Page 84 of Provoke You

“I liked Ela better when she spent her nights from one party to the next, when she was one vodka tonic away from finally kicking it and letting us be.” He spat blood on the wall. “She had to go and clean up her act.”

“Us? What is she to you?”

“What’s going on here? Break it up.” A security guard came up the stairs.

“I work here. I’m Mike. This guy attacked me for no reason.”

I glanced down at his badge. It was him in the picture. “Nice fake ID.” I snatched the badge off the small pocket of his scrubs. When he struggled to get it back, I shoved my forearm up his Adam’s apple and put a hand up so the security guard wouldn’t get any closer. I wouldn’t get another chance like this one. There was no way in hell I was letting him go. “This man is a murder suspect. Call the police.”

The guard placed his hand over his weapon. His gaze darted between my face and Mike’s as he tried to decide who was telling the truth. I was in jeans and T-shirt, while Mike wore scrubs. He based his decision on looks alone. It was written all over his face when he unholstered his gun and pointed it at me.

“Turn around. Palms on the wall.” His voice sounded shaky and unsure.

“You chose wrong.” I stared down the barrel. If he’d wanted to shoot me, he would’ve done it already. His training wasn’t geared toward shooting people. He was here to keep the peace.

“I don’t want to shoot you, but I will. Turn around. Hands on your head.”

I fisted my hand, and Mike gasped for air. It was all a show to gain the guard’s sympathy. Shit. I had no authority here. This whole charade could land me in jail. Ela needed me. I released my hold on Mike and stepped back. The moment the guard advanced on me, Mike shoved him toward me and made a run for it.

“You let him get away.” I pushed him off me.

“Stop right there.” Why was he still fixated on me?

“Innocent people don’t run away.” I darted down the steps. When I reached the second landing, I glanced back over my shoulder. A little slow, but the guard had finally caught on. He’d holstered his weapon and was on his radio calling for backup. Mike, or whatever his name was, went down two more floors, before he exited the stairwell.

I followed him onto the fifth floor, but he disappeared. If I went after him, the hospital security might find me first and make me stay to answer questions. I didn’t have that kind of time. I had to go home and find Ela. When the elevator doors opened, I jumped in and hit the lobby button. The reception area was quiet. Before backup showed up, I went out to the roundabout and climbed into the car waiting for me. I made a mental note to tip the driver an extra fifty.

“Drive, please.”

He nodded and headed out. I took out my phone and texted the guys.

Guess who I ran into at the hospital? The guy who attacked Ela at the lake.

Kitt responded inside a minute.

Guess who’s here from the hospital? Ela.

I relaxed on the back seat, rubbing my side. Ela was safe. I should’ve gone home right away, though this hospital detour hadn’t been a total waste of time. Ela’s attacker had a face. I scowled at the badge I took from him. Did Ela know him? He seemed to know enough about her, about all the partying she did before she decided to clean up her act and become a pastry chef. Regardless of his connection to Ela, I would make sure this guy never posed a threat to her again.

What about Ela’s dad? If he hired this Mike to watch her at the hospital, could we assume he also hired him to kill her? One thing was for certain—Andre Benoit wanted Ela institutionalized for good. And I seriously doubted it had anything to do with saving the family name from yet another scandal.

I typed a new message to Kitt.

Please tell me you didn’t let Ben go.

---