Damian’s back was to me as he stood over the dead man. He reached for his cell and made a call. I started to shake, the reality of the situation settling over me, not because of the attack, but of losing Damian again while he spent twenty-five to life upstate all because he had saved me. And I hurt, oh God did I hurt everywhere.
He moved soundlessly, hunching down to look me over. He took several deep breaths through his nose and still the rage coming from him was palpable.
“How did you know?”
“Kimber called, but I was already on my way.”
How did Kimber know his number? “You were?”
“Your mom was right. You cook almost as well as you draw.”
Only Damian could make me smile with the circumstances being what they were. And even with his teasing, he was furious and yet very gentle when his hands roamed over me feeling for breaks. He lifted me into his arms.
“He’s dead?”
“Yeah.”
I started to cry and even though it hurt like hell, I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face on his shoulder, holding him as tightly as I could so no one could take him away from me.
“Thea?”
“They’re going to take you away from me.”
“No they won’t.”
“But you just killed a man.”
“No body, no crime.”
My head jerked up at that and even knowing it was wrong, hope stirred. Yes, he had killed someone but the man had it coming. “That was Anton you called?”
“He’ll take care of it.”
“Meaning?”
“Cleaner is two minutes out.”
My lower lip started to tremble. “You are ex-military, Mr. Discipline, a follower of law and order and I’ve made you a criminal.”
“If you think wartime is law and order, you are very mistaken and that fuck would have killed you. My conscience is clean.”
He had killed for me. I was sure it wasn’t the first person he had killed, but I hated that because of me he had another ghost. “Mount Sinai called, said Ryder had been brought in. I checked the caller ID, it really seemed to have come from them. I’m so sorry.”
Every muscle in his body went hard as stone and yet he said nothing as he started for the front of my apartment. And even being gentle, I still had to bite my lip to keep from moaning in pain. “He got your head and your jaw…” He said that through clenched teeth. “Where else?”
“He kicked me in the stomach.”
“Motherfucker.” He stopped walking, like he was contemplating killing the man again. Love burned through me as I curled deeper into his big, strong body. We reached the front of the building as Kimber and Ryder came jumping out of a cab.
“Oh my God,” Ryder said through tears.
“Where is the fucker?” Kimber looked ready to kill someone.
“Inside,” was all Damian said and they followed.
Damian lowered me to the sofa then hunched down in front of me. “We have to call the cops.”
“I know.”
His hand was actually shaking when he brushed the hair from my cheek. And there was something brewing behind his eyes, but before I could ask about it he said, “After, we’re leaving.”
“Leaving?”
He didn’t answer, I didn’t press. After that ordeal, getting away for a while sounded really nice.
“I need to make a call. Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
He looked over at Ryder. “Tell the cops what you know.”
“Okay.”
He walked from the room as Kimber and Ryder hurried around the sofa to sit on either side of me.
“Is he dead?” Kimber asked.
I nodded, but my attention was on Ryder. “What does he mean tell the cops what you know?”
“A man came in a few times asking about you. I didn’t like his interest so I told Damian.”
“How did you have his number?”
“He gave it to us a while ago. Told us to call if we saw anything unusual. Anyway, he had someone tracking the guy. He hurt you.” Ryder looked ready to kill someone too.
Damian had recruited my friends with keeping me and all of us safe. Love for him burned through me. “It could have been so much worse.”
“I’m glad he’s dead. Asshole.”
“Me too,” Kimber chimed in.
“I won’t be mentioning that to the police though,” Ryder added. Yep, these were my girls. I loved them.
I walked from the room, so I didn’t upset Thea, and almost punched the fucking wall as I struggled to pull in my rage. The sight of Thea in that alley had my blood boiling. I curled my fingers into fists, my nails biting into my palms. I wanted to kill that fucker again, more slowly. It wasn’t just rage, but also anguish at the thought of a world without her in it. She could have died. That was on me. I was supposed to have her back and I failed. I wouldn’t again. No fucking way.