Page 98 of Stolen Matrimony

“I flushed her system; she should be fine now,” Lucas stated.

“I’m out. I’ll keep you updated with what we find out.” Ezra turned to leave.

Cashlynn looked annoyed. “I don’t like being treated like a damsel in distress.”

“Your husband was shot. Sit your ass down and comfort him,” I said, causing her cheeks to flush. She darted her eyes to the side.

“Soon as the IV finishes, you’re good to go home. I’m sending you home with pain meds and some antibiotics too. I know your ass ain’t gon’ listen, but you need to take it easy the next couple of days, Nazai.”

“I hear you, bro.”

He muttered something then lifted the sleeve of the gown to check the wound and moved to my side.

Staring back at Cashlynn, my mouth lifted in a lazy grin. “Come sit.” I nodded at the chair close to the bed. Exhaustion hit me out of nowhere. A yawn left my mouth.

Cashlynn glanced at Lucas before slowly moving and taking a seat.

“Are you still feeling sick?” Lucas asked Cashlynn.

“I’m fine.”

He eyed her intensely then nodded. “A’right.”

My brother turned and left the room, leaving me and Cashlynn.

Silence passed through us as my eyes grew heavier. I wasn’t sure if she said it or I imagined it but as I faded into darkness, I could have sworn Cashlynn whispered, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

CHAPTER 30

CASHLYNN

“Do we know how he got in with a gun?” I stood outside of the bedroom listening to Nazai talk on the phone. We had just gotten home from Lucas’s clinic and I went to check on Carson who was up gaming.

“Ted. Apparently he wasn’t over you cutting off his hand.” River laughed.

“And where is the fucker?”

“Both are at the barn locked up. Though the guy that shot you was in bad shape. I don’t know how much longer he’ll last.”

“I’ll be by in the morning to take care of them.”

“You know you’re gonna hear Lucas’s mouth.” Again, River tittered.

“He’ll be a’right. If I bust my stitches, he’ll just have to restitch me up. Those fuckers think it’s okay to come for me and my wife.” The low boiling rage in his voice made the hairs on the back of my neck rise and my stomach stir. My hand went to the center of my chest and I attempted to rub out the tightness that formed from his protectiveness. I was still in shock that Nazai had taken a bullet for me. I was so out of it from the E pill I took, mixed with the alcohol and orgasm, that my reaction time was slowed and my mind wasn’t as present as it normally would be. By the time I realized what was happening, I was on the ground and Nazai was shooting back.

I pressed my back against the wall and sank my teeth into my bottom lip. I’d never gotten caught slipping as bad as I had tonight. Nazai was proving to be a distraction I didn’t need, but the bad thing was I couldn’t find it in me to fight the feelings he gave me. The more I tried to fight it, the more I craved being near him.

My teeth scraped over my bottom lip as Nazai finished up his conversation. Knowing the two men that played part in the shooting were waiting for their fate lit a fire in my veins and caused my heart to pump wildly. My pulse pounded in my ears and my skin prickled.

He said he wanted me to stand down tonight, but that was one command I couldn’t follow.

____

I pulled down the dark gravel pathway surrounded by trees and only lit by my headlights. Thankfully the medicine Nazai was prescribed made him drowsy and by the time I got out of the shower, he was knocked out cold in bed.

I rode past the big white house the family met in when we came to the property back to the barn. A good thing about the area was that it was abandoned, in the middle of nowhere, and the Tavarez family owned a good amount of acres surrounding it.

Cutting my car off, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and grabbed my baseball cap, placing it on my head. I turned my phone off and placed it in the glove compartment before reaching into the back seat for my bookbag. I dug into my bookbag, grabbed my black leather gloves, and slipped them on my hands then climbed out the car.