Page 213 of His Reckoning

That’s not what this is supposed to be.

I stand still long enough to watch the front door close behind her, and then I drag a hand over my mouth and exhale slowly.

Now I know two things. First, I was already going after her. Second, I’m even later than I thought.

I get back in the car and sit there, gripping the steering wheel for a second, staring at the building.

She looked like she hadn’t slept. I could feel the weight she’d been carrying around. And the worst part is, I know I did that.

I pushed her away. I made her feel like she was the worst person in the world. Worse than the man who had physically and emotionally hurt me.

I start the car and pull away from the curb before I get sick.

* * *

The hospital lobby smells exactly like every hospital lobby in New York—clean, over air-conditioned, and faintly like coffee that’s been sitting out too long.

I don’t belong here in the middle of a weekday afternoon.

The woman at the desk notices me immediately. Of course she does.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m here for Melissa Rivers.”

She types something into the computer. “You’ll need to wait.”

I nod once and step off to the side.

Waiting is not one of my strengths. Especially not today, when every second I stand here, I keep seeing Kayla’s face through that windshield.

How quickly she looked away. How final it felt.

I rub the back of my neck and stare through the glass doors toward the parking lot.

The impulse to turn around and drive back to Melissa’s punches at me hard enough to be annoying, but I force myself to stay still.

Because if I’m going to do this right, then I’ll need help. Someone who can make sure Kayla shows up somewhere without suspecting anything. And there’s exactly one person in this city who’ll do it while also glaring at me the entire time.

“Wow,” Melissa says dryly from beside me. “You look terrible.”

I turn. She’s standing there in navy scrubs, badge clipped to her waistband, expression unimpressed.

“That’s rude.”

“It’s accurate.” She crosses her arms. “What are you doing here?”

I don’t waste time. “I need your help.”

That gets her attention.

Her brows lift slightly, but she doesn’t let me off easy. “That sounds suspicious.”

“It’s not.”

“That’s how suspicious people answer that question.”

I exhale slowly. “Melissa.”