Chapter 8 - The Target|
Naomi’s stomach dropped into a cold, dark pit.
"What did you say?" she asked, standing up from the bed.
Marcus looked at her, his dark eyes holding a grim, unflinching reality. "Don Genovese has men watching your apartment building in River North right now, Nurse Hail. They know your name, they know where you work, and they know you saved Raymond’s life tonight."
"They... they wouldn't," Naomi stammered, her hands shaking. "I'm just a hospital employee! I don't know anything about your business!"
"In Genovese’s eyes, you're Raymond Lockwood's weakness," Marcus explained coldly. "If he catches you, he'll use you to force Raymond into surrendering his shipping routes."
Naomi backed away from the bed, hitting the edge of the fireplace mantle, panic surging through her blood. Her quiet, disciplined, invisible life—built over six years of night shifts and lonely meals—was being torn to shreds in front of her eyes.
"No," Raymond’s voice boomed across the bedroom, shutting down the panic instantly.
Raymond threw off his duvet, swinging his legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the sharp groan of pain that escaped his lips as his fresh bandages strained.
"Raymond! Sit down!" Naomi yelled, stepping forward instinctively.
Raymond reached out, grabbing her waist with his large arm, pulling her frame firmly between his knees until her body was pressed against his chest.
He looked up into her panicked dark eyes, his hands holding her sides with absolute, unyielding possession.
"Listen to me, Naomi," Raymond growled, his gray eyes blazing like storm fire. "No one is going to touch you. No one is going to ask you questions. You are in my house, and my house is protected by two hundred armed men who would die before letting Genovese step across that gate."
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"I can't stay here forever, Raymond!" she cried out, tears pricking her eyes. "I have a job! I have a life!"
"Your life in that apartment is gone, Naomi," Raymond said softly, his thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek. "I will buy your hospital, I will clear your late husband's remaining debt, and I will give you everything you ever wanted... but you stay with me where it's safe."
