Read Sacrifice for Free Online

myself slip into the unconsciousness that clawed at me. He shook me again and I moaned, not wanting to open my eyes. Everything was so bright. The overhead light in the parking garage was practically blinding me. And it was making me feel ill in a way I wasn’t happy with.
    Sam held my hand, his fingers felt coarse as they stroked across the skin on the back of my hand. But it was nice, comforting.
    “I’m going to take you home, Natasha, if that’s alright with you?” He stared hard into my eyes and as much as I wanted to answer I couldn’t. I was tired and at that moment all I wanted to do was sleep.
    My eyes drifted shut again and I let go. The soft stroke of his hand on mine the only thing I took with me. It haunted the images that flashed through my mind. The look in his eyes when he had seen Ian holding me… 
    Flashes of reality attempted to puncture my unconscious state but the drugs in my system were too strong and easily kept me encased in my cocoon. I was happy. Happy that Sam had found me. Happy and safe and it was all that mattered.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Sam
     
    When he had seen Ian holding her like that. Like she meant nothing… That she was simply a piece of meat, something he planned to have his fun with and then leave broken… It was too much. It wasn’t as though he was prone to violence but he was left with a sense of satisfaction when he had punched Ian. Knocked him on his ass…
    But it was her, the woman in the passenger seat beside him as he drove through the city streets. The lights from overhead flashing by, momentarily illuminating her face every time. There was something in her that had him. That pulled him in.
    It reminded Sam of the time he had nearly drowned. The feel of the water as it had poured in over his head. The sinking sensation as his body dropped and dropped into the depths. The water pulled at him, drawing him deeper. And it didn’t seem to matter how much he fought against it.
    In fact he was almost positive that the more he fought to reach the surface the more of a hold it took on him. It was like running on the spot. Your body fights to gain ground but there is no ground to be had.
    The moment he couldn’t hold his breath anymore. The moment the water had flooded down his throat and in through his nose it was like nothing else on this earth. People often said drowning was peaceful… They were wrong.
    But this was a different type of drowning. A different type of being sucked under. And Sam wasn’t sure he wanted it to stop. The way she looked at him. The curve of her lips when she smiled. It made him feel like coming home. And that was something Sam had never experienced before.
    Yeah, of course he had a home, a mother who loved him. But nothing like this. Nothing like how he felt when he was near Natasha. Just a moment in the warmth of her gaze was enough to have him feeling like a junkie.
    He pulled the car onto her street and quickly parked it. He killed the engine and stared over at her for a minute. She looked like she was asleep, as though she had no cares in the world. But that was the drugs… If he had missed her, if he had allowed Ian to slip away with her without him noticing in time…
    Sam shook his head in an attempt to clear the thoughts from his mind. It wasn’t somewhere he needed to go right now. He needed to get her upstairs and into bed. He climbed wearily from the car and made his way around to her side. Lifting her gently into his arms he stared down into her face for a second as she stirred and murmured. He wanted to know what she dreamt of, what filled her head and made her so peaceful… It was the type of sleep he wished he could have and never would.
    Slamming the car door with his foot he fished with one hand in her handbag for her keys before making his way to the door and letting himself in. The entry hall to the building was empty and for that he was glad. At least this way he didn’t