Page 44 of Jack of Hearts
He held out his arms, keeping his gun pointed away from her. “Talk to me,” he said, wrapping his arms around her as he watched for signs of anyone else in her apartment. “What happened?”
“Ramon,” she answered, a shudder traveling through her that he could physically feel.
He pushed Madison behind him, his gaze pausing on the chair notched under the doorknob. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He was downstairs. Did he leave?”
“I think so.” He pulled her into his embrace. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” And she wasn’t leaving his sight. He led her to the living room sofa. “Tell me everything.”
As he listened to what Ramon had tried to do, he considered the man lucky that he wasn’t nearby. Alex tamped down his rage, not wanting to scare her. She’d had enough trauma for one night without seeing him go ballistic.
She looked up at him, her green eyes shining with warmth. “I got away because you taught me how to fight back.”
“You did good, Mad. I’m proud of you.” Thankfully, she’d called him instead of the police. He assumed she hadn’t called 9-1-1 because Ramon was family. Unless she had been willing to file assault charges against him, there wasn’t much the cops could do, and he doubted she would if for no other reason than not wanting to upset her mother.
He wrapped his hand around hers. “Go pack a bag.”
“Why?”
“Because you can’t stay here alone. You’re coming home with me.”
She pulled her hand away. “I can’t. There’s blood in the foyer I have to clean up, and I have to be here when Lauren comes home. She can’t be here by herself if Ramon decides to come back.”
He turned his face away and coughed. The relief the drink and cold pills had given him were wearing off. “You’re not staying here ...” His throat dried up, and he coughed again. “Be right back.” In the kitchen, he opened cabinets until he found a glass, filling it with water.
“Are you okay?” she asked when he returned.
“Just a little cold.” He sneezed. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t be. I didn’t know you were sick when I called you.” She put her palm on his forehead. “You’re warm.”
“You have any idea when Lauren will be back?”
She shrugged. “No. She’s in Coconut Grove having dinner with one of her sorority sisters. Tomorrow’s a work day, so she probably won’t be super late.”
“Go pack a bag. We’ll call her on the way to my place, work something out.” Surprised when she didn’t argue, he went searching for a mop and bucket. The sooner he got home, the sooner he could die in his own bed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“That was Lauren. She wants you to call off the dog. Her words not mine.” Madison dropped her phone onto the bed as she sat on the edge of the mattress. “She said your brother’s an arrogant asshat. Again, her words.”
Alex’s laugh turned into a coughing fit. “Well I know it.” He put his arm over his eyes.
“Which brother is it?” Alex had made a phone call after they’d talked to Lauren, arranging for one of his brothers to go to her and Lauren’s place.
“Court. The middle one.”
She reached over and put her fingers on his cheek. “You’re still warm. Can I get you anything?”
“Yeah. A new head.”
“Sorry. Can’t help you with that.” Claiming he was hot, he’d changed into a pair of cargo shorts, and nothing else. Since he had his eyes covered, she seized the opportunity to admire his chest. As dark and thick as his hair was, she’d expected him to have more chest hair, but he had only a dusting of fine black hair above his nipples, then a dark arrow down the middle of his stomach. Her fingers itched to follow that trail to the hidden treasure. She blinked when the material of his shorts moved and watched, fascinated, as the shorts tented.
“You keep looking at me like that, Madison, and cold or no cold, you’re going to find yourself naked and under me.”
Cheeks heating, she glanced up to see him watching her from under his arm. “Ahem ...”
He chuckled. “Yeah, ahem. You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you, but no germs for you, Grasshopper. Why don’t you go to bed before I forget I’m sick.”
