Page 28 of Sinner's Sacrifice

He wanted her, but what did she want?

This could be a reaction to the stress. After she had a chance to think, she might still run from him.

But she wasn’t running now.

He carefully put his arms around her and held her close.

She didn’t cry, but as the seconds passed, he could feel her muscles relaxing little by little.

Finally, she lifted her head, eased out of his hold, and when she looked at him, there wasn’t a speck of judgment or fear of him on her face. “What are we going to do?”

Holy hell, he wanted this woman, and not just once. She had courage, and a vengeful streak that matched his own.

But first, they had a mess to clean up.

He angled his head toward the bed. “How is Sharon?”

“Unconscious, running a high fever, and her wounds are badly infected. She needs immediate treatment.”

There was something in her tone that made him ask, “Will she live?”

“I don’t know.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth.

He wanted to be the one sucking on her lip.

A knock had them both looking at the door.

“More bad guys?” she asked.

He eased around her. “Let me check.” A glance out the window had him opening the door.

Magnus stood there, his phone at his ear. “Sir?” he asked Yvgeny.

“Standard clean in this room, please. Check for video cameras within one block.”

Magnus relayed that information, then ended his call. “What do you want to do with the woman who went out the window?”

“Have you given her a sedative? Something that will mess with her memory?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, put her in the room next door. Move her daughter in there too. As soon as this room is cleaned, have someone local call an ambulance.”

“What?” Sam asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she moved to stand in front of the bed. “No, we need to get an ambulance here right away.”

Yvgeny took her by the arm and pulled her away.

“Yvgeny,” she protested, trying to tear herself out of his grip.

“Stop,” he said to her. “I don’t know who might be watching us.”

She did indeed stop to look around, but the darkness hid secrets well.

“She is going to die of sepsis if she doesn’t get to a hospital as soon as possible.”

“I could smell her infected wounds,” Yvgeny said. “From where I stood across the room. I think it may already be too late to help her.” He sighed. “If we call an ambulance now, the likelihood of us both getting charged with murder is high.”

She stared at him for a moment, then scanned his body and her own. “We’re covered in blood,” she whispered.