Chapter 358
Sean scrambled to his feet, clutching his head. He watched as Winifred engaged their attackers, then grabbed a loose brick and hurled it at one of the men.
“I’m over here! Come and get me,” he yelled.
Sean spun around and started to run, but not a single one of them paid him any mind, let alone gave chase.
He couldn’t believe it.
“Boss,” one of the goons said. “Lecter is trying to create a diversion for the woman. That means she’s important to him. If we grab her, we can use her against him.”
Since when did the bad guys get so smart?
Sean wasn’t the type to abandon a woman to save his own skin.
He started grabbing rocks off the ground and chucking them at the attackers. One of the men he hit spun around in a rage, ready to deal with him first. That gave Winifred the opening she needed, her every strike with the knife lethal.
Sean had never admired a woman so much. She was incredible, a breath of fresh air compared to the helpless girls who just cried and waited to be rescued.
But she was still only one person, and more men were closing in.
“Run,” Winifred shouted, and they took off again.
“Watch out!” Sean shouted.
A knife came flying toward Winifred, aimed at her shoulder. Sean’s eyes went wide. He couldn’t catch up to her; there was too much distance between them.
In the nick of time, a dark figure materialized, shielding Winifred. The sickening thud of the knife sinking into flesh sent a chill down Sean’s spine.
Then, a new team appeared, swiftly neutralizing the men chasing them.
Winifred rushed to support the wounded man, and she recognized his face. Fay Santos.
“It’s you! Why did you save me?” Winifred asked, still in shock.
Winifred was baffled. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to be hunting her down? Why would he protect her?
“I work for your sister, L…!”
Before Fay could finish, he passed out. Winifred froze. Her sister’s man.
“Someone help! Get him to a hospital, now,” she commanded.
Winifred and Sean went with them to the hospital. Sean handed her a bottle of water.
“Here, drink this. He’s going to be okay,” Sean said.
Winifred waved it away. “I’m not thirsty. Let me use your phone.”
“Oh, sure.”
Sienna saw the unfamiliar number but answered without hesitation.
“Sienna, it’s me. I’m at the hospital. Can you come!” Winifred said.
“Winifred? Okay, don’t go anywhere. I’m on my way,” Sienna replied.
Winifred thought back on Fay’s actions. He never seemed to have any intention of hurting her. No matter what, he had saved her life. It was a debt she had to repay.
Sean pulled out a handkerchief. “Wipe your face. You’ve got blood on you. Your family will worry if they see that.”
It was only then that Winifred realized what a mess she was. If her sister saw her like this, she’d definitely be concerned.
“You have five minutes. Get me a change of clothes. Something black. Go,” Winifred ordered.
“Right,” Sean said. “I’ll be right back.”
He returned, panting, and handed her a bag.
Winifred ducked into the bathroom. She quickly changed and scrubbed the blood from her hands. Her reflection in the mirror was unnervingly cold, her eyes filled with a hard edge.
The night had grown late, and only a few nurses moved through the quiet hospital corridor.
Sean yawned and leaned his head back against the wall. Those guys had really wanted him dead. He’d make them pay for it when he got back. If he didn’t, he wasn’t Sean Lecter.
He glanced to his left and his eyes met the face of Julian Ford. Sean’s eyes widened and he forgot to breathe. He rubbed them, sure he was seeing things.
“Ow!” He pinched his thigh hard. Damn, that hurt. It was real.