Pen sat up straight and wiped her face. She looked a bit better as she offered me a small smile. "No more tears. Dodge is going to be okay. Aiden, the asshole, is going to be caught soon, and then we can go back to normal."
"This sappy business is making me uncomfortable," Riley grumbled in my head. I ignored him as Pen and Rosie watched me.
"You could go get coffee." I sent it back. "For us."
I heard muttering in response, but thankfully, I couldn't understand it. Then, he added, "I'm not leaving you alone."
I glanced at Riley and realized he was worried. I mean, I knew he was worried before, but it just felt different. "I know I'm a pain in the butt, but I honestly appreciate you being here for me. For my friends."
He blushed, and I caught it before Pen gently grabbed my face and turned me her way. I grimaced. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Pen said. "I'm only a little jealous," she said, glancing at Rosie. "You know—" She ended with a wave of her arms.
"Yeah, Carlisle isn't impressed either."
Pen snorted. "I bet." She cleared her throat. "I want to check on Dodge, and then we can leave. I have an idea."
I tilted my head to look at her, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. I wanted to ask her about the idea she mentioned, but I decided against it with Rosie sitting beside us. I knew that whatever idea Pen had would get straight back to Jessop—Carlisle, too. I liked Rosie a lot, but she was married to Rhodes, who was Jessop's brother. Her loyalty would be with them.
The nurse chose that moment to enter the waiting room. She glanced around, and her gaze settled on me, Pen, and Rosie. "Tallulah?"
I frowned and waved a hand.
"Levi wants to speak with you."
My frown deepened. "Me?"
"He's adamant. He won't settle."
I jumped to my feet. "I'd better go see what's bothering him." I squeezed Rosie's and Pen's hands, then quickly followed the nurse.
"Riley, I'll be fine. Please stay with Pen."
"I don't like this."
"Noted."
The nurse led me into a dark room facing the desk. I swallowed hard when I finally saw Dodge. He looked terrible, but his eyes held a sense of urgency. The nurse left, and I managed to get my legs to move. He reached for my hand and gripped it tightly.
"Listen to me, Talla. You're his next target. He wants to take Pen with him. But he blames you for Pen leaving him in the first place.”
The color drained from my face the moment Dodge started speaking. My legs felt weak, and my heart thundered rapidly in my chest. I felt sick.
"Chair behind you."
I dropped down, and luckily, my butt hit the edge, and I wiggled further into it. "I already knew he'd lost his mind, but he's really crazy. Pen left because he abused her."
"Hmmm," Dodge mumbled.
"I should go." Those words left my mouth, but I couldn't get my body to follow through.
"Tell Carlisle," Dodge whispered.
"How do you know all this?"
"He was there. Waiting. He got me. He told me that. Then he fired the shotgun. I assume it was after he'd gotten some distance away. He's sneaky."
My legs worked as I stood. Dodge grabbed my hand. "I don't want anyone to know about me."
