“Worried about June. She’ll be sad if something happens to you. Besides, that road is full of potholes.”
“Are you going to fix those, too?”
“Yup, working on it. Honestly, why are we paying taxes if they don’t use it to fill in potholes? Am I right?”
“You pay taxes, baby?”
“Probably? I mean, yeah. No clue how much, though.”
“Such a rich-boy statement.”
“Hey! I’m using my money for a good cause.”
My lips twitch because he sounds so sure of himself, chest puffed out and everything.
There’s a strand of hair that’s close to his eyes, and I tuck it behind his ear, making him shiver a little. “Is buying the auto shop I work at a good cause?”
“Yeah. Because that way, you can work on your own time and not according to someone else’s.”
“That makes you my boss now.”
“A better boss than your previous one. I’ll pay you more, and you can work less. You can even take a break whenever you wish. No notice needed.”
I chuckle and he watches me with parted lips. “That’s not how you run a business, my prince.”
“Don’t give a fuck. You want to finish the season strong, no? You need more free time to practice, and you can’t do that with a packed part-time job schedule.”
“While I’m thankful”—I grab him by the nape—“ you don’t have to do this. I was kidding about the sugar daddy thing.”
“I want to,” he murmurs, his eyes staring deep into mine as he presses his gloved hand against my chest further. “Let me try to help, okay? It’s the only thing I can do for you.”
Before I can say “It’s not,” he kisses me, his lips grazing mine softly as if he’s tasting me for the very first time.
Now,I know why he kissed me that time—to shut me up, probably. To stop me from asking questions I should’ve asked so that he wouldn’t be in that room.
The men Kane called pry Jude off me. They grab myarms and try to escort me out, but I said I’m not leaving, and I’mnotfucking leaving.
I hit, punch, and slam my head against them for what seems like forever.
Prestonneedsme.
Preston would want to see me.
I told him I was here for him, and I won’t go anywhere.
The operating room’s door slides open, and I come to a halt, barely feeling the men clutching me by the arms.
A doctor walks out, looking like he came straight from a battleground. And as he removes his cap, revealing damp gray hair, I hold my breath.
Jude and Kane rush toward him, and Lawrence follows close behind.
“How is he?” Jude asks in a thick, low voice.
The doctor stares at Lawrence and bows his head. “We tried our best, but he lost a lot of blood. My condolences, sir.”
No.
No.
