I hadn’t even realized that screams had been leaving my throat, but there’s nothing I can do about it or the tears running down my face.
My legs give out and his hold on me is the only thing that’s keeping me from hitting the ground.
“Stand the fuck up. If I have to carry you, I’m going to-”
His sentence is cut off abruptly as his head snaps back.
Blood sprays across me and I’m dropped to the ground as his grip goes limp.
My heart is thundering in my chest and I’m trying to force myself to focus on anything but the pain when a hand grabs my throat. It’s what makes me realize I’m screaming again.
“Mouse, stop screaming, you’re okay.” I don’t focus in on the words first, but the name, and it makes my gaze snap up.
Maximo is squatting in front of me. One hand is holding a gun and the other is still wrapped around my throat. His grip isn’t tight, but just enough to catch my attention, and when I see the look in his eyes, something too soft to belong to Maximo of all people, I realize he’s trying to calm me down.
Which only makes me panic more.
My body shakes and tears continue to drip from my eyes, unstoppable.
“Calm down, mouse,” he repeats the sentiment over and over again, each time a little more agitated.
He lets out a huff of breath and then he’s discarding the gun, his hand leaving my neck. He wraps his arms around me and it feels like he’s trying to squeeze me to death, his hot body tight against mine.
My heart starts to slow down and the panic eases from my chest.
Is… Is Maximo hugging me?
The thought has barely formed before he’s releasing me, muttering something under his breath.
He takes a step back, his jaw tight as his eyes run over me. It’s only now that I’m able to take him in myself and I realize his face may look worse than mine, his lip spit and a dark bruise on his cheek.
He must have had to fight his way in here.
“What’s hurt?” he asks, his voice even. He doesn’t mention the hug.
“I…” I take a swallow. “I think my shoulder is dislocated,” I confess to him.
His eyes move to both of my shoulders before stopping on the right one. “Definitely dislocated,” he says. “We need to get those cuffs off.”
“Here.” Enzo’s voice nearly makes me jump out of my skin, but Maximo doesn’t budge an inch. I look up to find Enzo sitting in the doorway and I’m unsure of how long he’s been standing there. Maximo must have known though, I don’t think he’s capable of not being aware of Enzo.
Enzo moves forward, his gaze closed off. He’s holding some sort of small piece of metal in his hand. He passes it to Maximo.
Maximo gestures for me to turn around and I do so. He gently holds onto my hands and a second later the pressure from the cuffs disappears.
Unease settles in the pit of my stomach as warmth moves through my chest and I try to push the feeling away. I turn to look at Maximo, but when I see the soft look in his eyes, it only enhances the feelings. I flick my gaze up to Enzo, wondering if he sees the same thing I do. His gaze is on Maximo but again, I can’t read anything in his expression.
Maximo blinks and his lips press into a thin line before a familiar malicious expresion makes an appearance. “This is going to hurt,” is the only warning he gives me before he grabs my shoulder and thrusts it back into place.
The pain must be enough to tip me over my threshold for the day, because suddenly everything goes dark.