Taking Her Innocence (Killer of Kings 1)

“Send one of your docs here for Pepper. I want him here yesterday.”

“Done.” Boss made a quick phone call as he continued to stroll around the room. “Sorry about the injury, darling, but desperate times and all that shit.” He winked at Pepper. Then he was gone.

It took everything in Viper not to shoot him in the back. In fact, he envisioned it with perfect clarity. But Boss wasn’t out of character. He’d done what he’d set out to do, and Pepper was alive to see another day. Viper was the one who’d changed.

Once they were alone in the office, he dropped his guns on the coffee table and fell to his knees beside the sofa.

“Are you okay, babe?” he asked.

“I’ve been shot,” she said. “I’ve actually been shot. It hurts so bad.”

His precious girl looked like she’d been hit by a truck, her eyes glazed over, skin pale, and blood dripping from her leg. Just remembering those assholes insulting what he considered perfection made him see red. Now that he had her beside him, he felt a sense of peace because he could protect her from anything.

“The doctor’s on his way. Boss only uses the very best, and it’ll all be off the books.” He positioned the decorative pillows on one end of the sofa and eased Pepper to her back. Viper took off his jacket, tossed it aside, and carefully positioned her.

When she whined, he felt her pain like it was his own.

“Be brave for me. I need to get these pants off.” Viper managed to get her partially undressed so he could assess the damage. It was a clean hit, and as much as he didn’t want to believe it, Boss knew what he was doing when he took the shot. Viper still didn’t approve. He balled up the pants and pressed them to the wound, adding pressure.

Pepper looked him in the eyes once they were on the same level. He hadn’t realized he’d been avoiding her, but he had. Was it guilt that he hadn’t protected her? Was he afraid of her disappointment? He wasn’t sure, but the moment he looked into those big, blue eyes everything became better. She pushed back his demons and managed to bring out the best in him.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone,” he said. The fact had eaten him up ever since he’d gotten that call from Boss. Not being able to save her had killed him inside. “I never should have trusted anyone with your safety but myself.”

Fuck, he definitely should have known better. His entire life, he’d learned that the only person he could count on was himself.

“You were trying to save me, to make things right. I know that.”

“But look how that went,” he said. “I fucked up.”

“No, you did it because you love me. I can never hate you for that.” She held his hand, squeezing tight. Poor thing. Viper couldn’t stop replaying the moment in his head when Boss had shot her. The act had torn through him like a hot knife through butter, creating a physical pain. His own thoughts scared him because he wanted to kill everyone for hurting Pepper, fuck the consequences. Luckily, he’d kept in control or things would have ended up a lot different.

“When I saw you unconscious, for a minute I thought you were dead.” He exhaled and kissed the top of her hand. “I can’t lose you. Not ever.”

She smiled, that sweet smile that he’d never tire of. Pepper was his own personal sunshine. “But it’s over now, right? I did it. I killed him.”

Viper chuckled. “Yeah, you did. And right between the fucking eyes. You’re in the wrong line of work.”

“It’s karma,” Pepper said. “He murdered my mother, took everything away from me. I wanted to kill him, wanted to see him die for what he did.”

“Don’t talk like that, it doesn’t suit you. You’re my sweet girl, and I don’t want you filled with darkness like me. I wish you didn’t have to go through any of this, baby. You don’t deserve any of this shit.” Her innocence was tainted. She had to live the rest of her life mourning her mother, and had a kill on her hands. He didn’t like it. God, he was a fool in love.

“We can’t change the past, but one good thing came out of my stepfather.”

“What’s that?”

“He hired Killer of Kings, and they sent you. If it wasn’t for his greed, I never would have met you, never would have fallen in love.”

Viper leaned in to kiss her when a loud bang stole his attention. He was about to reach for his gun but stopped when he couldn’t find a threat.

It was the cleaning crew pushing their way in through the doorway with their supplies. Mr. Sutherland was going to disappear permanently, and Boss would make it look legit if the media got involved. The doctor slipped in behind them with his medical bag.

“Who are all these people?” asked Pepper.

“Cleaning crew and your doctor.”

Pepper tried to lift her head to see. “Is that woman with them? The one that likes you?”

He smiled. “No, Lola’s not on this crew, but even if she was, you wouldn’t have to worry. I’m yours, Pepper. All yours. There’ll never be another woman for me.”