bSean /bscrambled to his feet, clutching his head. He watched as Winifred engaged their attackers, then grabbed a loose brick and hurled it bat /bone of the men

I’m over here! Come band /bget me,” he yelled.

Sean

spun around and started to run, but not a single one of them paid him any mind, let alone gave chase.

He couldn’t believe it.

“Boss,” one of the goons said. “Lecter is trying to create a diversion for the woman. That means she’s important to him. If we grab her, we can use her against him.”

Since when did the bad guys get so smart?

Sean wasn’t the type to abandon a woman to save his own skin.

He started grabbing rocks off the ground and chucking them at the attackers. One of the men he hit spun around in a rage, ready to bdeal /bwith him first. That gave Winifred the opening she needed, her every strike with the knife lethal.

Sean had never adrpired a woman so much. She was incredible, a breath of fresh airpared to the helpless girls who just cried band /bwaited to be rescued.

But she was still only one person, and more bmen /bwere closing in.

“Run, Winifred shouted, and they took off again.

b“/bWatch out!” Sean shouted.

A knife came flying toward Winifred, aimed at her shoulder. Sean’s eyes went wide. He couldn’t catch up to her; there was too much distance between them.

In the nick of time, a bdark /bfigure materialized, shielding Winifred. The sickening thud of the bknife /bsinking into flesh sent a bchill /bdown. Sean’s spine.

Then, a new team appeared, swiftly neutralizing the men chasing them.

Winifred rushed to support the wounded man, and she recognized his face Fay Santos

“It’s you! Why did you save bme/b?” bWinifred /basked, still in shock.

Winifred was baffled. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to be hunting her down? Why would he protect her?

“I work for your sister. L.!

Before Fay could finish, he passed out. Winifred froze. Her sister’s man.

“Someone help! Get him to a hospital, now,” shemanded.

Winifred and Sean went with them to the hospital. Sean handed her a bottle of water,

“Here, drink this. He’s going to be okay” Sean said.

Winifred waved it away. “I’m not thirsty. Let me use your phone.”

“Oh, sure.”

bSienna /bsaw the unfamiliar number but answered without hesitation.

“Sienna, it’s me. I’m at the hospital. bCan /byoue!” Winifred bsaid/b.

“Winifred? bOkay/b, don’t go anywhere. I’m on my way.” Sienna replied.

Winifred thought back on bFay’s /bactions. He never seemed to have any intention of hurting her. No matter what, he had saved her life. It

bChapter /b358

bwas /bba /bdebt she had to repay.

bSean /bpulled out a handkerchief. “Wipe your bface/b. You’ve got blood on you. Your family will worry if they see bthat/bb./b”

It bwas /bonly then that Winifred realized bwhat /ba mess she was. If her sister saw her like this, she’d definitely be concerned.

“You bhave /bfive minutes. Get me a change of clothes. Something ck. Go Winifred ordered

“Right,” Sean said. Tll be right back.”

He returned, panting, and handed her a bag.

Winifred ducked into the bathroom. She quickly changed and scrubbed the blood from her hands. Her reflection in the mirror was unnervingly cold, her eyes filled with a hard edge.

The night had grownte, and only a few nurses moved through the quiet hospital corridor.

Sean yawned and leaned his head back against the wall. Those guys had really wanted him dead. He’d make them pay for it when he got back. If he didn’t, he wasn’t Sean Lecter.

He nced to his left and his eyes met the face of Julian Ford. Sean’s eyes widened and he forgot to breathe. He rubbed them, sure he bwas /bseeing things.

“Ow!” He pinched his thigh bhard/b. Damn, that hurt. It was real.

b2/2 /b