Filed to story: Unmasking the Billionaire: Don’t Mess with the Ex (Victoria & Carter) Book PDF Free
Bruce walked over with a small cake box and handed it respectfully to the old man.
The old man looked surprised. “This is…”
“It’s for the girl,” Bruce said kindly.
The old man’s eyes grew wet. The little girl beamed. “Strawberry cake!”
“Be more careful next time, alright?” Bruce smiled as he passed the cake over.
Sirens sounded in the distance. Victoria decided it was time to go.
“Miss, your hand is hurt.” The man’s deep voice came from behind.
Victoria glanced down. She’d scraped her arm while dodging the truck. A little blood had seeped through her sleeve.
She’d been so focused on the girl that she hadn’t even noticed.
“It’s nothing,” she said lightly. A scratch like this was no big deal.
“I have a first aid kit in my car. Let me help you do a quick fix on the wound.” Eugene pointed to a black car parked nearby.
“I’m fine, really – ” Victoria began, then paused. If she went home like this, Robert would definitely make a fuss. Since the kit was here, she might as well clean the blood off her sleeve.
“Alright. Thanks,” she agreed.
They walked to the car together.
Bruce brought the first aid kit and handed it to Eugene.
“I can do it myself,” Victoria said quickly when she saw Eugene wanted to help.
Eugene raised a brow. “Can you reach that spot easily?” Before she could answer, he opened the kit and took out disinfectant and gauze. “This might sting a little. I’ll be quick.”
Victoria almost laughed at his gentle tone. This scratch was nothing compared to what she’d been through before. She wouldn’t even flinch at this.
“Ow!” A sharp pain stung her arm. Victoria frowned – he hadn’t even let her prepare before applying the disinfectant.
“I did warn you it might sting. Just hold on,” Eugene said, his tone firm and almost commanding.
Victoria stayed silent this time.
Had he actually been angry? She wondered if she’d imagined that flash of irritation on his face. It didn’t seem aimed at her, more at the situation – at her getting hurt.
No, she must have been seeing things. She barely knew this man – she still didn’t even know his name.
He had stepped in earlier when things nearly went wrong, though his timing was off.
Eugene gently disinfected the scraped skin and cleaned the blood that had soaked into the edge of her sleeve.
Watching him work so carefully, Victoria was surprised. He looks tough and acts bossy, but he’s surprisingly gentle. What a contradiction.
The word “contradiction” had popped into her head out of nowhere.
“All done,” Eugene said as he put the first-aid kit away.
Victoria looked at the cute little band-aid on her arm and gave a slight smile. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Eugene met her eyes and held out his hand. “Eugene.”
Eugene!
Victoria paused for a second at the name, then reached out and shook his hand. “I’m Victoria.”
He responded with a short nod.
She nearly laughed – it was the oddest introduction she’d ever had. His hand was large, completely enveloping hers, and his palm felt intensely warm.
She could feel the heat from his skin and expected him to let go quickly, but he didn’t seem in any rush to release her.
Victoria raised an eyebrow and was about to pull back when her eyes suddenly turned cold. In one swift move, she twisted her grip, tugged Eugene forward, and pulled him into her arms.
Caught off guard, Eugene stumbled forward, nearly colliding with her, but his reflexes kicked in. His arm snapped around her waist, using it to pivot them both. They spun once before falling back against the car.
They were still outside – if they hit the car, Victoria would have taken the impact and likely been injured again.
Eugene’s expression tightened. He braced himself, twisted their bodies mid-fall, and took the hit against the car, shielding Victoria completely in his arms.
She ended up pressed safely against his chest.
Under normal circumstances, a move like that would startle anyone, but Victoria hadn’t hesitated. The moment Eugene’s arm went around her waist, her attention was already elsewhere.
She knew her instinct wasn’t wrong.
Danger!
Victoria’s fingers clutched Eugene’s shirt instinctively. To anyone watching, it might have looked like she was making a move on him.
“Ms. Lewis, you certainly know how to get a man’s attention,” Eugene started to tease, but before he could finish, Victoria cut in coldly, “Just who are you?”
Eugene went silent.
The mood shifted in an instant. His expression turned guarded. Did she know something?
Then he felt it too – the danger in the air. There was an ambush.
Before he could react, Victoria’s free hand gripped the back of his neck and forced his head down against her chest.
The sudden closeness brought the faint scent of roses from her skin.
For a split second, Eugene was distracted. Then a bullet cut silently through the air. He caught the smell of blood.
When he looked up, he saw a thin cut on
Victoria’s cheek.
Right where his head had been, a bullet hole was now visible in the car door.
A sniper, using a silencer. Someone was bold enough to try to kill him in broad daylight.
If Victoria hadn’t pulled him away just now, he’d be dead.
Eugene’s eyes turned to ice. The danger wasn’t over. Without another thought, he grabbed Victoria and pushed her into the car.
The door slammed shut. “Drive, now!” Eugene barked.
Bruce had been pleasantly imagining Eugene taking an interest in a woman, but the atmosphere turned in a heartbeat.
