Page 59 of The Last Call
“But you…Mack…had guns…”
Her allegation fades as another coughing fit overtakes her, and the nurse helps her with sips of water. The woman glances at the doctor looking for guidance. They both know what brought Sydney here but aren’t aware of the details. They don’t need to fucking know. I shove my thumb over my shoulder dismissing them. Neither argues, happy to leave if the speed of their steps is any indication.
She shakes her head as if trying to clear the fog. To make sense of her memories that have somehow gotten fucking jumbled in her gorgeous mind. That I’m more than happy to clear up and correct. “That motherfucker tried to shoot me but you jumped in the damn way.”
I’ve never been scared before. Until her. Until then. Until now. “So if anyone should be pissed, it’s me. I don’t know what the fuck you were thinking taking a bullet for me. You never sacrifice yourself for me.”
I’m way louder than I should be. I mean fucking shit she just woke up from a god damn coma. But I can’t be any angrier than I am now.
“You’re mad at me?”
Incredulity rings through her voice despite how weak she is. “Fuck yes I’m mad as hell at you. You almost fucking died. I almost lost you.”
Maybe she thinks I will still lose her when she turns her face away. Closing her eyes. Shutting me out. Disregarding my fury. But that’s never fucking happening, and we both know it. “Go ahead and pretend like you’re sleeping lion. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Despite my rage, I hold her hand softly between mine. Until she attempts to draw her fingers away. I grip her tighter. Locking her down. Locking her to me. Locking her to us. “Don’t.”
She softens from my snarl but doesn’t speak or move. Ignoring me and the issue between us as always. That’s fine angel. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be at your side forever whether you like it or not.
“Now, Miss Martin. We have a couple of options after your release. If you have family or friends who can assist with your care, you could stay with them. Or, you could move into a rehab facility while you recuperate. We’re lucky to have several excellent resources in this area. We just need to check into them to find which one has a bed available for you.”
I open my mouth to let her know a rehab facility is the only choice in my situation, but Julius’s voice bellows across the room instead.
“You stay with me lion.”
The social worker jumps from his furious tone. But I just ignore him. I will not cower to his temper. Or follow his orders. Or allow him to control me. I’ve put up with his insanity for the last two weeks, and I’m not doing it anymore. I’ve made up my mind about what I need, and it isn’t him.
He strides toward us as if he owns the damn place, which knowing him he probably does. Undoubtedly bribes doctors and nurses to care for the people he loves to assault. Peering closer at the yellow name tag on her chest, he yanks the brochures off the tray extended over my legs. “You can go Mrs. Washington. I’ll be taking care of her. No need for any of these.”
“Well…I…this is…”
The poor woman stutters and stumbles backward from my bedside. Hoping to escape from Julius’s vicinity as well as his embarrassingly obnoxious behavior. Unfair to her to be trapped in our battle, I force an indulgent smile as if everything is fine and nod to her. “It’s okay. We can go through this later.”
“Yes. Sure. Of course.” With a timid reach she grabs her file folder from the faux wooden top and the pamphlets from his hand. Grabbing the edges of the slick papers almost as if to ensure her fingers don’t touch his. “I’ll come back later.”
We both steam in silence until the door closes behind her. “How dare you dismiss her?”
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I’m not living with you!”
“If you think you’re going to get away from me, you’re out of your fucking beautiful mind.”
Yelling over each other isn’t going to solve this problem. Or fix anything between us. Nothing can. I turn toward the window. The rain pounding on the glass as hard as the throbbing in my head. “Get out Julius. I don’t want you here.”
“I don’t give a damn what you want.”
Goosebumps lift on my neck from his warm minty breath in my ear. His scruff on my cheek. His hand around my throat. Hating my traitorous body coming to life from his heat and his scent and his touch. Gentle but insistent turning my face back to his. “Obviously. You never have, and I don’t think you ever will.”
Lust gleams in his eyes, and his fingers grip tighter. Restraining himself from fully manhandling me.
“You better be glad you’re in that hospital bed lion, or I would fuck that damn mouth of yours into submission.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
A raging snarl thunders from deep in his chest. Echoing across the bare walls. Oh shit. I’ve pushed him too far. The rolling table slams into the opposite wall from the force of him shoving it out of the way. Not allowing anything between us.
“You think I won’t fuck you here and now.” He lifts me from the bed and cradles me to his chest. His touch gentle and careful in contrast with his vicious tone. Ensuring no harm to me or my wound despite the frustration thudding his voice. “That I wouldn’t love to make you scream loud enough for the nurses to come running.”
