“Neither did we, but we’re not looking a gift horse in the mouth. Briar’s going to stay with us until she finds a place to buy,” Dad said.
“This is permanent then,” I mused.
“Yeah, seems to be.”
“Briar’s running,” I stated, and my parents nodded.
“We think so,” Mom agreed.
“Then we’ll make sure Briar knows she’s loved.”
Mom and Dad looked at me and nodded.
“Yup, son, that’s all we can do,” Dad said. “Just like we did to you.”
Chapter Eight.
Harlequin
Two weeks had passed since I’d seen April, and that had been when Isla had got hurt. April hadn’t seen me at the hospital, but I’d watched her. Life had become a battle to stay away, and I’d begun thirsting for a daily fix of April. There was a growing urge to explain to April exactly what had happened when I broke up with her.
Why I was bothered was only too obvious. April might loathe the sight of me, but I still cared deeply for her. Emotionally, I was a mess. The voice inside my head was a determined, stubborn annoyance. Did I feel the need to vindicate my actions because April was back, or because I needed forgiveness? Who knew? But it wouldn’t shut up and grew stronger every day.
Half an hour later, April appeared, scowling. A woman walked beside her, apparently agitated and waving her hands. April stopped and took a step into the woman’s space, who backed off and growled something.
April turned and stormed away.
Hate crossed the other bitch’s face, and she shoved April. Simultaneously, an ambulance pulled around the corner.
“April! Watch out!” I yelled, leaping off my Hog and running flat out. I grabbed April as she stumbled, unbalanced, from the nurse’s shove. The ambulance screeched to a halt as I tackled April and we fell backwards, with me taking most of our weight. My head impacted the pavement, and it was lights out.
April
Mahoney had just tried to push me in front of an ambulance. What the fuck! I lay stunned as realisation swept over me and I shook in disbelief. Finally, I realised I was unhurt and lying on top of Stone, who wasn’t moving. People were spilling out of the ER entrance and heading towards me.
Mahoney was babbling something about not meaning it, but I was more worried about the blood coming from Stone’s head.
A doctor rolled me over, and I blinked.
“April, are you okay?” Teagan shrieked as she dropped beside me.
“Fine, let me up.”
“Stay there, April,” Simmons ordered as he appeared. “I want to check you over.”
“Doctor, I’m fine. But Stone’s not.” I got up and turned on Mahoney.
“You tried to kill me!” I yelled.
“No! No! It was just a push!” Mahoney yelped, wringing her hands together.
“What’s this?” Simmons demanded as Stone was lifted onto a gurney and carried away.
“Mahoney pushed me in front of that ambulance, and Stone saved me,” I cried. The shock of what had happened finally sank in.
“Nobody says another word until HR gets here,” Simmons ordered.
“Screw HR, I want the cops calling,” I snapped.
