Gentleman Sinner(4)
His stare starts to burn my skin, so intense it makes me want to look away before I turn to dust. He is positively terrifying, yet some primal instinct tells me I’m in no danger. And neither is Penny. The other man, however, most definitely is.
The guy standing over me flicks his gaze to his associate briefly before it lands on Penny for a second, obviously checking her, and then settles back on me. The deep warmth that rests under my skin makes me feel uneasy. He’s a handsome man. I can see it past the harshness of his expression – his bristly jaw tight, his huge body tense. But, God, anyone would have to be certifiably nuts to mess with him. I can’t help taking in as much of him as I can, and there’s a lot of him. It’s all inappropriately impressive. I wonder where my fear and terror have gone. It’s him. His presence, his voice. The second he showed up, I was no longer scared, and that’s just plain weird, since he’s freakishly big and actually quite frightening. But his eyes contradict his terrifying persona.
And then I find myself settling even more when I see the most minuscule curve at the edge of his straight lips. It’s not an evil smile; I’m all too familiar with those. It’s an amused smile, revealing a dimple that’s too cute for him.
Looking back to his associate, he nods, a silent instruction, and the guy holding the pimp in a choke hold starts pushing him on, forcing his arm up his back and kicking his feet to get him moving, ignoring the pleas for mercy. ‘What are you going to do to him?’ I blurt, watching as he’s shoved down the alleyway to constant screams of panic – panic that intensifies when a truck pulls up. He’s thrown into the back, the door shuts calmly, and the truck is pulling away a second later.
I turn my attention back to the giant before me, finding he’s not moved one inch. He doesn’t answer me. ‘Here.’ He offers me his hand.
I clamp my lips together and hold my breath, instinctively bracing for contact. It’s beyond me, but when I reach forward and he swoops in to claim my hand, I feel an immediate boom in my chest. He gives me an almost dirty look, one laced with annoyance, as his hand squeezes around mine. I’m on my feet in a second, feeling light-headed. Intoxicated. Totally unstable. What the fucking hell is that?
He quickly pulls his hand free, and I take a few steps back as he watches me putting distance between us, looking deep in thought. ‘What?’ I ask, if only to break the suddenly uncomfortable silence.
‘Your hands are so warm,’ he says quietly, looking down at them. ‘And it’s so cold tonight.’
‘Did I burn you?’ I ask on a nervous laugh, and he frowns, once again ignoring my question as he turns towards the other suited man, who’s back and collecting Penny up from the ground, cradling her in his arms and carrying her to the Bentley.
‘Get her back to the Playground,’ the guy before me orders brusquely.
‘She’s concussed,’ I blurt. I have no idea what the Playground is, but I realize that it’s not a hospital.
He moves forward a step, almost threateningly. I don’t move, finding the strength I need to stand my ground, and he’s surprised, judging by the slight tilt of his head. ‘Concussed? How do you know that?’
‘I’m a nurse,’ I explain. ‘She needs to go to a hospital.’
‘You’re a nurse?’
I nod, and intrigue springs into his eyes. ‘She needs medical attention. I was calling for an ambulance before he . . .’ My intended words disappear. I can’t finish.
His lips twist, abhorrence rampant in his expression, taking a fraction of his good looks away. The sight, though actually very scary, fills me with reassurance, even more than his formidable presence. ‘No hospital,’ he declares, leaving no room for argument, stepping forward again.
No hospital? That’s crazy. I don’t care how big he is, or how frightening he appears. That woman needs treatment. ‘I’m afraid I have to insist,’ I say firmly, breaking free of his iron stare to see his associate lowering Penny carefully into the back seat of the Bentley. ‘I don’t mind accompanying her if your presence will be a problem or spark unwanted questions.’ I’m not stupid. I don’t know this man, but everything is telling me that people prying into the circumstances of Penny’s injuries wouldn’t be gratefully received. Or people prying into him, for that matter.
‘What makes you think that?’ His voice is deep and low. It’s rough but silky, threatening but soothing, and his cobalt eyes seem to dance as I stare at him. He’s getting a little thrill from my approach. He likes me challenging his authority.
‘Instinct.’
His lips quirk a touch, that dimple forming again, his eyebrows rising in amusement. His humour irritates me now, and I muster up some fortitude and step forward, showing him my determination. The look of shock on his face fascinates me. He’s surprised that I’m standing up to him. Frankly, I am, too. ‘She needs a hospital.’
His dimple deepens. ‘What’s your name, girl?’
‘Izzy.’ I don’t hesitate to tell him, and I have no clue why. ‘Izzy White.’
‘Izzy White. I’m Theo. Theo Kane.’ I fall victim to his eyes again, staring in wonder. There’s a certain prettiness beyond the hardness of his face, making him appear younger than I initially thought, yet his presence is that of a far more mature man.