Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,332

the silencer,” Charles mutters beneath his breath, opening the car door for me.

We would have time to clean up. Time to hide the evidence if we had stopped to get his equipment like he’d told me to.

Arianna groans with pain in my arms, the blood seeping through the thin white sheet.

But then my sweetheart might not have survived.

Chapter 30

Arianna

I groan softly with the twinge of pain as the doctor works on mending my back. My hands fist the comforter and my head thrashes from side to side. I’m on pain meds, but the prodding and stitches bring sharp pains that won’t go away. I’m alive though. “Zander,” I croak, barely able to force the words from my lips. I try to be still, feeling the cool air sting my open wounds, but it’s hard. It just hurts. I’ve never felt so much pain in my life.

In the background, I hear heavy footsteps softened by plush carpet, coming toward the bed. As the footsteps get closer, I lift my head to see Zander, his face a tortured mask. But my movement proves to be a mistake as horrible pain runs up and down my back. I suck in a sharp breath through clenched teeth, trying my best not to cry out. I don’t want him to see me like this, but I need him here. I just want him to hold me.

A large but gentle hand touches my shoulder where there aren’t any wounds.

“Don’t move,” Zander says, his voice low and sounding like a soft rebuke.

It hurts me to hear that tone in his voice. “I’m sorry,” I tell Zander quietly, my face pressed against the mattress, my lips mashed together. I’m sorry I ever left. I’m sorry I couldn’t fight harder. I’m ashamed. I brought all this on Zander. And now Danny’s blood is on Zander’s hands. Guilt mixes with anxiety in my stomach, making me feel sick.

“It’s alright,” I hear Zander reply, his voice softer now. Even through my pain, a warmth flows through my chest.

“I should’ve listened to you,” I say remorsefully. And none of this would’ve happened.

“It’s going to be alright,” Zander repeats. He crouches down so his eyes are level with mine.

My heart skips a beat at his handsome face so close to mine, his masculine scent calming me. His gaze pierces through me, his heavenly blue eyes clouded with emotion.

I attempt a smile as Zander leans in, pressing his lips against mine, his hand cupping my jaw while his thumb rubs soothing circles on my cheek, causing my skin to warm from just his touch alone. But he murdered someone. I heard what Charles said. There wasn’t time to hide anything. They’re going to know. They’re going to come for him. I’ll tell them everything. They can’t blame Zander. They can’t… I can hardly breathe, and the reality makes me dizzy with agony. “Is it going to be okay?” I whisper against Zander’s lips, my heart in my throat, my eyes shut from the pain. Please tell me that it is. Please tell me that everything is going to be okay.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” he says softly.

My eyes flutter open and I see his piercing blue eyes gazing at me. His jaw is clenched, his expression conflicted.

I look back at him, my heart still in my throat. I have the sudden urge to tell him that I love him. That I want to be with him forever. He really saved me. I truly owe him my life.

But I can’t find the strength to speak the words as I watch the look in his eyes change.

Deep down, I know that he’s lying to me.

Everything isn’t going to be okay. And it’s all because of me.

Chapter 31

Zander

I wish I could just pause time. If only it were possible. The soft sounds of Arianna sleeping peacefully are the only sounds I concentrate on. If I don’t, all I can hear is the bang of my gun. The thud of his body hitting the floor. The sound of her scream.

I close my eyes, wishing the image would go away. It’s not the blood from the bullet holes spilling onto the floor that makes my stomach turn with sickness, it’s Ariana’s blood stained on the cement under her and caked on her back.

I grit my teeth, my hands fisting the sheets as I try to contain the anger.

A soft moan makes me open my eyes as Arianna twists on the bed, nestling closer to me and giving me a