Christian leaps out of bed and shoves his feet into his shoes before turning to look at me.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promises.
I stare at him as he bolts from the room.
Leaning against the pillows, I stare up at the ceiling and wait.I can hear muffled voices down the hall.What’s happened now?
Is this what my life will be like if I choose to stay here with him?Will he constantly be torn away from me?Will I be safe here?
I think about my parents and what my life will be like if I go home.For the first time, I’m realistic about it.Usually, when I think about working for them, I tell myself that things will change, that they’ll notice and appreciate me.I picture us as a typical, loving family.
But in reality, I know that’s not what it will be like.The business will always be more important than me, and deep down, I know I’ll never have the family or relationship with them I truly want if I go back to New York.
So, what do I want?To be second fiddle here or in New York?
Tears form in my eyes as I realize that I already know what I want.
I want to start over somewhere new.
I take a deep, steadying breath, but it still feels like my heart is breaking in my chest as I stand and reach for the new clothes his friend brought for me.
I change slowly, some part of me hoping that Christian comes back and talks me out of it, but he doesn’t.
With one last look around the room, I turn and climb out the window.
I make the short walk back to my hotel room, and as soon as I’m inside, I lock the door and lean against it.
Only then do I let the tears fall.
EIGHT
Christian
“Clamp,”I say as I finish operating on the second gunshot victim.
I work silently as I check one last time to make sure I’ve repaired all the damage.After closing the man up, I take a deep breath.
“That was a tricky one,” Melanie says.
“Yeah.We’ll need to monitor him for the next few hours.With all the pain meds in his system, he won’t wake until later tonight or tomorrow morning.”
Melanie nods.“I’m on it.”
“I’ll take the night shift,” Claire says.
I leave them to figure out the schedule.I need to get cleaned up and get back to my mate.
Yes,my wolf snarls.We’ve been away from her for too long already.
I wonder what she wanted to talk to us about,I reply asmy wolf paces inside me.
I jerk to a stop when I see the guys from Midnight Haven as I leave the operating room.
“How’s the guy doing?”Russo asks.
“He’s stable now.He’ll be out of it for a while, but he should live.”
“Good,” Jameson, our leader, says.
