Adam by Teresa Gabelman, Hot Tree Editing Page B

eye, he side armed it at Robert. The chair hit Robert in the chest, knocking him out of the room. The force of the chair caused the shotgun to go off into the ceiling as the bastard fell backwards. Turning to Angelina, he grabbed the gun out of her hand and secured it in the waistband of his jeans.
    “I ’m not married to him,” Angelina repeated in a whisper. Her pale blue eyes, shadowed with pain, stared up at him.
    As much as he wanted to take her in his arms, he knew the situation was far from controlled. He still didn ’t know what happened to Lana. That was his first priority, after getting Angelina and the other woman safe.
    “How many men are there?” Adam turned so he could keep his eye on the unconscious men. When Angelina didn’t answer right away, he looked down at her. “Angelina, I need to know. Lana is here somewhere and I need to find her, but I have to get you somewhere safe.”
    That seemed to snap Angelina out of it. “There are five in total that I know of.” She turned to look at the woman who still hovered in the corner. “I know where we can hide. Go on and find Lana.”
    The woman stood , leaning heavily on Angelina as she looked up at Adam with half-breed eyes. “Thank you.” Her voice cracked in pain.
    Adam nodded with a frown as Angelina struggled with the woman ’s weight. “Stop.” He turned and headed for Robert, who was still unconscious. Walking over, he grabbed him, and punched him twice in the face before tossing him over to where the other man lay. Seeing the women looking at him, he shrugged. “Just making sure he stays out until I get back.” It wasn’t a total lie, though he didn’t mention he took great pleasure of feeling his fist connect to the bastard’s face. He took the woman from Angelina, picking her up.
    “Anne was just turned.” Angelina explained the woman ’s weakened state. “Tomorrow is my turn.”
    “No, it ’s not.” Adam stood with the woman in his arms, staring down at Angelina. A low growl rumbled in his chest; he knew that if he would have listened to Jill sooner, he could have maybe saved this woman from this fate. “Where am I going?” Was the only other thing he could say at that moment.
    “Down the hall, third door on the right.” The woman in his arms nodded her head in that direction.
    Angelina eased past him and led the way to open the door, but it was locked. His eyes rose to the deadbolt, which was unlocked and his gut churned with anger knowing that was the lock used to keep the women prisoners inside the rooms. Angelina knocked on the door with three fast taps followed by two slow. After a few seconds, the lock clicked and the door slowly opened. Angelina turned her head slightly to look up at him with such sadness before pushing into the room and closing the door behind him after he followed her in. He stood with the woman in his arms staring at six women in total, different ages staring at him, some with human eyes, others with eyes like his.
    “Jesus.” Adam’s eyes found Angelina’s again. “I didn’t know.”
    Gently , she put her hand on his arm, as if reassuring him. “I know.”
    “But I read you.” Confus ion filled his voice as did regret. Her eyes, though shadowed, looked at him no differently than she always did. It almost brought him to his knees. He had walked away, left her to God only knew what horror, yet she still looked at him with love. He walked toward the bed and gently set the woman in his arms down; the women immediately surrounded the weak woman. Hearing a loud bang below them, he turned and rushed for the door.
    “Be careful.” Angelina followed closely behind.
    “I’m going to close the door and I want you to lock it.” He took out a set of keys, taking one off the hook. “Stay back away from the door and be quiet.” He looked at all the women as he gave the orders. Knowing if he looked at Angelina as she made her way to the door to lock it, he wouldn’t be able to not take her in his