in her fear and wrap her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. “Don’t let go and don’t look up.”

Emergency generators finally kick in, and dim light floods from the edges of the huge room. Casting eerie shadows on the already distorted faces of the fleeing crowd, the white beams diffuse a morbidly stark effect compared to the rainbow from before. Finally fully realizing the danger, Macy clutches me with all her strength. Thank fuck she’s practically as small as a kid, and I’m her giant savior.

After bending to grab the second weapon strapped to my ankle, I stride forward. With a gun in each hand, I shoot at every man heading my direction uncaring any longer if they are friend or foe as I push our way through the mass with her clinging to me like a second skin.

Fire burns through my bicep as a bullet hits me. Motherfucker that shit hurts. But the pain’s got nothing on my real worry. “Are you hit Macy?”

Nothing. I would assume she would cry out or scream but terror may have stolen her ability to react. “Damn it, angel. Fucking answer me. Were you shot?”

Her forehead rubs across my chest in denial of my question. Thank fuck.

Ryker’s shoulder brushes mine. Finding me in the chaos, he directs the team to circle around us, ensuring some face the other direction so we have coverage on all sides. We cut through the back bar and kitchen, ignoring the scurrying workers who’ve determined I’m the enemy if they interfere with our escape, and hightail our asses up the steps to the roof, where Felix already has the blades rotating.

My army fans across the concrete, ready to fire on anyone still in pursuit, yet my focus remains on Macy. She keeps a fierce grip on me even after I climb into the helicopter and Ryker slams the door behind us. It’s a tight fit with her straddling my lap but I won’t complain. She’s safe and we’re taking off, leaving the ambush behind.

I stroke her hair, hoping to soothe her but she continues to tremble. “It’s okay. You’re safe. You know I would never let anyone hurt you. I’d never let those bastards take you. I’d die before I let that happen.”

I feel the vibration of her voice more than I hear the words with the whipping of the rotors and yank off the headset I just slid on, tipping my head down to her. “Tell me again angel. I couldn’t hear you.”

A deep, shuddering breath blows in my ear before her lips press against the hot skin.

“I know you would and that’s what scares me the most.”

Nothing I can do to reassure her when it’s my dedication and commitment to her that generates her fear. Ryker’s voice comes through the earpiece, confirming our guys got out safe and are headed to my compound with Eduardo’s body. I’m not a religious man but still ask his god for blessings upon him. Grateful I have Macy to hold onto in my fury. I will ensure a proper burial and take care of his mother and sister as my duty and respect for his devotion.

“How’s your arm? Do you think the bullet passed through?”

His question is what finally forces her to lift up from my chest. Convulsing with panic, her fumbling hands grab my jacket, attempting to draw my bloody sleeve down so she can inspect the damage.

Fuck. Neither of us are used to having her feelings to consider or realize how frightened she would be from the realities of my world. I clutch her desperate fingers in their urgency to examine me. “Stop Macy. I’m okay. We’ll check it when we get there. I promise.”

I’m not sure if she can understand my assurances but she at least stills. Never tearing her eyes from the rip in the fabric, the torn material emphasizing the shot meant for her.

Any lingering doubts about him scatter like leaves in the breeze when I see his blood smeared across the sequins of the once beautiful dress he bought for me. When I know how close I come to losing him. When I realize how he sacrificed himself to protect me.

All along I swore to myself it was just for fun. That it was just one week. That it didn’t mean anything. That I would go back to reality after the seven days.

If that was really true then my heart wouldn’t hurt so much. I swallow down the lump in my throat. Again and again despite the burning. Stifling the sob bubbling to escape. Hating that I’m terrified and weepy, I swipe at the tears threatening my cheeks. I’m just emotional because of the attack and of seeing poor Eduardo die and of Reece getting shot to save me.

Right or wrong, I love him and can’t let him go. I don’t know what I’ll do if have to. My arms wrap around myself again from the horrifying thought.

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