Page 3 of Rogue Defender
“Wh-who…are you?” Pushing up on an elbow, my neighbor winces. Her eyes don’t quite focus on me. Shock? A concussion?
“I’m Leo. I live next door. Don’t move, okay? You could be injured.” I shuffle toward her, but she scrambles back.
“Stop.” She blinks hard, her gaze dropping to the gun holstered under my right arm. “Is he…dead?”
“No. He’ll live. Unless you’d prefer otherwise.” The joke fails, miserably, if her wide eyes are any indication. “He’ll be out for at least a few minutes. What’s your name?” I frown, suddenly aware that she’s staring at my scarred face. Does she notice that the right side of my mouth doesn’t move like the left? That my right eye doesn’t track her as quickly or as completely?
“Domina. Domina Sanchez.” She tries to get to her feet but collapses with a muttered curse.
I’m at her side in two steps, holding out my hand. “Domina, we need to call the police. Come next door with me. I don’t want you alone with him. And I should lock up my gun.”
She lets me help her up, but once she’s standing mostly under her own power, Domina shakes her head. “He...he broke in. My doorknob was rattling, and when I went to check on it, he snapped the chain and forced his way in. I don’t think he knew I was here.”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything? Hehurtyou.” I still have a gentle hold on her elbow, and I can feel her shaking.
“You tied him up. I can call the police. They’ll take him away. Go back to your apartment, Leo. I will keep your name out of this.”
Keep my nameout of this? “I hit him in the face with your cactus. He’s going to remember that. And me.”
She straightens her shoulders with a wince and steps back. “He will. But I work for Vice President Cortez. He will not want news of this in the papers with the election only a few days away. This man will go to jail, and he will do so quietly.”
“The hell? He attacked you, Domina. I amnotleaving you alone with him.”
She rubs her swelling cheek. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Leo. But you can go now.”
In the distance, sirens start to blare, and the young couple from across the hall knock on Domina’s open front door. “We called the cops. Is everything okay?” the man asks. He and his girlfriend are ex-pats. I met them a few weeks ago, and they’re nosy as fuck.
“Everything is fine,” Domina says with a wave of her hand. “Thank you. Do not worry.”
The two stare at one another, then at the unconscious man on the floor. “Are you sure?” The boyfriend doesn’t look convinced. Can’t say I blame him.
As the young woman tugs on her partner’s hand, clearly ready to bolt, he meets my gaze, and I give him a nod. “You can go back inside. Ms. Sanchez is okay, and the guy’s restrained.”
The couple rushes back across the hall, slams the door, and flips the locks.
Domina lets out a sigh, then rubs her shoulder. “The police will be here in minutes, Leo. I can handle this.”
My instincts demand I stay. Stand over the asshole until he’s in cuffs. But Domina limps to the couch and rummages in her briefcase. When she pulls out a can of pepper spray, I give up.
“Fine. If the police need a statement, you know where I’ll be.”
She brushes past me, a whiff of orange blossoms almost intoxicating. As she leans against the back of the couch, a small smile plays over her lips. “You can use the door this time. If you want.”
“Probably smart.” My nerves are on fire. A thousand daggers pierce my leg from ankle to hip. With each step, I have to stifle a grunt of pain. “Put some ice on that bruise and lock the door behind me.”
I can’t read the look she gives me, and I trudge back to my apartment, unsure how Iended up feeling likemoreof an intruder than the guy who attacked her.
CHAPTER TWO
Domina
My door clicks shut,and I’m alone with the man who—only moments ago—had his hand around my throat.
I can barely move. Pressing against the back of the couch, I stare down at him. My hand shakes, my fingers clutching the pepper spray so hard, they ache.
The sirens blare louder. Thank God the police are almost here. Every swallow hurts. The terror of being unable to breathe tightens my chest. But I will be fine. Everything is under control.
Still, I pray he doesn’t wake up.
