Page 15 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

As Max looked over at the doctor, my mind started to worry. What if that doctor had called the police on us? Would the authorities come looking for him? Wouldn’t they have questions? Especially once they found his father dead at his own damn estate?

The law is going to ruin us.

“Whatever sleeping arrangements are going to be the best for you two, I’ll do my best to make it happen. But, whatever happens, I expect you to obey. Got it?”

The doctor’s voice ripped me from my trance as Max nodded.

“Got it, Doc.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know if--”

Max cupped my cheeks. “Things will work out.”

He stared directly into my soul. As if he knew what I was thinking.

“They always do with me, okay? Trust me on that. I’ve got a lot of people who can help us through this.”

The doctor grew curious. “Help you with what, exactly?”

I glared at him. “Can you give us some privacy?”

Max chuckled. “Please, Doc?”

The curious man sighed. “Ten minutes. Then someone will be around to take your vitals.”

He left us in the room again. Alone. And my panic started to overflow.

“Max, what if he calls the police?” I asked.

His forehead fell against mine. “Do you trust me?”

“What if they come snooping around? What if they find your father’s body and--”

“For all we know, my father might not actually be dead.”

I froze. “Wait, do you think--?”

His thumbs stroked my cheeks. “I mean, there’s no such thing as murder charges if nobody dies. Right?”

He chuckled like he’d just made a fantastic joke. But I didn’t find it funny.

“I’m serious, Max.”

He cleared his throat. “I am, too. And what I’m telling you I expect you to listen to. Right now, the only thing you need to be worried about is getting rest. Once we’re out of this hospital, we’ll figure out our next steps.”

“Together?”

“Of course. How else would we do it?”

I paused. “I don’t know. The way you were talking before, it almost sounded like…”

I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the statement.

“Dani, you know how selfish I am.”

I snickered. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

“So why the hell would a selfish man like myself let go of the only thing good in his life right now? I mean, what kind of bullshit is that?”

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