Page 58 of Gentle & Broken

She really was alone and had taken out his security? What in the world? He’d never been so impressed, confused, and interested in a woman.

“I don’t hit women,” Russ growled at Sara. “So you still have the advantage, but you got the drop on me last time and knocked Kaden out cold so quietly I have to know how you did it. I will have you hogtied and answering some questions.”

“Russ!” Gray sharpened his voice. “You work for me, and you will keep your hands off of her.” He’d never talked to Russ, any of his security, or probably anybody since dealing with high school bullies, like that. But even his respected stepdad would have to be called out and stopped if he wanted to hogtie this woman.

Sara gave Gray a sweet smile. “Ah, that’s so cute. You trying to protect me, Smokey G? Just like you protect every beautiful woman who flutters her eyelashes at you?” She fluttered her eyelashes, and it was an enticing move on her part. If only it hadn’t been done sarcastically.

Gray’s chest tightened. Did she realize the danger she was in? Russ was obviously ticked, and no way could she best him and Kaden at the same time. Especially without the element of surprise to aid her. He didn’t like the derogatory way she’d referred to his propensity to protect women in danger. He personally thought it was one of his best qualities, but she seemed to be making fun of him.

“Thank you, sweet boy,” she said, pumping her eyebrows at him. “But I don’t need your protection.”

Sweet boy?Wow. She was a smart aleck to the tenth degree.

She looked at Russ. “I took you down once, tough guy, I’ll do it again. Oh, and so sorry about the beard. It looks awful, by the way.” She patted him on the cheek before darting away.

Russ let out a roar and lunged after her. Kaden came around to his other side. The two men were huge, and despite her obviously impressive training, skills, and bravado, it had to be terrifying to see these bodyguards coming at her like that.

Gray rushed to protect her. He wouldn’t let any woman be hurt while he was there to keep her safe.

Sara squatted and used Russ’s shoulders to launch herself into the air. It looked like a move from an action movie. She kicked Russ in the head again and he knocked into Kaden. Then she flipped and landed next to Gray. Scrambling behind him and onto his back, she wrapped both legs around his waist and one arm so tight around his neck he was immediately gasping for air. A pistol materialized in her hand, and she shoved it into his temple.

Russ and Kaden were rushing their way, but they both froze. They looked angry enough to chew up and spit out nails. But they also looked helpless, which he’d never seen out of his security team. Russ’s eyes were desperate. He’d do anything to keep Gray safe. Gray knew Russ had made a deathbed promise to his mom to protect her only son with his life.

The room went cold, despite the warm woman wrapped around him from behind. This was no romantic move. Sara was tough, crazy, an impressive fighter, and she was going to kill him. Gray had assumed because of her association with Scarlett Lily that she was a good person and had stupidly let her into his house. He wasn’t sure why she hadn’t killed him outside, but he suspected she was enjoying the game and ridiculing all of them before finishing them off.

At the moment, he didn’t have time to philosophize about her motives or how tough, accomplished, and insane she was. She must’ve been sent by the mafia or maybe by that crazy Princess Byoode to kill him. It didn’t look like Russ or Kaden could intervene before she pulled the trigger. Could he talk her out of killing his men?

His life flashed before his eyes. He’d helped a lot of people, especially women in danger, but he had no family left, no legacy but his music and his money to leave behind. Was this how it would end for him?

“Please,” he croaked out. She was letting in just enough oxygen to keep him from passing out. “Kill me if that’s your objective, but let my men go.”

“No. Don’t kill him,” Russ barked, desperation making his voice even rougher. “We’ll do anything you want.”

“Please,” Gray repeated. He appreciated Russ and knew he truly would do anything for him, but if this woman was going to kill him, there wasn’t much hope of him living through a bullet in his brain. “These men aren’t part of your hit. You’ll still get paid by whoever sent you, and you won’t have four great men’s deaths on your hands as well.” He sucked in another shallow breath. “If there’s any humanity left in you, please let them live.”

The room went quiet. Sara held tightly to him, but she quivered slightly. Russ and Kaden stared at him in horror. He could see Cameron out of the corner of his eye, struggling to move around the pool table and get closer, even though he was bound.

He focused on his stepdad. The man’s dark eyes were full of frustration and despair. He couldn’t handle letting Gray die after they’d both lost Gray’s mom. Gray understood Russ’s anguish, but this was a sacrifice Gray would make every time.

Cameron, Tim, and Kaden would also give their lives for his. He knew they would. But right now, it was his turn to take that burden.

Gray waited for her to pull the trigger, praying that she’d honor his request and his last act would at least preserve the four men who had protected and served him and their country. He wasn’t ready to die, but there were worse things. He’d see his mom and meet his Savior soon. That was a comforting thought. All of his billions were earmarked for Jex and Pearl Steele’s charities. His money would help many children throughout the world.

It wasn’t the worst way to end his sojourn on the earth.

As long as Sara let his men live.

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