What did they do to him?
I step down from the truck, hoping to find someone to update me on my father. My thoughts drift to the hate in my mother’s eyes. The revulsion and contempt in every word spewed from her mouth, the power in the slap she planted on my cheek. I mindlessly raise my hand to the spot, wincing as my cold hands graze the still warm skin.
A hand slides up my arm, making me jump and attempt to tug away until I smell him.
August.
I look up into the distraught amber eyes, my mouth parting to speak, but he envelops me. My face presses against the black bulletproof vest as I inhale him. His scent mixes in with the metallic smell of blood, but it’s his scent that reminds me I’m not in that room anymore.
His hands slide down my form, scooping me up by my butt into his chest. I squeal in surprise, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as I rest my head in the crook of his shoulder.
“Never letting you go. I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me again,” he growls in my ear.
The bass in his voice sends shivers down my spine, but it’s his words that settle me.
“You came for me,” I whisper, lifting my gaze until our eyes lock.
August angles his neck, lowering his mouth a hairbreadth from mine as he professes, “I will. Every single fucking time, Love. We all will,” before claiming my lips with his in an all consuming kiss.
I’m caught in his spell, lost in a tangle of tongues, groaning at the feel of him hardening beneath.
“Hey, fucker. Stop hogging her.” Karl yanks me backward into a bridal hold before planting me on my feet. “Angel,” he chokes out as his calloused hands run along my skin, gliding across the spot where Seline smacked me.
Karl’s eyes light with rage, his jaw clenches, but his touch is gentle as he tilts my face to the side to better examine the still forming bruise.
“Who did this?” he mutters through gritted teeth.
“Seline,” is all I say, and I hear August curse.
Not wanting everyone to fuss over me, I redirect the conversation. “How’s my dad, and have you guys found Sam?”
Liam answers, shocking me. “He’s being treated, and then they’ll take him to the hospital. Sam wasn’t on any of the lower levels, but the building is still being searched.”
I didn’t hear him approach, and with the way he made his feelings about me clear the night of the Selection ceremony, I didn’t anticipate him speaking to me at all.
“We need to find her.” I pause, choking on the memory of her time here. “She can’t be left behind.”
Liam must see the fear in my eyes. He doesn’t question my worry for someone who’s made my first few months in Calloway hell.
“We’ll find her,” he says, opening up his phone and pushing a few buttons. Lifting his gaze, he examines me with a level of scrutiny that resembles concern. I have to be imagining it. Liam doesn’t tolerate me much less like me.
“They’re bringing her down now,” he smiles reassuringly, confusing me even more. It has to be the situation.
He feels bad, nothing more.
My dad is wheeled out, and I take off. He sees my approach and pulls down the oxygen mask. “I told you she was a bad shot, Ry.” His smile is pained.
“I’m riding with you,” I state, leaving no room for argument.
“Whatever you want, Angel, but we’re all riding together,” Karl says.
“But sir,” the medic tries to object, but whatever look Karl gives shuts him up.
As I step up into the back of the transport, I see someone carrying out Sam. Her head hangs on the guy’s shoulder. It’s not one of the guys, so it must be someone they came with.
I want to check on her, but I don’t think she will want me anywhere near her. She lifts her gaze, seeing all of the guys crowding me, and the glare she sends me confirms my assessment.
She stares longingly at Rowan, whose back is to her, and I feel bad for her. She’s alone, and after everything that happened, she shouldn’t be, but I’m not the one to comfort her.
“One of you should go check on her,” I say to no one in particular.
They all follow my line of sight.
“Will has her. She’ll be fine,” Rowan says dismissively.
They all climb into the back and I’m tempted to ask why Rowan or Liam would even bother but think better of it. They did just risk their lives to come and save mine, leading to saving my dad’s in the process.
“Our focus is you,” Liam says, his gaze trained on me, and if he notices my shock, he doesn’t acknowledge it. He’s trying to convey something, but if he thinks this clears his slate, he forgot who the hell I am.
My dad’s coughing pulls my attention from Liam’s probing stare.
I peer down at his pale face, reaching for his hand as tears fill my eyes. “I still can’t believe you’re here,” I choke out.
“Shh, shh, shhh. Don’t cry. I’m here, Ry,” he choppily soothes.
“Let’s refrain from making him do anything too strenuous until we get him proper medical treatment,” the female medic says.
A phone rings before we pull off.
“Yes, Dad, we got them both. We have a lot to update you on, but Seline got away,” Rowan reports. His dad says something else, making his lips draw tight into a grim line before he responds, “She’s here, and so is her dad.”
I hear Rowan’s dad’s voice rising, but his words are inaudible.
“Right away. I’ll let them know,” Rowan mumbles, ending the call as he turns his gaze to the medic. “Bring us to the Calloway estate.”
“What? My dad needs medical attention!” I shout.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.