“Not a fucking chance,” I snarled, my hand back on his arm.
“I’m checking to see what the damage is. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong.”
I swallowed and nodded, knowing I needed this guy.
I removed my hand as he pushed her shirt up to the bottom of her rib cage and a soft snarl of frustration tumbled out of his mouth as he palpated her battered body.
“Possible fractured ribs,” he muttered. “Several. So many fucking bruises and swelling. Hard to tell without an x-ray.” He shifted his hands from her ribs to down her body, feeling her legs as he moved lower. Seemingly satisfied, he moved to check her face, running his large hands along her jaw and cheeks.
“She’s bad. I don’t know about her head injury, but I’m going to assume she has one hell of a concussion. We’ll need to watch her. I’ve given her fluids and pain meds. I can wrap her ribs in case they’re broken. Past that, pray there isn’t some internal bleeding happening. I don’t think there is based on my assessment, but I’m not a doctor. This is the best I can do.”
“Thank you,” I managed to say.
He grabbed more alcohol and bandages and set to work on cleaning her wounds and wrapping her head and ribs. He worked soundlessly, me helping him to shift her when he needed it. When he was done, he simply gave me a curt not before stepping out of the room.
“I’m going to talk to him,” Drake said, following him out without waiting for me to answer.
I sank onto the bedside chair and stared at her, taking in the shallow breathing. The ugly metal collar snapped into place around her neck needed to go. I had no fucking clue how I was going to get it off her though.
I reached out and pushed her hair away from her face, hating how swollen she was. If I didn’t know her, I’d have never been able to recognize her. She didn’t deserve this. None of it. Bianca was a sweet, innocent girl.
In that moment, as I stared at the woman I loved, a new resolve settled over me. I wasn’t letting her go back to that life. I planned to keep her safe from all of it. An ugly idea formed in my mind. A way for her to get out alive. A way for her to always be safe.
I was in fucking charge now.
I swallowed thickly as I got to my feet and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Forgive me, princess.”
I needed to speak to Drake.
CHAPTER47
Levin
My mind wouldn’t stop racing. I felt like I was going to run out of my fucking skin, my guns blazing. The thought that bumblebee was out there right now being taken advantage of while we sat in warm, cozy rooms was pissing me the fuck off.
And Vasiliev.
He was a dead man the moment I got my hands on him. I’d make him suffer like she suffered. My heart clenched at the thought of what it must have been like for her when she realized he’d played her all these months and was intent on hurting her. What she felt when he pushed into her to take his fucking prize in front of the lords.
Bile burned my throat as I cradled my head in my hands as we waited for the horsemen to turn up at the safe house.
My legs bounced as I sat there, my heart in my throat.
Be alive, bumblebee. Please, fucking be alive.
Vincent sat beside me on the couch, his leg touching mine. I felt his warm hand on my back.
“She’s OK,” he whispered, his voice thick with worry. “B is strong. I know she’s OK.”
It sounded like he was working hard to convince himself of that.
Dom was on the phone to someone. I assumed it was one of the court. Jake was good at getting shit together with them, so Dom had been giving the court member more duties.
Vincent’s hand moved to my thigh where he pushed my leg down to stop it from jumping.
“Focus,” he said softly. “You’re all over, man.”