The Falling: A Dark Mafia Romance (Finding Forever, #3) - Jessie Jones Page 0,1
her lips in a sigh. "I love you too, kitten. Now sleep for me. I promise I won't leave you."
When he felt as though Gillian had drifted back to sleep, John carefully climbed out of the bed and sat back in the chair. His eyes drifted to the door of his bedroom as he heard the latch. The Brit then watched his best mate walk into the room wearing only a pair of jeans and a navy shirt. Before John could even open his mouth to speak, the Irishman lifted him up and embraced him in a loving, warm embrace. Pulling back, Patrick cupped the back of John's head. "I got here as soon as I could, mate. How is she doing?"
"No change from earlier," John responded quietly as he embraced the Irishman once more before he pulled away and sat back in his chair. He had called Patrick the moment the plane took off and told him what had happened. The Irishman, who had been in Greece on business, had immediately flown back to London. "Dutch examined her and came to the same conclusion as Bennet. He gave her something to keep her sedated, at least for tonight."
"So, she wasn't raped?" Patrick asked, the breath caught in his throat as he waited for John's response. The Irishman had been absolutely sickened to learn what had happened to Gillian. Patrick had physically ached for his brother when he had heard the pain in the Brit's voice. He could tell that John had been crying, and that greatly worried him. John Kenric simply didn't cry or show emotion.
"No, she wasn't," John replied before taking another long drink of whiskey. "She was choked severely and hit in the face but no sexual trauma. I was lucky to find her when I did, Pat. Galen was going to rape her. I have no doubts about that."
Patrick walked around the bed so he could get a closer look at Gillian. Just like John, the Irishman was glad that the American was alive. He was not a religious man, but he had stopped by a Catholic church to thank God for protecting Gillian. Reaching out his hand, Patrick began to lightly stroke her face. It was warm and petal soft to touch. The woman was stunning to look at, with her porcelain skin and ebony hair. Because he was grateful that Gillian was alive, the Irishman leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. At her ear, he whispered, "Don't tell Johnny, but I missed you, sweetheart. Glad the bastard finally came to his senses and brought you back."
"It was my fault kitten almost died," John announced softly, not taking his eyes off Gillian's lovely face. The guilt he felt was eating him up inside.
"What?" Patrick exclaimed as he stood up and looked at John. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, boyo! Galen and Pandora are the sick fucks who kidnapped and tortured her, not you!"
"Pandora's dead," John said, his voice void of emotion as he took another drink of whiskey. Before Patrick could ask the question, the Brit said, "Galen killed her before we arrived; he stabbed her in the heart."
"Good," Patrick replied coldly. "The bitch betrayed you, John, and she put her hands on Gillian. Pandora deserved what she got. Gillian never would have gone with her if Pandora had not lied about you being shot. You watched the same footage from the hospital that I did. Pandora was more than a willing participant. She was even able to manipulate Simon to do her bidding! Don't tell me you feel bad for the Greek bitch?"
"Fuck Pandora, and fuck Simon!" John said through clenched teeth as he glared at his brother. He didn't need Patrick reminding him that the guard he had with kitten had betrayed him as well. "If Galen hadn't killed Pandora and Simon, then I would have. No one hurts kitten and lives to see another day. Don't you see, Pat? Pandora never should have made it to France! I underestimated her and let her not only hurt kitten once, but twice!"
"Do you hear yourself, mate? There was no way that you could have known that Pandora would reach out to Galen!"
"I never make mistakes, Patty!" John yelled as he stood up and hit his chest with his fist. "The one time I do, Gillian almost dies! I won't make the same fucking mistake a second time! I love her, dammit! If I lost her…"