Chapter 4

Knox’s POV

For the first time, the enemy got a bullet through me. 

I have scars from knife fights but never a bullet wound, and now I've got one just because I let a girl get my full attention. 

I'm not complaining but the next time I catch that fucker that pulled the trigger, I'll make sure to tear him limb from limb and not just hit his stupid face. 

The bullet's out. 

The wound's bandaged and she's still unconscious. 

The way she screamed in horror hours ago, her PTSD is back. 

The gunshots must have triggered it. It was all my fault, I should have let someone else handle her fiancé. I shouldn't have left her alone. 

She wouldn't have had to go through that nightmare again if I wasn't so damn stubborn about wanting the satisfaction of ending the life of that bastard, the sickfuck she used to call her fiancé, with my own hands. 

Cheated on her with his stepsister? The scumbag deserved worse than getting shot ten times and having his eyeballs gouged out. He should have gotten the Judas cradle.

She's curled on the bed, breathing softly. 

She shifted slightly on the bed. Her lips parted slightly to inhale and her chest expanded, pushing out her tits. 

My cock responded in a not quite good way in my pants. Just a small movement but it made my whole body ache for her, a deep, frustrating throb of need.  

That’s how much power she has over me.

I shouldn't want her. No, I can't want her. 

Every time she graces me with her presence, I chant the relative rule to myself, to remind myself she's off limits. 

The relative rule: Don't fuck or have a romantic relationship with any of the Vipers family. Breaking that rule means death. I never had a problem with it till she came into the picture. 

5"3

Brunette 

Doe brown eyes

Glossy cupid bow pink perfect lips. 

Fuck, she's gorgeous. 

Why did she have to be Tiger's daughter? 

I've always lived by the rules, but if she continues to be within my reach, I'll have to bury my morals and be ready to go to war with Rylan. 

Shoes creaking on the wooden floor jotted me out of the forbidden territory I let myself in. Someone was here. 

I grabbed my gun from the night stand and inserted the silencer. 

I rose to my feet, tiptoeing so I could catch the intruder. It could be that fucker from the skulls, maybe he wasn't satisfied with three bullets. 

My eyes trailed back to the bed as I got to the door, she was still sound asleep. I'll make this very quick and painful. 

I slowly opened the door but to my surprise, Rylan was standing in front of it, worry etched all over his face. The news really got to him fast. 

"How's she?" he asked, his voice low. 

"She's asleep." 

He sighed, his eyes trying to peer past me to see her, but unfortunately, my whole body covered the entrance. 

"We need to talk."

I stepped out and closed the door gently behind me. 

Rylan led the way back to the living room. 

"Whisky or Vodka?" I asked, walking to the refrigerator. 

"None. I'm just here for a chat." 

Already halfway to the adjacent of the living room where the refrigerator was, I turned and walked back to where Rylan was standing. We sat across from each other. 

"How's your wound?" Rylan's eyes lingered on the shirtless bandaged bullet wound on my groin area. 

"It doesn't hurt like I thought it would." 

Rylan clasped and unclasped his hands, an old nervous habit of his. 

"Don't ever leave her side again. If you weren't there tonight, she could have died."

My head dropped to the ground. He was right, what if I didn't get there early? Just the thought of something bad happening to her made my stomach churn. 

"I won't let it happen again." 

"Please, don't let it happen again," he said, his voice much lower, "She's all I got left." 

"I understand." 

"Don't let her leave your sight again. I would have taken her to our house, the home she grew up in, but it's dangerous. What if the skulls just attack, and I can't protect her?" 

He clasped and unclasped his hands again. 

"The war will be over in a few weeks, so till then, keep her safe." He got up on his feet and I followed. "I promise." I assured. 

His hand tapped my shoulders. "Thank you, man." 

He turned to leave but suddenly paused and turned back to me, his brows furrowing. 

"I saw Jason's body, did you do it?" 

I gave him a nod. He took a few steps closer to me, his eyes trying to get more replies than the question he asked. 

"I trust you, but I want to make sure you did that out of loyalty and not because of anything else." 

Two replies tried to force their way out of me–one from my brain and the other from my cock. 

"If Tiger was here, he would have done the same," I said, deciding to go with the reply from my brain. 

I nodded repeatedly. "I hope it stays that way 'cause I don't want to lose you." He tapped my right shoulder again then turned for the door. 

After I confirmed he was gone, I went back to the room but found Elara awake, standing next to the window.  

"How are you feeling?" I asked. She turned to face me. 

"What did my brother sa..." Her voice faded as her eyes dropped to my wound. 

"Oh my–oh my God, you were shot?" She hurried toward me, her hands trying to touch the area but also trying to resist at the same time. 

"It's all my fault, I–I shouldn't have..." Her voice cracked, tears already rimming her eyes. 

Oh Christ, I was twenty seconds or less from losing it. Losing it as in "if she doesn't step away from me any time soon, I'm going to pull her close and possessively take her mouth.”