He wipes the blood from my face with his dark shirt sleeve, the sting of the tears in my eyes makes me almost dizzy as he wraps an arm around my waist and then walks me step-by-step back to the apartment. Back to safety and his arms.
"Shane isn't gonna be happy that I let you leave."
"You–you didn't let me leave. I left because I wanted to, I left because I needed to walk. I left because I needed some stupid Midol for my cramps."
"Rafe and I could've run to the store for you. I wish you would've stayed. I'm gonna have a hell of a time explaining this to my brother." His eyes light up just as we reach our building and he pauses for a moment and squeezes my hand. "But Jesus, Shelby, I'm so fucking proud of you for holding your own back there."
With his body, he blocks me from the prying eyes of the concierge of the building as we walk through the lobby. He punches the elevator to take us to the top floor and when we enter the penthouse, Rafe is waiting for us with a concerned frown on his face.
As soon as he spots the smears of blood and wine decorating my skin, he rushes to the sink and wets a towel and begins to clean me off with tenderness.
"Do you need a doctor? Should I call someone?"
"I already told Shane that she left on us–I sent him her GPS coordinates. He's probably been following us, he'll be back as soon as he can."
And just like that, the man of the hour walks in with a distressed look ravaging his beautiful eyes.
He crosses to me without words, cradles me in his arms, and pulls my face to gaze into my eyes. "Are you okay?"
His words are soft and tender but I can tell he's angry. I nod and then sob out an apology.
"There's no need for apologies, baby girl. I've already ended the life of the Selinsky bastard that sent the order to take yours. After that night at the club, I knew that they were focused on one thing and one thing only. You."
I nod, wishing to hell I'd asked Rafe or Gio to fetch the medicine and the wine for me, and then I wouldn't have blood on my hands.
"I've made up my mind." Shane looks from me to Gio. "We're going to Costa Rica."