Page 68 of Cherished By the Sinners

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said in a softer tone.

“Me too.”She looked down at Mason’s hand, curved around her waist.“I’d really like to go...home now.”

“Do you need to see a doctor?”Baz asked.

“No, I don’t think so.”

Baz gave her a once over, then nodded.“Mason, take her back to the hotel and make sure she gets everything she needs.”

“Yes, sir,” he replied, the vibration of his voice rolling through her.

“Magnus?”Baz asked.

“Inside.”Mason took a step out the door and glanced at Eli.“What about him?”

Baz sighed.“We’re going to have a chat, and if all goes well, then I’ll bring him to the hotel as well.”

“If all doesn’t go well?”

Baz angled a thumb over his shoulder and grinned.“The river is right over there.”

“Eli,” Darlene said.“Thank you for helping me.”

“How did he help you, exactly?”Baz asked.

“His uncle was going to cut my throat, but Eli convinced him to wait and do it in front of Mason and Magnus.”She paused.“That sounds worse when I say it out loud.”

Mason’s face, usually so calm, radiated rage and retribution.

She shook her head and met his gaze for the first time since he picked her up.“He was delaying things until you could find me.If he hadn’t, I would have been dead long before you arrived.”

The edges of Mason’s mouth and the corners of his eyes softened.He nodded, then looked at Eli.“Thank you.”

Eli, whose eyes were wide with terror, nodded back jerkily.“She is...different from most women.Kind and courageous and tenacious at the same time.”

That was a sweet thing to say.

Mason’s lip curled up and he snarled, “Mine.”

“And yours,” Eli said with a squeak.“Allyours.”

A long moving truck pulled up, leaving space for a black limo to park between the warehouse and the buildings across the street.

Baz glanced at it.“That’s your ride, Mason.Magnus won’t be long.”

“Thank you,” Mason said, then he strode to the car.The driver had gotten out and was holding the door open for them.Mason moved into it, only putting her down once she was inside.

Darlene slid across the seat so Mason could get in, but as soon as the door was closed, he pulled her into his lap.

She tried to wiggle off him, but he kept her in place with one hand around her waist.The other pulled one of her arms out so he could examine it.He stared at it for a moment, then moved her around so he could do the same with her other arm.

“What are you doing?”she asked.

“Bruises.”His voice was a hoarse whisper.“Are they anywhere else?”

“Shoulders and, um, ribs...maybe?From when the first two guys grabbed me.”

Mason carefully pulled and lifted the neckline of her shirt so he could look at her skin underneath it.He made a noise, soft and worried.He looked like she’d kicked him in the balls.