“Come on, hero,” the EMT says, guiding him away from me.
“You will be reprimanded for this!” Sloane yells, over his shoulder.
“That’s an extra suit!”
The other paramedic sits me down and starts to take my pulse. Chicora grins.
“Boyfriend, huh?”
I look up at her, my cheeks heating.
“Um, I hope that’s not breaking like… company policy.”
Chicora shakes her head.
“I don’t know…” She shrugs. “Sloane changes policy all the time," she says with a wink. “Guess this means you’re sticking around for a while?”
I nod. “Yes, Ma’am.”
She grins, and I hear Sloane yell something and she rolls her eyes.
“Alright, I’m going to check on his majesty, but I’ll be back, okay?”
I nod in response, watching as she walks away. I close my eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath, knowing the worst is over.
And the best is yet to come.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sloane
It’s damn near two in the morning by the time the chaos dies down and the police let us go.
I make my way over to Oliver who’s sitting in the back of one of ambulances, a silver heated blanket wrapped around his body.
Though it’s been hours since the police arrested Robbie and I’ve already put a call in to Parker to ask for representation because Iknowonce the real investigation starts and the media gets wind of everything, Oliver and I will definitely need his help.
I look at him, unsure if he is asleep or awake, judging by the way he’s slumped against the side. His golden hair is a mess and his cheeks are stained with dried tears and dirt. From the angle of the way his head is leaning, I can see a large bruise alreadystarting to form on the side of his jaw and up his cheek, and some visible cuts on her forehead accentuated by steri-strips.
Robert’s words echo in my brain, even now. Even though he’s gone, his vicious remarks still remain.
He’d said Oliver was his. I thought the words were just that of a deranged man, and though one could say I might have missed something on account of the stress of the situation, I know I didn’t miss anything.
Oliver didn’t blink twice.
Because Robert was telling the truth.
Which means Oliver was not entirely faithful to me. He wasn’t completely honest with me, and we need to talk about that.
Chicora comes to stand next to me, reaching an arm around me and pulling me close. Without hesitation, I lean into her and she hugs me. The tears come like rain and I can’t stop them. I grip her tight, my entire body tensing as the truth of everything hits me. The last few days… the last few months. The last few hours…
The last fewyears, spent alone.
“It’ll be okay, Sloane. The police have him in custody, and there is no way he’s getting out now. You’re safe, sweetheart," she says, her voice solid and calm. I believe her. I don’t want to, fuck, if my life has taught me anything it is that I am never safe. Not really.
There is always some monster out there waiting for me. Waiting to take everything I love away from me…
I lift my head and steal a glance at Oliver. My heart still aches for him, even now.
