We were lying in bed with me in the crook of his arm, after another bout of marathon sex, talking. I allowed my fingers to graze up and down his chest. “What’s your family like?”
“My family?”
“Yes. I’ve talked to you about mine, but we haven’t really talked about yours.”
“My family. Let’s see. We’re all very close. You know my father and mother have been together for fifty-two years. I have three sisters—Layla, Lauren, and Lisa. The triple L’s. My mother’s name is Lydia. What made my parents think that was cool was beyond me. Then there’s Michael. He’s my only brother, and the baby of the family. We typically get together a couple times a month for dinner. I have eight nieces and nephews, so the house is always loud and out of control.”
“Is everyone married?”
“Everyone except Michael.”
“Why haven’t you married?”
He laughed a little. “That’s a loaded question, and there is no right answer to it.”
“The truth is always the right answer. You’re handsome, rich, not married, and don’t have any children. There must be a reason.”
“I’m not married, because I don’t want to be. I’ve never been sure I could be the man my father is when it comes to my mother. Fifty years is a long time to be with one person.”
“Ahh . . . so you’re easily distracted by other women.”
Brody held me a little tighter. “I knew this was a no-win conversation. No. I’m not easily distracted by other women. I wasn’t sure one woman could hold my interest for very long, but you know what? I have a feeling that just might be about to change.”
“Of course, you would say that.”
He kissed me so thoroughly my toes curled. “I’m confident that wouldn’t be the case for us. Boredom would be the least of my worries.” His voice dipped low. “How much time did the pilot say we had before we landed?”
Brody rolled on top of me, and I opened my legs wide to welcome him. The weight of his body on top of mine made me breathless. “Enough.” Seconds later he entered me in one hard thrust.
*****
Brody and I, along with his security team, de-boarded the plane. The giddiness I had just an hour ago was replaced with a hard-edged woman that was back and ready to take care of business.
Of course, Hahn and the rest of my security team had arrived and were in place to whisk me back to Xiou Manor.
“Hahn, I would like for you to meet, Brody Windham. He’s been a godsend housing me and allowing me to use his plane on such short notice.”
Brody and Hahn exchanged a handshake. “My head of security is Jamal Parker. He’ll be handling security for me during my stay. If there is a need to coord—”
Like rain, a warm splash of liquid covered my face. The next few moments were surreal. Hahn dived on top of me knocking me to the ground. Rapid gunfire exploded all around.
I turned to see Brody’s body lying on the ground with a gaping hole in his chest. I yelled out his name somehow managing to crawl over to him. I did my best to put pressure over the hole, but there was just too much blood.
Hahn yelled over to Jamal. “Cover me. We’ve got to get to the car, it’s a beast and bulletproof.”
Jamal yelled back. “I’ll cover you. GO!”
Hahn tried to pull me away. “Take him. I can’t stop the bleeding. There’s too much blood! Take Brody first!”
The chaos lasted for no more than twenty seconds but felt more like forever, trapped in a single moment. By the time the hail of gunfire ended, several of our guys had been hit but none worse than Brody.
Jamal got into the vehicle with us and was doing his best to administer first aid. “How far are we from the nearest hospital? There’s a faint pulse, but if we don’t get him there soon. He’s going to bleed out.”
The driver responded. “We can be at the nearest hospital in less than three minutes.”
“Call ahead. They’ll need the trauma unit.”
When we arrived at the hospital, emergency personnel met us as we drove up. They quickly placed Brody on a gurney and wheeled him into the emergency room. A doctor was issuing orders left and right. “Send him to OR room 1 immediately.”
I wanted to be with him. However, a nurse stopped me from following behind. “You can’t be in here ma’am. I’m sorry. The doctors will take good care of him. I promise.”
I turned to Jamal. “Do you have medical training?”
“Yes.”
“Are you hurt?”
“A flesh wound ma’am.”
“Then go in that OR room and make sure nothing happens to Brody. If someone blinks wrong put a bullet in between their eyes.” I turned to the nurse daring her to try and block my request. She did what a smart woman would do. She moved out of the way.
Hahn raised a brow. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s not my blood, it’s Brody’s. I need to know everything you know, and I need to know it now.”
Chapter 19
I listened to Hahn for the better part of an hour as he attempted to fill me in on what he’d found out over the last couple of days. At some point, I’d also contacted Lim because he came rushing through the doors.
“Gina! Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, but I’m angry, and that’s not healthy for anyone.”
Lim hated when I
