Read Checkmate for Free Online

you doing here?” She forced the words around the pain.
    He chuckled once, the sound slamming through her system, making her whole body jerk with the deep baritone. “Your mom hired me. I talked to her after Derek picked me up from the airport.”
    Hired you for what? Personal security, his business, you idiot, what else. That’s why he was here. To babysit her. The bed dipped behind her butt, unbalancing her just enough that she had to tighten her already crushing hold on the blanket to keep from rolling to her side. Not only would her shoulder burn like hell, but he’d also see her face.
    And probably leave.
    “And we need to talk.” His hand stopped tracing her calf muscle and gave it a squeeze instead. “But first, you need to get up so we can get you out of here. It isn’t safe.” He started to stand, still holding her leg.
    No way was she leaving here with the one man who could destroy her, shattering her heart into little bits with one look.
    “Uh-uh.”
    His hand tightened around her calf and she winced.
    “Excuse me?” His tone reeked of disbelief, reminding her of all the times he’d talked to her as a child, back when she’d been a pest to him and her brother. “Goddamn it, look at me, Nikki-Raine.”
    She sighed. She hated it when he used that nickname. He was the only one who did, and he never made it sound like she dreamed it should. Like a man who wanted to jump into bed with her. Or on the floor, or against the wall, or the table. She wanted to try all those things. With him. Eight months ago she might have still had a chance. Now she no longer had that option.
     
    Why wouldn’t she look at him? He’d known her her whole life, had seen her at her worst, and now suddenly she didn’t want him to see her? Hell, at her senior prom, he’d nearly ripped the fucking head off her date, who’d decided to leave with another girl. She’d run from the hotel, mortified and sobbing, and called home for someone to pick her up. Derek and Eli had been there playing pool and had driven off to get her before even hanging up the phone.
    When she’d run to Derek as he stepped out of the car, her face red, her nose running and her eyes puffy from crying, Eli had wanted to intercept her and take her into his arms. He wanted to be the one to console her and it had taken all his willpower not to. Not with him being twenty-three and her just eighteen. Jailbait. At least that’s how he’d thought of her at the time. She might have been legal but something had felt wrong about it. Not to mention the fact he was a shape-shifter, something he’d always thought would repulse her.
    Then there’d been the time when her appendix had almost ruptured. He’d seen her just after the surgery. For weeks she hadn’t looked herself, but was still more than beautiful to him.
    If he could just get her the hell out of here, he might be able to explain some of that to her.
    She had the fucking blanket wrapped so tight around her, it was a wonder she hadn’t strangled herself to death yet. He grabbed a handful near her slim hip, and gave a yank.
    She hissed in pain as the fabric pulled at her shoulder. “Christ. I’m sorry, Nikki-Raine.” He leaned over her, hovering just above where the fucker had shot her, and looked into her face. It was all scrunched up, her eyes squished closed, her teeth biting into her bottom lip. “Damn it, baby.” He rested his hand on her upper arm and tried to soothe her. Scratch or not, she’d been shot. It had to hurt. Causing her more pain wasn’t in the cards.
    “Please…just go.” Her broken whisper ripped a hole in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
    “No way in hell, Nik. If I have to carry you out of this hospital, I will.”
    “No,” she sobbed, burying her head deeper into her pillow.
    Eli sighed. He should have known this wasn’t going to be easy. Hell, Derek had warned him that she wouldn’t want anything to do with a man, especially not after the things