CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BELLA
“What the fuck?!” Lucas exclaimed when he entered the small room in the emergency department.
Since they came together, the triage nurse allowed Taylor and Bella to stay in the same room. Victoria was there too, but she didn’t have a single scratch on her. Victoria had mercilessly brutalized a trained assassin. Bella rolled her eyes at the thought. Although she was grateful to be alive, the last thing that she had expected was to have been rescued by Victoria Fucking Storm. What a blow that was. Victoria would surely, never let her forget it.
“Damn,” Lucas cursed, hurrying over to Bella.
He gently grabbed Bella’s bruised face, lifting it to get a better look. In his eyes, Bella could see the sincerity of his concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Who called you?” Bella asked, turning her head.
“I called him,” Victor admitted. “That woman is getting closer and closer to Rosemary. Lucas needs to know what’s going on.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes at Bella. “I asked you if you were okay,” he stressed in a more serious tone.
“I’m fine,” Bella insisted with a huff.
Unable to help herself, she looked over at Taylor. She was sitting in a chair across the room with her arm in a sling, glaring at Bella with a raised eyebrow. Without commenting on Taylor’s accusatory expression, Bella lowered her gaze and stared at the floor.
For the first time since he’d entered, Lucas looked over at Taylor. She was far worse off than Bella.
“Oh, my God,” Lucas gritted. “Areyouokay?”
“My arm is broken and my ego is bruised. But, thanks to these two, I’m fine.” Taylor chuckled and used her good arm to gesture toward Victoria.
“Lucas, this is my friend, Victoria Storm. Victoria, this is Victor’s little brother, Lucas.”
“Nothing little about him,” Victoria muttered under her breath. She smiled at Lucas and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Lucas.”
“Likewise. I’ve met your husband.”
Even though there was always a jolt of sexual energy that passed throughout her body when Lucas touched her, Bella managed not to squirm when he placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Great. He’ll be tearing through that door—”
With unbelievable timing, Jack pushed through the door just as Victoria predicted. “Victoria?” Jack gasped.
He rushed over to her in a full-out panic and pulled her out of her seat. Jack searched her from head to toe, looking for injuries. Shit, if Jack wanted injuries, he should have been looking at Bella and Taylor.
“Jack, baby, I’m fine,” Victoria assured.
He looked her over one more time before pulling her into his arms. Jack kissed her forehead tenderly while caressing the back of her head. The love that he had for her was obvious. He was reacting the same way that Victor had when he first arrived. All of the publicly displayed affection was making Bella feel uncomfortable.
She and Lucas had spent a most incredible night together, but neither of them discussed it afterward. Earth-shattering sex did not equal a relationship. And his being there with her, amongst real couples was awkward.
“We’re gonna go,” Victoria announced.
Taylor stood and held out her arm for a hug. Victoria walked over and wrapped her arms around Taylor.
As they embraced, Taylor whispered, “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m glad I was there,” Victoria responded.
When the women separated, Taylor looked expectedly at Bella.
