Page 89 of Chicago Sin

“Maybe not in the butt next time, though. Takes the cool factor out of the equation,” I quip, earning a laugh from everyone in the room.

“All right, All right, enough with the jokes,” Marco says, catching his breath. “But seriously, Mando, promise me you won't go off on your own for this one. We're a team, remember?”

“Yeah.” The room falls silent as I nod, holding Marco's gaze. “I promise.” I take Hannah’s hand and lead her out of the hospital room. “Let's go home.”

Chapter Three

Armando

“We need to get you in the shower.” I nudge Hannah to the bathroom in her apartment.

When my hand reaches the small of her back, I feel a tremble. Fuck. She’s probably still in shock.

I hate seeing the blood on her. Though it isn't hers, it still makes me sick to my stomach imagining what could have been if Marco wasn't there to take the bullet.

I guide her into the shower, turning on the water and adjusting the temperature until it's warm but not too hot. She stands there, eyes closed, steam rising around her as the water cascades down her body. I can see the tension in her shoulders start to ease as she relaxes, and for a moment, I allow myself to let go of the dread that's been gripping me since I found her and Marco in the alley.

She closes her eyes and tilts her head back, letting the water soak into her hair. I reach for the body wash and lather it up in my hands before gently massaging it along her bare flesh.

“Are you okay?” I croak. “Really okay?”

She nods, the tension leaving her body. She's safe, at least for now. I know I can't stay in her life much longer. Not when I'm putting her through this kind of shit.

“It's okay,” I murmur, “I won’t let you be involved in anything else. I promise.”

Twenty-four hours ago, there would be no way possible I could simply bathe this woman and not want to thrust my cock up inside of her. Soapy water streaming down her dark skin has my dick hardening, but I focus on my goal. Right now, all I want to do is soothe her. Wrap her in a fluffy blanket and chase away all her monsters.

Once she's clean, I help her out of the shower and wrap her in a towel. I lead her to the bedroom and help her into a fresh pair of pajamas before tucking her into bed.

“I’m fine, Armando,” she insists again.

I sit beside her, unable to think of anything but the shooting. The blood pooling under Marco. He took a bullet for Hannah. I know he’d do it again in a heartbeat.

She shouldn’t be involved in any of this. Shouldn’t have seen me choke the life out of a man on her shop floor. Shouldn’t have been shot at in the alleyway.

She’s an innocent, and we don’t involve innocents. Especially not women.

Fuck. I stand. “Get some sleep,” I say gruffly.

She grabs my hand to stop me. “Don't go. Come to bed with me.”

Oh, the temptation. She’s looking at me with those big, brown eyes. So beautiful in her bed.

But she doesn’t need sex right now. She needs comfort.

I kick off my pants and climb into bed beside her, and she snuggles into my chest, her hand resting on my heart. The rise and fall of her breaths are soothing.

I lie there and stare up at the ceiling, my mind chewing on the day’s events.

I shouldn't have let myself get close to this girl. I feel I'm signing her death certificate.

Being with me is the same as walking toward the Reaper himself.

Fuck, I should leave...

“What happens now?”

I don't have the answer to that. All I know is that I can't keep putting her in danger. I can't keep this up forever. “I don't know,” I admit. “But I'll figure it out. I won't let anything happen to you. Whoever shot at you and Marco is going to die. I'm going to tear his head off with my bare hands.”