Love in the Storm (bundle of four contemporary romances) by Chase Samantha & Avalon Kristi & Curtis Rachel & Adams Noelle

Author:Chase, Samantha & Avalon, Kristi & Curtis, Rachel & Adams, Noelle [Chase, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Carter turned the water off in his suite's master bath. He swore he heard Ellie calling him. She'd used the words he'd been waiting to hear since he planned his return to the island.

I need you.

"Carter!" Slap, slap, slap on the door. "Are you here?"

He sprinted to the entrance and opened it to find Ellie hugging her chest, her face dripping with mascara and tears.

Concern knifed through him. "Ellie, what's wrong?"

"Please let me in." She looked up with pure terror in her eyes. His protective instincts kicked in full force.

"Yeah, of course." He guided her inside.

"Lock the door!"

Taken back by her vehemence, he did as she asked. "Ellie, what's going on?"

When she came further into his room, his bedside lamp revealed her physical state. "Christ. What the hell happened to you?"

"Arnoff." Again, she turned a haunted gaze on him. "He…" Her chin trembled. Fresh tears coated her cheeks.

"Okay. Shh, it's okay." He helped her to the bathroom. "Sit down, honey." He pointed to the ledge of the bathtub, the only seat available other than the toilet. "I'm going to clean you up while you tell me what happened."

Man, he'd only been away for a day and a half. What could've gone wrong in such a short time?

He brushed her tangled hair from her face. "Everything's going to be all right, baby."

Taking her hands in his he felt them shake uncontrollably in his firm grasp. He scanned the dirt and scratches on her body with clinical precision. If he let himself register the injuries marring her flawless skin he'd fly into a rage and tear the place apart looking for the person responsible.

That's the last thing Ellie needed right now. "Sit tight, honey." Opening the cupboards under the sink he found a first-aid kit and pulled it out. Grabbing a washcloth he dunked hydrogen peroxide on it and dabbed the angry red scratches on her neck and arms. "Talk to me," he encouraged.

She hissed when the liquid sizzled in the open wound on her chin.

He said in soft tones, "I know it stings a little. It'll hurt less if you talk while I do this."

"Arnoff, he…" The words caught in her throat. She took a quivering breath and started again. "I thought he was fine. Weird, awkward, but I never thought he was capable of violence."

Jaw clenched, Carter murmured, "Keep going."

"We had dinner last night. Went out on his yacht today. I learned what a sleazebag he is. You wouldn't believe how he runs his casino operations, Carter. It's disgusting."

If this is any indication. "What makes you say that?"

"I was shocked." She spread her palms. "The women who work in his casinos? He takes them off the street—literally. They're hookers. He doesn't make them pay anything to him and they think they've got it good. They trade his safety he provides in exchange for sexual favors."

His lip curled. "That's revolting."

He rinsed the washcloth watching dirt and trickles of blood cloud the sink's basin. She needed a shower as much as medical

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