Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“I have you,” I muttered, low and rough, my voice cracking in my throat. “You're in my arms now, baby.”
She winced even though she was unconscious when I shifted her. I glanced down to assess where else she might be injured, cringing when I got a good look at her shoulder. Her jacket was torn at the seam, bunched awkwardly where she’d landed, and the skin beneath was already starting to mottle—an angry bloom of deep red and purple spreading along the curve of her shoulder.
It looked raw and swollen as if the muscle underneath had taken the brunt of the impact. Blood vessels had burst in uneven streaks, and the entire area was starting to swell. It looked tender and appeared hot, even from a few inches away.
She’d be sore as hell for a couple of days. But Blade could give her pain meds that would keep her shoulder functional while it healed, so long as she hadn’t broken anything.
I clenched my jaw so hard it clicked. Someone was gonna pay for putting her through this.
The wreckage shifted again with a long groan, and I jumped into action. I cleared debris around her with brute force—chunks of concrete, bent steel—tossing everything out of my way. When she was free, I scooped her up like she weighed nothing.
Her body curled into me on instinct, one hand—luckily her good one—fisting in my shirt even though she was unconscious.
Something inside me cracked and welded shut at the same time.
I just knew. She was everything to me now. Mine.
She was soft in my arms but full of grit. Her jeans were torn, her jacket half-burned along the sleeve, but her skin was warm against mine. And her sweet, earthy scent, faint with sweat and fear, hit me like a punch to the gut. That same dark heat from before surged low in my belly, rage and lust twining in a twisted knot.
Even battered and bruised, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
Fucking hell, I wanted to bury myself deep inside her until the world faded away.
But first, I had to get us both the fuck out of here and make sure she would be okay.
I retraced the few steps I’d taken and grunted in approval when I reached the ladder they’d lowered into the hole. Holding her firmly, while also being as gentle as possible, I slowly climbed up to the surface.
Bodie’s face appeared, and he reached his hands down, expecting me to transfer Peyton into his arms. I growled deep in my chest, and his eyes grew wide before he nodded and backed up. Near the top, I took his outstretched hand to help me clear the last few rungs.
“Gotta go, Wrecker,” he said urgently. “I don’t know how long the rest of the structure will hold.”
More sirens howled outside as I carried her clear of the building. An EMT lunged forward to help, reaching for her.
I bared my teeth. “Touch her and lose your fucking hand.”
The guy backed off so fast he tripped over his own boots. Smart move, asshole.
“She’s hurt,” Bodie said, carefully moving to stand next to me. “We need to get her to the hospital.”
“No,” I rasped, my voice scratchy from inhaling all the dust, and the tightness in my chest because Peyton still hadn’t woken up. “You don’t.”
His brows drew together. “You can’t keep her from medical—”
“She’ll get medical,” I grunted. “But not at some random hospital. This is Iron Rogues business.”
That shut him up.
I didn’t know for sure if Peyton had been targeted, but my instincts were rarely, if ever, wrong. Which meant taking her to a hospital might give whoever tried to drop that fucking garage on her another chance to take her out.
A female EMT edged closer. “May I?” she asked softly, motioning to Peyton.
I didn’t like it, but until my people could arrive, Peyton needed to undergo at least a cursory exam. And we needed to take care of her shoulder.
Finally, I nodded and carried Peyton over to an ambulance. Her partner, the young guy who’d tried to take her before, wisely stayed a good distance away.
The female EMT was gentle and professional. Her hands were soft and steady as she checked Peyton’s vitals. Then she examined her more thoroughly, wincing when she got to the bruise.
She looked up a moment later. “She’s stable. Might have some bruised ribs along with that contusion. No signs of internal bleeding, but she needs a more thorough examination. She’s dehydrated and needs fluids.”
“I’ll get her what she needs.”
“She really should be monitored—” the EMT tried again, but I shut her down.
“She will be.” I was already reaching for my phone. “But by someone I trust.”
I called Blade. “Need a favor.”
“You sound like shit. What’s wrong?”
“Got called to a collapsed garage. There was a woman inside, and I pulled her out. Minor injuries for the most part, but she’s severely dehydrated and needs fluids and a full examination.”