My Dangerous Rogue, Paula Wong [best books to read for self improvement TXT] 📗

bloody hell are you talking about?”
“A woman with brown hair entered here, was looking for you. Nice woman, she seemed shocked and surprised that you were kissing another woman. A kind gentleman lead her out of here and back into the hallway. I don’t see them now, I figured he took her somewhere, away from you.” And with that, she left him. Her image disappearing as she turned the corner.
He smirked, Loretta saw him? Well that would make his job easier. If she had seen him then she would leave him be. But of the man?
That blasted woman had mentioned a man taking Loretta away. Quickly, he turned and headed toward the chambers where her room was located in.
With a few strides, he made it outside of the wooden door that was her room. Voices can be heard inside. Loretta and another man he cannot identify. He raised his hand to knock on the door. His heart ached for some odd reason as she heard him laugh, along with the male. He had never heard her laugh in such a manor. A manor of a lovely and surprisingly attractive.
Jealousy. He was jealous of the male. He can never make Loretta laugh in that way. Of course he can flirt, but it seemed that every time both of them had talked or even glance at each other, they always seem to quarrel.
Richard can’t ever get along with that woman. It is strictly impossible. Except in bed.
He has the power to undone him. But in bed is where he is vulnerable. A yell followed in somewhere in the inn, followed by a gunshot. Startled, Richard snapped out of his thoughts and sprang into action. It was not located in the room at all. So it be somewhere in the inn. The door opened and Loretta stepped out, followed by the male. Her eyes widened at the sight of him and stepped back, as if propelled. “What was that?”
He glanced up at the male, whose hands were on her shoulder. “I do not know, but stay here.”
She shook her head. “Not even in your life,”
Richard cursed silently, he has not need the time to argue with her right now. “Alright, just stick with your friend for now. I do not want your blood on the floor,” And with that, he had his hand on the pocket where his pistol was located in, walking toward the commotion.
People surrounded the outside of the inn, snow starting to fall yet again. As Richard grew nearer, more people gathered. The scent of blood strong in the air.
He cringed in disgust as the woman he had been with earlier was lying on the ground. Blood escaped the small hole in her stomach, her eyes opened, an emotion of confusion and surprise in them, she trembled in fear. Richard kneeled down and put pressure on her wound. “Stay still,” he whispered. “Don’t move.”
Matilda nodded and gasped in pain, her skin turning paler by the second as more blood escaped through her wound. “I- I don’t want to die,” she whispered, tears escaping her eyes.
“You won’t die just hold on.” Then he glanced up and around the people. “Somebody get me a damn doctor!” He yelled in frustration.
People started to scramble around, the only ones were left except for him, Loretta, and her friend. “Just keep still. Who did this to you?”
She blinked and looked up at him. “A- A man. I- I’m not sure but he was dressed like you sir.”
Richard’s expression was grim. “What is your age?”
“E- Eighteen,” was her answer.
Damn it! She was just a girl. Quickly, he pulled her up in bridal style, ignoring her groan of pain and carried her in the inn. Helena was there in an instant. “Give me a fresh bucket of water, a basin, fresh blankets and cloths, a needle and a string, and surgical insturments quickly.” She nodded and went to fetch the needed materials.
Richard entered his room and laid her down. “What are you going to do?” Loretta asked worriedly.
“The doctor will not be able to make it if the wound is exposed to such weather, infection will take place and she will die.” He replied hastily, kneeling down to get the knife from his boot. “I am going to rip your dress so I can be able to dress your wound, the pain will increase as I begin to cut but it will be brief once I get the bullet out. Alright?”
She nodded and closed her eyes just as Helena came in with the materials. Then she handed him a cup, he took it and let her drink it. “It is anesthesia. It will help dull the pain. I am not sure if it will work quickly but it will work. You will feel a little drowsy and sleepy but other than that, it will be okay.”
Helena took out something in her apron. “And here is some a bark from the tree. I groomed it so it will not hurt her mouth,” She handed him a shaped tree bark. The bark itself is gone only replaced by a smooth surface. He motioned for Matilda to open her mouth. “Bite on this as you feel the pain. We do not want to alert the others as much as they already are alerted now.”
She nodded and opened her mouth, holding it firmly in her mouth. “You have some for the pain?”
Richard looked over at Loretta. “Will you stay for the operation or will you wait outside?”
“I will stay,” she whispered and looked over at her friend. “Wait outside Alden. I will be fine. I will assist Richard if he needs any assistance.”
The man, Alden, nodded and exited out of the room, closing the door behind him with Helena following. His gaze was back on the woman on the bed, trembling in pain. “I will begin cutting your dress.”
Matilda just nodded and let her head rest on the pillow, closing her eyes, praying that this moment will end.
With a breath, he took his knife and started on the sleeves of her dress and the outside gown. He opened it and gently took it off of her. Bodice was next, the leather was easy to cut; the knife’s edge was so sharp that the bodice parted like it was nothing but butter.
As he cut through all the fabrics, her pale skin welcomed their gazes. At last he finally cut through the chemise, her nipples showing through the thin fabric of the gown. Richard ignored it and continued to cut until all of the clothing was off, leaving her bare. “Start the fire Loretta, she needs warmth.” He said behind his shoulder as he raised the blanket up to her waist then another towel on her chest, leaving her stomach exposed to him. Loretta nodded and headed toward the fireplace, quickly lighting it, warmth filling the room, helping her body stay warm long enough for him to dress her wound.
“Hold her down,” He said washing his hands and the surgical instruments in the fresh water thoroughly, then, walking up to wound in her stomach, where the wound was located. She nodded and put two of her hands on her arm. Richard took the scalpel and began to slice the sides of the wound where the bullet was in. Loretta winced and braced her down as she struggled, loud whimpers escaping Matilda’s mouth, biting the bark roughly.
After the wound was big enough to fit the forceps into, Richard placed the blooded scalpel on the tray table and took the forceps, getting to work on taking the bullet lodged in her stomach. Finding the bullet was a challenge, He didn’t want to hit any veins. He looked down firmly and went a little deeper. Matilda’s whimper became loud groans, her body starting to move out of his grasp. “Hold her down Loretta,” He commanded, gripping her arm tightly.
“I’m trying,” She breathed.
“Try harder then,”
Loretta glanced up at him, her mouth open, about to argue but no words formed. She hasn’t seen Richard in this attitude before. He knew what he was exactly doing, like a professional expert on dressing wounds. With all of her strength, she held her still. Richard took the chance as something metallic hit the forceps tips. He moved it to the right position and grabbed hold of it, taking it out with a quick movement. She lurched but Loretta kept hold of her. He was surprised, for a woman, she was strong. He fought the urge to smile and quickly took hold of the needle, putting the string in the hole and stitching it up.
After he was done, he applied salve and collapsed against the chair. Matilda finally fell asleep, despite the pain. He guessed the anesthesia finally kicked its course.
He glanced down his hands which were soaked with blood. He realized that he was trembling.
A hand was on his shoulder, holding it firmly. Richard looked up to see Loretta. “You were brave to dress someone’s wound such as hers. I had never seen any ordinary man do that before. Where have you learn to work like that? You were natural,”
He shrugged. “I read really,”
Loretta looked down at him with surprise. “Do you mean you had never dress a person before? Of any wound?”
Richard shook his head. “No. I have friends who work with medicine and additionally, I told you before, I read. This is my first time.”
“But you looked so experienced when you were doing it,”
“I know,” he let out a sigh and looked up at her. Her hands were trembling slightly. Richard stood up slightly and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her body was shaking uncomfortably, she realized. There was so much blood. Too much blood. The scent of the room still wreaked with it.
He hugged her, his arms securely around her back. “It can be overwhelming. I am sorry for you having to see that. But keep in mind, you did wish to stay.”
A comforting gesture, she realized, burying her face on his chest, fresh tears coming out of her eyes. “I am sorry,” she whispered. “But who would do such a thing?”
Richard looked outside of the window grimly. “A bastard killer who is out wandering the streets. A killer who is after you if you do not leave Anne’s case alone.”
Chapter 13

Loretta pulled away and looked up at him with confused eyes. “What are you referring Richard?”
He looked down at her with that same gaze, unreadable yet something about the way he looked at her made her knees feel weak and unmovable. “As I had said before, the man who shot Ms. Matilda was the one who had warned us about Anne’s disappearance.”
“So do you mean to say, that Matilda is just a warning? That everything will be even worse from now on?”
He smiled coldly at her. “It seemed that you