Page 63 of Escape You

“No problem, Boss.” Manny exchanged a knowing glance with his brother. How much did they already know? I couldn’t worry about that. Tyler was all that mattered right now.

“Anything on Dom?” I asked Vic.

“Yeah, Tyler’s brothers are on their way. I texted them the information. Three hours, tops.” He took his notebook out and scribbled fast. “Mia, we should go. We’ve done all we can. Right now, we need to figure out our next move.”

“I know. Can we just stay for a few minutes? How about a coffee?”

He swallowed, meeting my gaze. How could I focus on the task at hand while Tyler was in there. “I just want to make sure he’s going to make it.”

“You’re the boss.”

“One coffee and then we go. That son of a bitch won’t get away with this.” I inhaled. No matter how many times I drew breath, the pressure on my chest wouldn’t let up. It hurt too much to see Tyler like this.

The one coffee turned into two hours of Vic and me pacing outside Tyler’s room. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I knocked on the door once and then barged in. Pam and her intern stood next to Tyler dumping bloody gauzes into a metal tray table. Tyler sat on the bed, face pale and angry, but otherwise awake.

“What happened?” I asked.

“He’s a lucky bastard. No fractures and no vascular injuries. I stitched him up. He should be good in five days or so.”

“There was so much blood.”

“It always seems that way.” She squeezed my upper arm. “Mia, he’s fine. Talk to him.” She left with her intern close behind her.

I met Tyler’s steely blue gaze. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Get out.”

“What?”

“I said get out. What did you think would happen if you went and ratted me out to Rossi?” His eyes filled with tears as his cheeks turned bright red. He was pissed. “I’m lucky to be alive. He shot me point blank. You got what you wanted. You’re free of me. Now get the fuck out.”

“You have it all wrong. I didn’t tell a soul about you.” What the hell was he talking about? “How could you think that about me? After all we’ve been through.”

“I get why you did it. I don’t know that I would’ve done the same, but I get why you did it. Just leave.” He pursed his lips.

His words were like a punch in the stomach. I wasn’t a rat. “Tyler, I would never do anything to hurt you. You have to know that.”

“Right, of course. You made Rossi promise he wouldn’t kill me. He made good on that promise. But he also left me there to bleed out.” He fisted his hand. When he made to sit up on the bed, he winced and let his head fall back.

“I didn’t ask him for anything. He lied.”

“You weren’t there. I made a mistake trusting you, a goddamn criminal.” He gritted his teeth. The hate in his eyes cut me deep.

My feet shuffled toward him. A firm hand gripped my elbow from behind me. “Mia, you saw he’s alive. Now let him go. Was that not the plan?”

Vic was right. I only stayed to make sure Tyler was alive. If he was pissed at me or not, didn’t matter. I had to let him go.

“Yes, Mia. Don’t forget about the plan. What was it? Make me fall for you so you could use me to buy more time with Rossi? Or did you just do it for fun?”

My eyes stung with unshed tears. I nodded at Vic and strode to the door, ignoring Tyler’s erratic breathing. His brothers would be here soon and take him to safety. There was nothing else I could do for him.

“You figured it out. From the beginning, you were just a means to an end. Go home, Tyler. This world isn’t for you.”

Vic followed me out onto the hallway. “He’ll get over it.”

“I know.” I turned to Manny’s and Tom’s ashen faces. “Just so we’re all on the same page here. That’s not Chase Rossi in there. His name is Special Agent Cole. He’s ATF.” I cleared my throat. “He’s also the father of my baby. Now please tell me you have a solid plan to help me nail Rossi for good.”

The boys stood frozen, staring at me for what felt like hours. When I opened my mouth to yell at them and snap them out of it, Tom jerked to his feet. “We do.”

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