Whatever Wyatt and Collin talked about went in one ear and out the other as I stood frozen. My heart was slow. My thoughts stuck on Dominic. I didn’t know what to do. Should I stay and watch over him like he would for me? Or should I make myself hidden away with someone new in the house? Would it be better if I stayed out the way? Should I call Zevon?
“Scarlett?” Collin said, placing his hands on my shoulders and bringing my attention back to the present. When he saw that I was aware of where I was once again, he gave me a soft smile. “There’s no need to panic, princess. Everything will be just fine.” His words were spoken slowly and quietly for only me to hear. “Zevon will be back anytime, too.”
“Okay.” My voice was quiet, and I’m sure he didn’t hear it.
“Do you want to sit with him? Or go to your room?”
I didn’t know. I didn’t know what I was to do. I didn’t want to leave him.
Collin must have seen indecision in my eyes, as he pulled me into a tight hug. My arms were limp at my sides, unable to return his affection. Nonetheless, I let my head rest against his shoulder, willing the tears not to fall more. His hands rubbed up and down my back, helping to calm my nerves slightly.
“Is she okay?” the new man asked.
“Yeah,” Collin answered for me. “She’s been through a heck of a few years.” He pulled back from me, looking me over. “Go sit with him. Keep him company?”
I sniffed with a nod. I could do that. I think.
Collin gave me an encouraging smile as he stepped back from me. I took the small steps towards Dominic. He hadn’t moved in the last few minutes, but he was still alive, still breathing. Same as me.
Was he panicking? Was he even aware of what was going on? How long would he be like this?
“He won’t bite,” the man—Wyatt—said gently. “Scarlett, right?”
I nodded, still standing at the edge of the bed. I gave up trying to stop my tears. The yearning of reaching out to touch Dominic was strong, but somehow, I refrained. Barely.
“He was talking about you,” Wyatt went on. “He cares a lot about you.”
“He must have been talking about someone else,” I sniffed, finally taking a seat on the edge of the bed, inches from his body. Dominic’s eyes peeled open, looking at me. A pleased smile lifted the corners of his lips for a moment before his eyes closed.
“The drug should be out of his system in a few hours, mostly,” Wyatt said. “Unless he took more than one.”
“Why did he even take one?” Collin asked, taking off Dominic’s shoes.
“He didn’t. Someone slipped it into his drink.”
“Who?”
“I’m not sure. Someone that isn’t from around these parts. I think he was experimenting, mostly.”
“Mostly?” I asked, anger filling my voice. Who would dare do something like this? Was Alan behind it?
“A few small dealers slip the same pill into girls’ drinks all the time. This one, I think, is mixed with something else. This is the third time. Normally, I drop them at a hospital when I find them in his state.”
“Then why bring him back this time?” Collin asked, laying a blanket over the top of him.
“I saw him out earlier, with the girl and another man. It didn’t take much to put two and two together.”
“So you know of us?”
“Uh––”
“You know Ace Vicci,” I summed up.
“Yes. He hired me to be a lookout for danger.” Wyatt answered. “He told me who to look for. And where you folks were hiding out.”
“We aren’t hiding,” Collin said roughly.
“Sorry. Where you’re staying.”
