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“I’m sorry,” Lorelei said. “Leander, please. I’msosorry. I didn’t know she was going to do this. You have to believe me. She said she only wanted him! She only—”
I pulled even harder on her hair. I don’t know what planet she was living on, but an apology would never suffice for a betrayal like that. “What the fuck did you think was going to happen?!”
“It was just supposed to beyou!” she screamed back at me, hatred lacing every word. “Youwere the only one who was supposed to get hurt, you fucking asshole!”
I laughed darkly. So much for that fucking plan. “I’m going to enjoy watching you die.”
Leander lifted his gaze to mine. He blinked slowly and shook his head once.
“You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” I snarled in response, my fingers tightening in her hair.
He gave me a sad smile. “I know. But you would have, and you would have been alone.”
“I had no idea—” Lorelei’s defense ended in a squeak when I jerked her head back even farther.
“Shut up,” I growled. “You don’t get to play the victim.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She whimpered, but didn’t say anything. She’d probably worked out she was safer that way.
Leander’s voice cut through my rage. “Mon coeur...” When I looked up, he held his hand out to me, palm up.
I begrudgingly let go of Lorelei. And by let go, I mean I shoved her away from me as forcefully as I could and stepped over her trembling body to get back to my husband. Taking his hand, I helped him to his feet and looped an arm around his waist to keep him steady.
“Let’s go home,” Leander murmured.
“But, she—”
He shook his head, silencing my outrage. “She saved my life. If not now, then before.” His gaze fell to Lorelei, his ashen face hard. “I’ll give her this one reprieve.”
I glowered, my molars grinding together. That wasnotwhat I was hoping he would say. Not even fucking close.
“But,” he continued, reigniting hope. “You would do well to keep your distance. If our paths cross again, Dr. Clayton, inanycapacity, I will let Bennett do whatever he wants to you for as long as he wants to do it. Understood?”
Lorelei nodded meekly, her lower lip trembling.
It wasn’t an immediate green light, but I was willing to take a rain check. She wouldn’t be able to stay away. I could tell that from the first time I saw her look at him.
We limped toward the door as quickly as Leander could go. I snagged one of the Italian’s cell phones on the way out and called Gavin. In no time, he picked us up around the corner from the warehouse, probably breaking about fifteen different traffic laws along the way. I definitely owed him another raise.
“Oh my God! Is that blood?” Gavin said, eyes wide as Leander slumped across the backseat.
“Hospital. Now,” I replied, shutting the door.
“No hospitals,” Leander wheezed.
“You need a fucking hospital.”
He laced his fingers through mine, squeezing his eyes shut. “No. Too many questions…”
I kicked the back of Gavin’s seat to get his attention. “Call Molly O’Brien. Have her meet us at my apartment.”
“On it.”
I pulled Leander against me, stroking his face lightly. “Hold on, my love. Please hold on…”
40
Bennett
