Page 95 of Time to Bounce

“And his entire family will be, too, since he sent that in the group chat. Go,” Maven urged.

I did, dragging my feet the entire way.

I didn’t bother going to the waiting room because I ended up getting into the elevator that already had a slew of Carters in it. Most of them had half-finished food with them, looking worried.

They were all talking at once, and I had to explain all over again what had happened, this time not being able to help the stray tear that coursed down my cheek when I was done.

“He was s-stabbed,” I stuttered.

I’d gotten Gable stabbed.

My eyes were full of unshed tears by the time I looked up at Gable’s father.

“It’s okay, darlin’.” Germaine pulled me under his arm. “We all would’ve done the same thing.”

I didn’t think so, because none of the others had agreed.

But shit, it wasn’t like I was an expert at having a crazy man after me.

How was I to know?

I may be a freakin’ 911 operator fifty percent of my time, but that didn’t make me an expert on crime.

We all exited the elevator, and Germaine kept his arm exactly where it was, keeping me close to his side.

I fell into step with him, and he completely avoided the nurses’ station and went to the crowded area in the back.

“Excuse me,” Germaine said quietly.

Everyone moved except for a couple of nurses and doctors that were clogging up the doorway.

I could hear someone speaking to Gable from inside, but I couldn’t see him.

Quincy, tired of being separated from his brother when he was hurt, pushed through them all and greeted his brother.

“You can only have two visitors right now, Mr. Carter. Choose them,” a frazzled sounding doctor said. “This room isn’t big enough for all these officers.”

I fully expected him to say me.

Truly, I did.

But that wasn’t what he said at all.

“Can you bring Callena in here?” Gable rasped. “I need her.”

The feeling of my stomach falling into my toes followed his words.

“What?” I heard Quincy say.

No, not say.

Balk.

“Callena,” he repeated. “I need her.”

He didn’t want me there.

He wanted some woman who he worked with, pretend dated, and had been the cause of me being angry the other day when he let her into his home while I was still in his bed?

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