Page 26 of Creature's Vengeance
“Shit,” Creature cursed. “You went.”
“Yes. Multiple times. Hotels, bars, wherever Mateo went. I kept showing up and asking around about Bells. I showed her picture to bartenders and other people at the parties.”
Creature gently grasped my chin and tilted my face up. His intense gaze searched my soul with its piercing color. “Mateo hurt you.”
“Not at first, but yes, he did. He grew frustrated with my questions. A few days later, I realized that his men were following me around during the day. They watched as I went shopping for supplies for my online business and showed up at my apartment. I couldn’t lose them.”
“That fucking asshole tried to intimidate you.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I think he was trying to figure out how much I knew about him and Bells’ disappearance. But then he got pissed when we both ended up at Toxic Tonic, and I met a guy who remembered Bells and Mateo drinking together after I left the party at The Venetian.”
“Tell me you didn’t confront him.”
“I had to know the truth, Creature.”
“Did he admit anything?”
“No,” I replied with a sneer. “He followed me outside and slapped me when I yelled at him. It escalated from there.” A few frustrated tears leaked from my eyes, and I pulled my hand free, dashing my fingers across my cheeks. “His bodyguards watched him beat me, and they didn’t do shit to stop him or intervene.”
Anger blazed in Creature’s eyes. “That fucking bully is going down, Blair. He won’t get away with hurting you.”
“No. You can’t get involved. He already knows your name. I had to tell him when he called earlier.”
Creature scoffed. “I’m not afraid of that cocksucker.”
“You should be.”
His lip curled into a sneer. “That’s almost insulting, Firecracker.” He sat on the edge of my bed. A sigh escaped as his hand closed over mine. “I don’t scare easily.”
“He’s coming for me.” I bit my lip, realizing that it had a more sinister meaning than I realized when Mateo called. “I told himI had surgery, and he said he’d give me one more day before he was checking me out of the hospital.”
Creature’s back stiffened as he stood. “We need to get you out of here. It’s not safe.”
I shook my head. “Where am I going to go? I’m still healing. I need medical care, Creature.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t give me a chance to refuse, striding toward the door and leaving the room.
For ten minutes, I wondered what he was doing, playing with the frayed edge of the blanket until he returned. This whole scenario was a nightmare since the moment I decided to go to that party with Bells. Anxiety crept in as the minutes ticked by.
Creature entered the room and shut the door. His gaze swept over me before he turned to the dresser that lined the wall.
Without a word, he went to a drawer, pulled out a second gown, and approached me. “Put this on.” He helped slide it on so that my first gown was tied around my back and the second loosely tied around the front. My body was completely covered. He checked my feet for socks and slid his hands underneath me, lifting me into his arms as carefully as possible.
“Creature,” I gasped.
“When we’re alone, call me Balen.” He winked before he sat on the bed, holding me against his chest as the scent of leather, fresh-cut wood, and a hint of spice teased my nose. “Phyllis offered to help.”
“Phyllis?”
“She’s one of the nurses.”
“But,” I began, intending to object, when the nurse came into the room, pushing a wheelchair.
“Hi, Blair. I’m going to remove your I.V. and give you some pain meds. Alright?”
I sighed. “Okay.”
