My name is called out at the counter, and I pick up two venti-sized coffees. I got one for Louie, even though he doesn’t deserve it.
“He does care,” Paz tells me as we make our way back. “For you.”
“Sure he does.” How can Emmanuel care about me? He doesn’t even know me.
“What if he didn’t come back? What if he didhave to play chicken with bullets and got hit? How would you feel?”
“Free,” I deadpan before my smile drops. The thought of Emmanuel not actually coming back makes me feel something else. Something I’m not prepared to acknowledge.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Paz nods and returns to the crappy plastic chair he has positioned outside Charlotte’s door.
I pause in my tracks as soon as I walk back into the room. “Oh my god, you’re awake. Why didn’t you tell me she woke up?” I glare at Louie. He’s so not getting his coffee now.
“What are you doing here? You went home,” Charlotte asks me.
“I… ah… ran into a little obstacle. We’ll talk about it later. I’m just so glad you’re awake. You scared the crap out of me. Don’t do that again,” I tell her.
The doctor finishes checking her over and then leaves the room. Shit, I still need to call Rachel. “What happened? To the guy?” Charlotte says.
“Security got him seconds after he fired the shot,” Louie tells her.
I tune out of their conversation and have my own private one with God. Thanking him for not taking my friend.
“Now, you. Why are you back?” Charlotte looks directly at me.
“Shit, it’s my mom. I gotta take this.” I wave my phone in the air—the one that’s not ringing—and basically run from the room.
Your mom? Really, of all people, that’s who you choose?Charlotte knows I haven’t spoken to my mother in years.
Chapter Twelve
Ihad to leave Evie at the hospital to go and pick up a drop with Sammie. I wasn’t going to make Louie leave his wife. And Sammie couldn’t do it alone. I’m fucking glad I was there. When he opened the container, there were four of my own fucking workers aiming rifles at us.
Safe to say I’m now four men down and fucking pissed off.
Now we’re back at the hospital. I need to seeher. I don’t like not having her nearby. I’ll wear her down. She will be mine willingly. I just have to be patient and give her time to come around to the idea.
I find Paz outside Charlotte’s room. Before I can say anything to him, Evie comes running out, her face flushed. She stops right in front of me, looks up and then back down at the floor.
“Argh!” She stomps a foot—literally stomps a foot like a child having a tantrum—and steps around me.
“Where are you going?” I ask, following her.
“Anywhere you’re not,” she fires back.
Taking hold of her elbow, I lead her into the next room. Louie had the entire ward cleared. The only patient is Charlotte, which means the place is empty. The door slams behind me.
Evie shrugs out of my hold. “Don’t manhandle me!”
I step towards her, and she takes a step back. I repeat the dance until her back is pressed up against the wall. “What happened?” I ask her.
“You mean apart from being kidnapped?” she hisses.
“I’ve already told you you’re free to leave anytime.” I press harder against her body, and I’m not doing a damn thing to hide the effect she hason me. “I don’t think you really want to leave though, do you, Evie?”
“Of course I want to leave.” Her hands land on my chest. I’m sure her intention is to push me off. Instead, her fingers curl around the lapels of my jacket. “I want to leave,” she repeats quieter.
I lean down, until I’m a breath away. “No, you don’t,” I tell her right before my mouth crashes onto hers. My tongue pushes through her closed lips. And then, like I’ve just flipped a switch, Evie lights up.
