Janet’s frantic cry encourages me to lift a hand to gesture that I’m okay, only it doesn’t quite work the way I want because searing hot agony hits me like a tidal wave, and suddenly, everything rushes in.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Lucca, stop!”Those words confuse me, but not enough to dare to move again.“Go to her.You can’t fucking kill the man.”
“The hell I can’t!”Lucca’s murderous tone is kind of scary.Okay, a lot scary, but when I try to locate him, my head explodes with a nauseating pain that blackens my vision, and suddenly, it feels like I’m floating above my body, watching everything around me happen.
Lucca and Janet enter my line of sight at the same time.She, with tears in her eyes; he, with a mean scowl on his face.Both of their mouths are moving, but the ringing in my ears is deafening, so I don’t hear a word they’re saying.
When I attempt to push myself up, they each place a gentle hand on my shoulders, shoot glares at each other, and then turn their concerned looks to me and speak again.Preston appears in my peripheral vision, yelling at someone, while holding a man with a bloody and bruised face in one hand.
My head pounds as I blink furiously.A million tiny jackhammers work at making me feel numb.The desire to test my limbs’ capabilities is squashed by the remembered pain of trying to lift my arm.
“Is it broken?”I ask, but they just look at me funny.So don’t move, don’t speak, is how things are going to go right now.
Well, at least I’m not cold.There’s way too much agony for that.
The sound of sirens penetrates the fog, and the ringing finally lessens enough to hear all the arguing around me.They’re fighting over whose fault it was that I was hit by a car.
The logical part of me understands that it’s mine, but I know well enough to keep my mouth shut.For now, I’ll enjoy the heat of Lucca’s palm on my cheek and the fact that I’m warmer here than I was in my apartment.
That can’t be good, right?When it’s this cold, I should be freezing.Maybe it’s shock?Too much adrenaline coursing through my veins for cold to penetrate?I hope that’s the case.I don’t want to die a virgin.
Lucca’s lips quirk up in that sexy way he does, and I register Janet’s snicker, realizing I said that part out loud.
Changed my mind.I’ll die a virgin.Right now, please.
CHAPTER4
Lucca
Idon’t want to die a virgin.
Those words replay through my mind like a broken record.Her soft plea shifted something inside me.The anger I’d been carrying dissipated when I saw her little surprise on my door handle until I watched her go sailing into the air as the cabby hit her.Then it returned full force when the man got out of his car, screaming profanities and insults at my sweet Coco.She was on the ground, injured, and when I noticed the blood staining the snow under her head, I lost it.He became my target.
Coco is getting her head stitched now while they wait for X-rays because she likely broke her arm and maybe her leg.She was in a lot of pain as they loaded her into the ambulance.Their refusal to allow me to join her nearly caused more bloodshed, but the cops were already looking for a reason to arrest me after the cabby pointed towards me.
Her boss, Janet, couldn’t leave because she had pastries in her shop’s oven, so she called Coco’s friend Sabrina.The young woman has been in with her since she arrived, and my anger is beginning to fester again.
“We have a meeting,” Preston reminds me for the fifth time.
“Cancel it, reschedule it, go to it yourself.I don’t fucking care, but I’m not leaving until I see her.”My growl silences the waiting room as I get in Preston’s face.Beating the man to a pulp wouldn’t be a first for me; we’ve had many scuffles over the years, and I’ve always come out on top, but it won’t do me any good right now.
He backs off, taking a seat, while I continue to pace.
An hour passes, then two; that’s my breaking point.I storm over to the triage nurse, and Preston curses behind me.
“Where is Coco Spencer?”I demand, nailing her with a deadly glare that causes her to gulp as she looks it up.
“Recovery.Second floor.Room 220.”She swallows audibly as she points towards the elevators.
“What the fuck is she in recovery for?”That was never mentioned.
“She needed her knee set.It was dislocated, and she had to be sedated.”
Snarling, I slam a fist on the desk, then head to the next floor.People scatter when they see me coming, and I’m sure it’s the deadly look on my face.The cab driver may not make it out of the hospital if she’s incapacitated in any way.
Taking a calming breath before entering the closed hospital room door, I twist the nob and hear Sabrina speaking.“He’s like a bull in a China shop.I’m telling you that man is pissed as hell, and everyone is avoiding him down there.”
It’s obvious she’s talking about me.
