Page 19 of Red Queen (Red Thorns Crew 3)

I looked down at Rena. “What about you, ma’am?”

She placed her hand against my arm. “Rena, again. Just use my name. And I’d love some coffee. However you take yours is fine.”

/> Dani piped up. “He usually takes his morning coffee black, but sometimes I’ll sneak some cream in it if it smells bitter.”

Her father growled. “Morning coffee?”

I nodded. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

I shot a look to Dani before I headed back for the door. Things were getting too heated and too tense, and I felt my protective instinct rearing its head in unsavory ways. They were family, and they needed time to themselves. That much I understood.

Plus, I need a serious dose of caffeine.

I slipped into the hallway and closed the door behind me, only to find nurses standing around the desk staring at me. I sighed as I turned, heading straight for the elevator. But one of the nurses called out to me.

“If they cause problems, we’ll kick them out,” she said.

I lifted my hand in thanks and kept on walking.

It didn’t take me long to make the coffee run. The cafeteria didn’t have a line, and the coffee was freshly brewed. I picked up larges for all of us and stacked some extras in a small bag to go. I picked up some danishes that looked nice, as well as a couple of cinnamon rolls. Then I grabbed a big thing of fruit salad, just for something healthy thrown in. I wasn’t sure what her parents had had on the road, if anything. I wasn’t sure how long they’d driven or what had happened in order to get them here.

But I figured the least I could do was feed them.

I rode the elevator back up to Dani’s floor and balanced everything in my arms. However, the door to her room still wasn’t opened.

“No one’s come out yet,” another nurse said.

I nodded. “Thanks.”

I set everything down and leaned against the wall. I wished with all my might that I was anyone else but myself right now. I wanted to be one of the doctors, or one of the nurses. One of Dani’s friends, or a concerned volunteer member of the hospital. Anyone that could get into that room and stay there by Dani’s side.

You know, without putting a disgusting taste in her parents’ mouths.

I kept an ear out for yelling. Or shouting. Or anything that might rile Dani up. I closed my eyes, drawing in deep breaths to try and swallow down the worry that kept creeping up the back of my throat. I wasn’t sure what worried me more: the fear of yelling starting up or the fact that I couldn't hear a damn thing.

And as the coffees grew cold at my feet, I counted down the seconds until I was back in Dani’s presence.

6

Dani

“Dad, why are you being so rude? That man saved me. Why in the world can’t you just--”

Dad glared at me. “Who is that man?”

I sighed. “If you’d listen to me instead of demanding answers on the spot, you’d know.”

Mom cut in. “That’s Max, Peter.”

Dad scoffed. “Who the hell is that?”

I sucked air through my teeth. “That’s the man I’ve been seeing. He’s the reason why I declined Kline’s coffee date.”

I resented the sharp, condescending tone of my father’s voice, and I hated the anger that rose behind his eyes. I was already frustrated with this entire scenario. All I wanted was for Max to come back into this room. My father didn’t own me. I wasn’t my parents’ property. I was of legal age to ask for any kind of care I wanted, which meant I could kick them out and bring Max in if I wanted.

Maybe my father needs me to remind him of that.

“What in the world are you doing with a man like that? Have we taught you nothing?” Dad asked.

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