Page 30 of Scarred Temptation

CHAPTER 6

Maxsim

You’re the beautiful creature. I’m merely a monster.

The words seemed to affect her, her eyelids fluttering and finally closing while her head fell slightly to the side. She didn’t know what they meant, yet I did.

And I’d meant them.

At least her breathing while labored was mostly normal even as her body trembled from the injury.

The sweet angel had called me beautiful, her long fingers providing a gentle caress. Most people either turned away in disgust or fear, yet her smile had taken a brutal man captive if only for a few seconds.

I’d reminded myself more than once she’d likely fallen into shock from the incident, unable to focus on anything. Yet for that moment, I was caught in something other than the savagery of my life.

I removed my jacket, wincing from the pain as I did. As soon as I placed it over her upper body, her eyelids opened, softly penetrating the farthest reaches of my soul. She seemed so vulnerable as her long fingers grasped the edge of my jacket, the woman finding enough strength to pull it around her neck.

“Skoro poletyat golovy.”

In muttering soon heads would roll, I was issuing a private threat and nothing more. However, I was a man of my word.

As I shoved my phone into the pocket of my trousers, the intense pressure and discomfort was yet another reminder I was lucky to be alive. I scanned the street and another wave of rage peppered my system.

I’d managed to get off a couple of shots, catching sight of the man holding an assault rifle as he continued leaning out the black sedan’s window. He’d been hit, but to what extent I wouldn’t know.

Grigor was dead, his broken and bloodied body lying in the street, which was quite possibly where I’d be if the sweet angel hadn’t saved my life. The hit had been intentional, not some random accident caused by a drunk or irate driver.

Several gunshots proved the point as well as the agony tearing through my shoulder. But I was the lucky one. A single moan drew my attention as sirens wailed in the distance. I peered down at her face and as soon as I did, another wave of fury settled into my system.

I pressed my hand against her wound, close to barking out orders to strangers on the street who were doing nothing more than gawking. While I doubted her injury was life threatening, she needed to get to a hospital. I’d thought of taking her with me when my men finally arrived after my call, but there were too many witnesses.

My disappearance was one thing, but someone had seen her performing heroic duties and would remember.

I only hoped the perpetrators wouldn’t be among those who did.

“Breathe for me,” I told her in a harsh whisper while keeping the fingers of my other hand wrapped around my weapon. While it was low to the sidewalk, I sensed fear and near panic within the crowd. At least they were keeping their distance.

She was a gorgeous stranger, a woman who’d risked her life without thinking. Without hesitation and because she’d made the caustic mistake of entering my world, she could lose her life.

Her eyelids fluttered open while her mouth twisted from pain.

“Don’t talk, milyy angel. Help is on the way.” The last thing I should do was to wait with her, but I couldn’t tear myself away. She was the reason I’d return home to my daughter.

“You’re Russian.”

Her voice was faint, weak from loss of blood. While her eyes were dilated, I sensed she was looking directly at me, registering everything going on around her.

To be admiring her beauty was ridiculous, but she was stunning, her long blonde hair forming a golden halo around her head. I brushed a couple of strands from her blood-soaked bottom lip. She’d likely bit the tender flesh with the fall.

What had prompted her to react as she’d done was a testament to her soul. I doubt I would have done the same.

I cradled her in my arms even as my patience began to wane. Where the fuck was the goddamn ambulance? What was taking them so long?

Precious seconds ticked by, I became even more anxious. In watching the slow rise and fall of her shoulders from her agonized breathing, I realized she’d used her one miracle on saving me. One day, I’d return the favor.

The sirens were closer, but before they could arrive, one of our fleet of black SUVs appeared coming from the side street, pulling up as close as possible considering the crowd. Both Sergei and Kristoff were on the pavement even before the driver had come to a rolling stop, rushing toward me.

I threw them a look, a warning of caution to keep their weapons from the public eye. Sergei appeared frustrated even as he approached.