Chapter 5 5

The Maybach rolled smoothly through the empty, dark streets of Boston. The orange glow of the streetlights flashed rhythmically through the tinted windows, washing over the backseat.

Alois sat on the right side, leaning his head against the cold glass. His eyes were shut tight, and a deep crease marked his forehead.

Hayden sat on the far left side. She kept her hands folded neatly in her lap. The thick white bandage wrapped around her left wrist practically glowed in the dim light.

The air conditioning in the car was blasting. Hayden was still wearing her thin silk evening gown. A violent shiver ripped through her shoulders.

She turned her head and looked at Alois's broad, stiff shoulders.

She bit the inside of her cheek. Slowly, she began to slide across the leather seat toward him.

The expensive leather squeaked under her weight. In the dead silence of the car, the sound was deafening.

Alois's thick eyelashes fluttered for a second, but he didn't open his eyes. He didn't tell her to stop.

Hayden finally closed the gap. She took a deep, shaky breath and reached out, wrapping both her arms around his thick left bicep.

She rested the side of her head against his shoulder, absorbing the solid, radiating heat coming through his suit jacket.

Alois's entire body went rigid. His lungs froze. He didn't push her away.

Suddenly, the front tires hit a deep pothole.

Rudy slammed his foot on the brake. The heavy car jerked violently forward.

The momentum threw Hayden off balance. Her body pitched forward, and her left wrist slammed hard against the hard plastic backing of the front seat.

The fresh stitches ripped open instantly.

A blinding flash of white-hot pain exploded behind her eyes. Her vision went completely black for a second.

She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted copper. She swallowed the scream building in her throat. She was terrified that if she made a sound, he would push her away and ruin this rare moment of closeness.

Hayden quickly sat back up. She shoved her left hand behind her back, hiding it against the seat cushion. Cold sweat poured down her neck.

Alois had opened his eyes the second the car jerked. He turned his head and looked at her.

He instantly saw the sickeningly pale color of her face. He saw the way her right shoulder was awkwardly pushed forward to hide her left arm.

Then, the smell hit him.

The sharp, metallic scent of fresh blood began to fill the enclosed cabin.

Alois's face darkened. A terrifying, violent storm gathered in his eyes.

He reached out and grabbed her right shoulder, physically twisting her body so she was forced to face him.

"Bring your hand out," he ordered. His voice was deadly cold. "Don't make me say it twice."

Hayden shook her head frantically. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm fine. It really doesn't hurt."

Alois's patience snapped.

He reached behind her back and forcefully yanked her left arm out into the open.

The pristine white bandage was already soaked through with a massive, spreading stain of dark red blood.

Alois stared at the blood. His chest he heave up and down. Raw fury and agonizing panic warred in his dark eyes.

"Are you out of your mind?" he roared, his voice shaking the windows. "You're bleeding! Don't you know how to say it hurts?"

Hayden flinched violently at his shout. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over her cheeks.

"I was afraid," she sobbed, her voice a tiny, broken whisper. "I was afraid if I cried, you would think I was annoying and kick me out of the car."

That sentence hit Alois like a sledgehammer to the ribs.

All the explosive anger drained out of his body in an instant, leaving him hollow.

He let out a heavy, defeated sigh. His large hands moved with agonizing gentleness as he cupped her bleeding wrist.

He lifted his head and glared at the back of the driver's head.

"Drive steady," Alois snarled. "Are you trying to kill us?"