Surrender 01 - Surrender

arms.
    “Take a bite, Ari,” Rafe commanded when she was motionless for too long.
    “I’m getting to it,” she said as she picked up the turkey sandwich. She bit into it and chewed the soft bread a few extra times in hopes that she could get the lump of food down her throat.
    “Good girl.”
    Ari was almost grateful that his mocking tone had returned. She could handle him like this.
    “I am nobody’s good girl ,” she snapped, feeling relief as a surge of irritation began filling her once more.
    After several minutes, she was surprised to find the sandwich gone. In her annoyance with Rafe, she hadn’t even realized she’d been taking bites and swallowing.
    “If angering you gets you to eat, then your wrath is worth it,” he said in response to her surprise.
    “Then I shall grow nice and fat with you around because I’m always angry.”
    “Mmm, I can picture you growing a bit more ripe. You have stunning curves, but a few pounds would make them even more luscious. I have already enjoyed the view of your supple breasts spilling from my hands.”
    Ari gasped and looked around, praying no one had overheard his vulgar comment.
    Rafe leaned forward, inches from her face, “Are you embarrassed, Ari? Everyone has sex. It doesn’t have to be a shameful experience.”
    “I thought you’d called a truce,” she reminded him. “Besides, sex with you is beyond shameful and leaves me feeling dirty,” she finished as she speared a piece of cantaloupe and bit down on it too hard, causing its juice to squirt out and land on Rafe’s face.
    The sight of him with cantaloupe juice running down his cheeks gave her the giggles. She didn’t know whether it was stress, depression, or what, but she started to laugh, and then couldn’t seem to stop.
    Several people turned her way as Rafe’s expression darkened and he reached in his pocket to grab his monogrammed handkerchief, which only made her hilarity intensify. Her stomach cramped as the laughter kept bubbling up. Was she having a breakdown? No matter how hard she tried to stop, she couldn’t. The giggles just kept on coming. Soon, tears began to crawl down her cheeks.
    “It seems our truce was short-lived. However, I’m so glad I entertain you,” Rafe growled as he rubbed the juice off his face, sending her into a whole new fit of laughter.
    She wasn’t sure if she would have continued laughing until the hospital staff took mercy on her and knocked her out with a sedative, but a splintering sound echoing through the halls stunned her into stopping.
    Several loud explosions filled the air, followed by the sound of people screaming. Rafe was on his feet in seconds, and he pulled Ari along with him.
    “What was that?”
    “Someone has a gun!” a woman shouted as she ran into the room, then went flying forward as red began spreading across her shoulder.
    Just as Rafe was lifting Ari into his arms, a large man carrying a semiautomatic weapon marched through the cafeteria doors. Ari’s frightened eyes met his before he turned the gun in her direction. He pulled the trigger. Rafe swore and tried to shield her body, but it was too late.
    Ari felt as if she’d been punched in the chest, thinking maybe Rafe had dropped her. She looked down at herself and was fascinated as to see red begin to spread out across her T-shirt.
    “That’s too bad. This was my favorite shirt,” she gargled before the world went black.

Chapter Twenty-Three

    Fury engulfed Rafe as Ari’s blood spread, soaking her soft cotton tee. Gently setting Ari down, he flew through the cafeteria. He felt a blow in his arm, but nothing was going to stop him from killing the man who’d dared to shoot Ari.
    The gunman pulled the trigger again as Rafe rushed toward him, but was either out of bullets or his weapon was jammed. Either way, he had about two seconds before Rafe took him down.
    The man’s eyes widened as Rafe flew into the air and came barreling down . He tried pulling out another weapon from his belt, but he didn’t have time before Rafe’s body connected with his.
    The man gasped when Rafe’s fist found his jaw and dislocated it with one punch. The next hit sent blood spurting from the man’s nose as a satisfying crunch echoed in Rafe’s ears, even through the room of screaming people.
    Rafe swung again, intent on finishing the worthless scum off. Who would dare to say the man was worthy of living after shooting people down in cold blood? he thought in his rage.
    “Mr. Palazzo,