Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
RODRIGO
I’d never felt this kind of pain before. It was as if someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart to shreds. I’d endured physical abuse that had pushed me to the limits, but it was nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that now swirled in my stomach.
I’d never allowed anyone close, never allowed anyone to affect me. But Lily had somehow penetrated the walls around my heart, embedded herself deep in my soul. My heart was reserved for her and her alone.
I would never allow anyone to replace her memory. Never for the rest of my days would I forget the time I’d spent here, and the woman I’d come to care for—deeply.
That was one more reason I needed to leave. Love changed a person, made them vulnerable. I couldn’t afford that. Lily was already in jeopardy, and I needed to put as much distance between us as possible.
Part of me acknowledged that it was already too late. I didn’t want to examine my feelings too closely, not until I was far, far away. If I gave in to the urge to open up and validate my emotions, I was afraid I would never leave. Lily was my once in a lifetime.
And I had no choice but to leave her behind.
The sound of Lily returning drew my attention to the back door, and I crossed the room to help her. But she wasn’t alone.
My blood ran cold at the sight of the man behind her, a matte black pistol pressed to her skull. My fingers itched to grab the knife still tucked into my waistband, but I knew I wouldn’t be fast enough. She’d be dead before I even got close to him.
Arana’s man turned the pistol on me, a smirk curving his lips. “We meet again. And look—I found your plaything.”
Lily’s eyes were wide with fear, and I forced myself to look away from her, to focus on the man. “Lay a finger on her and it’ll be the last thing you do,” I warned softly.
The man smirked. “Yeah? What are you gonna do about it?”
I inhaled deeply through my nose, striving for calm. The last thing I wanted was for Lily to get caught in the middle. “You came for me. Let her go.”
He raised a brow. “Hmm… I don’t think I will.”
His hand slid over her hip and pulled her against him. Lily cried out, and I instinctively grabbed the knife.
“Put down your weapon.” A second gunman appeared in my peripheral vision.
Fuck.
I’d been so focused on Lily that I never even heard him approach.
My grip tightened on the hilt of the knife, and the man behind Lily raised a brow as he redirected the pistol to her temple.
A malicious smile curved his lips as he slid his hand higher.
My stomach somersaulted as he roughly grabbed her breast. Her eyes closed under the assault, her teeth sinking into her lower lip to stop the soft whimper that bubbled up.
Red bled into the edges of my vision. He’d just signed his death warrant.
I tried not to look at Lily; I knew she was terrified. I set the knife on the floor, then kicked it away.
“That’s good.” The man watched the knife skitter under the table, then turned his gaze back to me. “Where’s Morrison?”
I stared blankly at him, unsure who he was talking about. “Never heard of him.”
His head tipped slightly to one side. “You kill him?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” He glanced around the room, but the gun never wavered from Lily’s head. “I assume you have the book?”
I fought to keep the confusion from my face. What the hell was he talking about? “I don’t know anything about a book.”
I ground my teeth together as he squeezed Lily, who cried out again. “What about you?”
She shook her head vehemently. “I—I don’t have any book. I swear. G-go look.”
Her body trembled violently, and I wanted to rip her from his arms. “She has nothing to do with this. Let her go.”
He smirked. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He stroked the muzzle along her cheek, and she recoiled. Fury simmered in my veins. “It’s me you came for. Take me.”
I didn’t want to press my luck by bartering too much. If they suspected how much I cared for her, they would have no mercy on her. They’d break her just to teach me a lesson.
“A life for a life?” He rolled his eyes with a sigh. “How predictable.”
He released his hold, and Lily stumbled away a few steps. My heart leaped with hope. “Lily, go.”
It was a ploy. As long as they drew breath, I knew they would never let her go. If they succeeded in killing me they would rape her or worse; I needed her as far away as possible. I had to focus if I was going to have any chance of outsmarting them.
I could feel her gaze swing my way. “But…”
“Go. Now.” She hesitated another moment, and my pulse accelerated. She needed to get as far the hell away from him as she could before he changed his mind.
“Goddamn it, Lily!” I screamed. “Get the fuck out of here!”
The man sneered. “You’re wasting my time.”
The pistol swung my way, and his finger tightened on the trigger. In my peripheral vision, I watched as Lily suddenly changed directions, throwing herself my way.
“No!”
The gun went off and, almost simultaneously, a scream rent the air as Lily crumpled to the floor. Disbelief turned to despair, then to pure fury. An inhuman roar ripped from my throat as I whirled toward the man behind me.
Grabbing his hand, I jabbed upward, snapping his forearm.
His scream bounced off the walls as his finger squeezed on the trigger and the bullet lodged in the ceiling above us, sending a cloud of drywall particles showering over us.
I turned, pulling him in front of me and using him as a shield as the second man fired off a shot.
The man in my arms jerked under the impact, then went limp. I dropped him to the floor and scooped up my knife, dodging a bullet from the second man as it whizzed past. Grabbing up the hilt I launched it across the room, watching as it flipped end over end before burying itself in the man’s chest.
His arm lifted to fire again, but a blast echoed in the room and the man’s eyes went wide as a large red stain bloomed over his chest. Gunfire suddenly erupted around me, seeming to come from every direction. I whirled in place, watching as men swarmed into the room.
What the hell...?
I half expected to take a bullet at any moment, but the newcomers seemed to be focused on the men who’d invaded Lily’s house. My attention splintered for a fraction of a second but all I could focus on was getting to Lily.
My gaze was fixed on her as I dropped to my knees by her side and sheltered her body with my own. “Oh, God. Lily… Mi corazón… Look at me.”
She grimaced, and her lashes fluttered as she fought to open her eyes. An agonized moan escaped her lips, and dark red blood blossomed over her torso where she’d been hit. I yanked her shirt up, searching for the injury. My stomach twisted at the sight of the ragged flesh.
“You’re going to be fine.” I pressed one hand to the wound, and she cried out at the contact. The sound pierced my heart like a knife. I’d done this; she’d been hurt because of me.
A dozen emotions swam through my chest, making my skin feel too tight for my body. I’d never allowed myself to be hindered by emotion before. I’d always prided myself on remaining calm in any situation, but this pushed me to the edge. A murderous rage swept over me at the injustice of it all.
A quick glance in his direction told me that the man who’d shot her was dead. Good thing, because in that moment I wanted to kill him all over again, drag out his death, make it slow and painful.
Lily drew in a wheezing breath, and her eyes closed again. “Look at me,” I demanded, my voice cracking. “Look at me, damn it!”
Her lids opened to tiny slits, and the corner of her mouth quirked upward. “So… bossy.”
The relief I felt at her sassy response died away when her eyes closed again a moment later. “Why the hell did you do that? Don’t ever do that again!”
She winced as she spoke. “Someone had to protect you.”
Awe and fury pulsed through me. She’d sacrificed herself—for me. “That was stupid.”
My words were harsh, but as usual, they had the opposite effect on Lily. She offered a tiny smile as she met my gaze. “I would do it all over again.” Her gaze turned serious. “I’m so glad I met you.”
I recognized that look in her eyes, the way exhaustion pulled at her. Blood oozed steadily under my hand, seeping into my jeans and pooling in the carpet beneath me. “Don’t you dare give up on me,” I snapped. “You’re going to be okay.”
Maybe if I said it fiercely enough, I could divine it. The light in her eyes began to fade, and terror raced through me. She was losing too much blood.
“Lily. Stay with me.” Her muscles grew lax, and her eyes closed. “Lily!”
I dimly became aware of the silence that hung heavily in the room. At some point the barrage of gunfire had stopped, though I’d been too focused on Lily to notice.
A large form appeared next to me, and I was startled to find Fox staring down at me. “Help her,” I begged. “Please. I know I don’t deserve it, but she’s…”
My voice broke as the fear of losing her engulfed me. “I’m so sorry about Eva. I should have known... I never should have let her go, and now... I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me, but God... Please… Please don’t let her die.”
Fox stared at me, a question in his eyes as he knelt next to me and studied Lily. “Where’s the closest hospital?”
My mind blanked. I had no idea.
“Kalispell.” We turned toward Callum, who’d spoken. “It’s an hour away.”
“Find a doctor. Quickly.” Fox jerked his chin, and the man disappeared to do his bidding.
Around me, Fox’s men began to clean up the gory scene. They’d shown up seemingly out of nowhere. Why were they here? The thought was forgotten almost immediately as my attention riveted on the woman in my arms. “Lily. Wake up.”
My vision blurred and pain like I’d never known threatened to cleave my heart in two. Her breathing was shallow, her chest barely moving as she fought to drag in oxygen.
“Please,” I begged. “Don’t you dare leave me. I need you.”
I buried my face in her hair and held her close as blood spilled over my fingers and the life slowly drained from her body.