Carlos grabbed me by my ponytail and yanked me back. Again, I screamed. Something stung my arm, but I didn’t care. I continued to pull against his hold, knowing that if someone didn’t come soon, he was going to kill me.

I pulled until I finally got free again. But as I ran, my foot caught a power cord and I fell into the curtain. As I floundered in the fabric, I searched for an opening. Before I could find one, I was being pulled by the hair again. He pushed me down onto my knees. Dropping to all fours, I tried to crawl away. My knees ached against the cold, hard floor.

At that, he was on me, trying to flip me over so he could climb on top of me. I fought back, sure that any second he’d get tired of me and cut me open. Finally, he got me onto my back, his heavy body pinning me to the floor.

Reaching up, he pushed my hair from my face and shook his head at me. “Stupid little bitch. Didn’t I tell you? I told you I’d kill you.” He raised the makeshift knife and pressed it against my throat, stinging the skin in a new spot.

He looked down at me with a flushed face, spit flying from his mouth with every hard breath he took. He was going to kill me. I screamed again, trying to save myself once more.

All of a sudden, the weight of him was gone, and I no longer felt the sharp knife against my throat. My eyes flew open, and air rushed into my lungs. It was then that I heard the shuffling beside me. Looking over, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

My attacker was pinned to the wall by his throat, a menacing figure with long, muscular arms and broad shoulders breathing over him with fire in his eyes.

X.

He stood there, growling into Carlos’ face, wearing nothing by the hospital gown he’d been in during his stay in the infirmary. The back was open, revealing a long, muscled back, slim hips, a perfectly round ass, and thick thighs. His skin was tight and tan, and it was rippling with each move he made.

I stared in shock, still trying to come to terms with everything going on around me. I’d almost died. I’d almost been raped and killed, which had been my biggest fear since the first time I’d stepped foot into Fulton Rhodes Penitentiary.

“I’m going to kill you,” X hissed in Carlos’ face.

The alarm had stopped, but I could still hear remnants of it ringing.

Carlos was turning white, his lips a strange shade of blue, and it was then I realized that X was literally choking the life out of him.

Jumping to my feet, I stood on shaking legs before I moved across the room to where X was slowly killing my attacker. My arm burned when I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder.

His head snapped my way with wide eyes.

“Don’t,” I started. I was out of breath and couldn’t finish my sentence. Sucking in oxygen, I tried again. “Don’t kill him,” I whispered.

I definitely wanted him dead. After all, he’d almost raped and murdered me, but at the same time, I knew it was wrong. I didn’t want X to get into any more trouble than he was already in.

His eyes softened even though his hands stayed tight around Carlo’s throat. “But he was going to…”

I stopped him. “I know, but don’t do this. Please,” I begged.

The muscle in his arm shifted as he released the hold he had on Carlos. With X’s hand gone, Carlos slumped to the ground, gasping for breath.

X turned toward me, his eyes moving over my face with concern. He clenched his teeth and the muscle along his jaw popped. Reaching up, I placed my palm against his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin and thanking God that he came when he did.

There was a strange emotion in his eyes before he closed them, pressing his face into my palm, enjoying my touch. When he opened them again, they moved down my neck and to my arm. “You’re bleeding.”

My arm was burning where I’d been cut, and my throat was still stinging as if the knife was still there. “I’m okay,” I whispered. Physically I was just fine, but I wasn’t sure I’d be okay mentally ever again.

“I’m sorry,” he said remorsefully.

I couldn’t believe my ears. He’d just saved my life, and he was apologizing to me. “For what? You saved my life, Christopher.”

“No. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner. That stupid fucking alarm.” He stopped. “I didn’t hear you. I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you.”

He looked as if he was about to lose it again. His eyes were wild, his lips tight. Using my thumb, I swiped under his eyes and let my fingers slide down the side of his face.

“Don’t ever apologize to me again. Thank you so much. I can’t express to you how much…”