Zeno: #8 (Luna Lodge) Read Online Free PDF Page A

out. She could leave now with him, and this nightmare would all be over. She’d be free from Antonio and his cruelty.
    The guards shifted, likely getting ready for a fight.
    She glanced over to them and then back to the stranger.
    “I—” she said.
    The door behind her slammed open. She jumped at the sound. In a swift motion, the massive man pulled her to his side, his large hand secured around her wrist.
    Antonio stomped through the door. His face presented the epitome of a calm façade, but his body tensed with anger. She knew his moods all too well. The calm before the storm.
    “Ava,” Antonio said with the fake smile she dreaded. His gaze flicked down to where the large man held on to her wrist, and her smile faltered slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me your friend would be stopping by?”
    His eyes met hers and promised trouble later, maybe even a beating.
    She went to pull her arm back from the gentle hand, but the stranger held firm. His thumb rubbed over her racing pulse.
    Silently she prayed. Whatever was going on, Antonio would find a way to blame it all on her. She just needed to make it a little longer, and she’d be free, huge hunky stranger or not.
    “My name is Zeno,” the large man said and stepped forward. “Ava’s sister is unwell and asked that I come bring her sister home.”
    She glanced up to the man, wondering how much of that was true. He gave a small squeeze, and it offered some comfort.
    Her mind went to Paige, and she cringed at how she’d been before she left. It was a wonder that Paige even cared if she came back. Ava wasn’t sure if she’d be so forgiving if Paige had been such a bitch.
    Antonio frowned, his gaze shifting between the pair. His distrust was evident.
    “And the sister sent you here?” he said. “Why didn’t she send a letter?” He shrugged. “Seems a lot of trouble to fly a man all the way down to Peru, no?”
    She looked up to Zeno, wondering the same thing. A muscle in his jaw tightened and for a moment, she thought she saw a flash of yellow under his glasses.
    He looked down at her, and she couldn’t help but be captivated by him.
    “She tried,” he said. “The letters were all returned to sender.” His voice was low as if he were warning her.
    Ava wanted to laugh. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t fully aware of the prisoner she’d become.
    “Oh, that’s a shame,” Antonio said with a little laugh. “Mail here can be so temperamental.”
    “Seems that’s not the only thing,” Zeno mumbled.
    Her eyes widened at his words. She glanced over to Antonio, who glared at the two of them suspiciously. Zeno’s words must not have reached him.
    She gasped loudly when Antonio reached out and yanked her hard to his side.
    “I will take her to her sister,” Antonio hissed, his voice thick with anger. “You aren’t needed.”
    Zeno held tightly on to her arm.
    “Her sister asked me to bring her home,” he said. The low rumble of his voice set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. “I can’t just leave her.”
    She could feel her pulse race as the two men squared off.
    “I think…” she began. She stopped as two angry faces stared at her.
    Antonio shifted so the hard butt of his gun bumped against her. It was a threat. No, a promise. If she went with Zeno, he would kill him. Maybe even kill them both. She couldn’t do it. She swallowed the fear that choked her.
    “I’ll go with Antonio,” she said quietly.
     
    As if burned, Zeno dropped his hand instantly. He had been so certain she wanted to leave. Or maybe he had just been hoping. She was just as beautiful as in the picture, her green eyes drawing him in, but there was something about her. The way she questioned him set something off.
    She hissed quietly, and his gaze landed on her once more. That bastard had her pressed hard against his side. He could see the bruising start to form where Antonio had gripped her arm too hard. The bastard didn’t care if she was hurt.
    Zeno narrowed his