ey

dden, violent shift in the air. A heavy weight slammed into m

inst a solid wall of muscle. The world spun out of control as we

f the impact, his back slamming into the railing. But the arm around me never loosened.

nt echoed in the concrete shaft, mixed with a low

denly, it

pressed into the collar of his leather cut. I could smell the sharp tang of

ned m

the crook of my neck. He was heavy, his dead weigh

spered, my vo

st. He shifted slightly, propping himself up on his forearms. His

first thing he did was look at me. His gaze swept

asked. His voice

t was racing so fast I thought it might burst. The ad

or burst open. Heavy boots

ded to a halt on the landing above us. He took in the scene-his Prez lyin

rked, his voice hoa

xit," Stone reported, his face grim. "

stand, but his legs buckled. Stone lunged

ou need

Stone, swaying slightly. He looked down at me, who was still sitting on

g down his face from a cut on his forehead, and he was giving orders. He had just thrown himself d

Stone asked, of

my eyes still on Knight. He was leaning against the rail

voice cracking

irs. "Lock down the clinic. No one gets in or out. I want a full revi

octors-" Sto

is voice dropping, "keep a man on her. I want to

my chest. I wanted to say something-thank you, I'

os. Doctors and nurses were rushing around, club members were s

ale. "Oh my god, Haley! Are you ok

wasn't fine. I was shaking, my teeth cha

g an arm around my shoulders. "

break room, I collapsed onto the couch, my legs finally givi

erra said, dabbing at the

pain. "How

ra taped a gauze pad over it and sat down n

es, the feel of the scalpel against my skin, the s

I saw his shoes. And the way he held t

noticed his shoes? While h

efore," I said. "

you know that? The rumor mill is already going crazy. They

re, stronger now. "He did. He just... wrapped hi

s shoulder is a mess. Probably fractured his scapula

. He had sacrificed his body to protect me,

said gently. "You're in sho

aid, my voice hollow.

What kind

d blood on my neck. "A date. I have to a

y, you were just held hosta

e clinic. She'll call Dr. Reynolds. She'll make a scene that will echo through these halls for a month. I can't... I can't handle that right

r me in disbelief. I walked past the club members, past the

sassin. Now I had to