Page 81 of Ruthless Protector

When I hit the bed, I let out a moan. My gut was cramping, my head swam. The effort to walk between the two fucking buildings had taken all I had at that moment. Logan yanked my boots off as the elevator doors opened and Freddy strode in.

“Doc’s on his way,” he announced. “Someone’s going to have to call your dad.”

“No,” I growled, and rolled, forcing myself to sit up. “Not now. He’s got enough on his plate.”

Freddy just scowled, then nodded, finally resigned. “But soon, yeah? I don’t need my ass chewed out over this."

“Fine.” I flopped back down and rolled over, burying my head in the pillow.

A second later, and I was shoving frantically from the bed and stumbling into the bathroom. Acid burned my throat as I heaved and vomited, holding on for dear life.

“Now that’s nasty,” Freddy muttered from the doorway.

“Don’t fucking look then, unless you’re gonna hold my fucking hair back,” I snarled.

The asshole just left. I moaned and held a hand against my belly as I retched. I don’t know how long I stayed like that, clutching the damn bowl and heaving, until an unfamiliar thud of boots drew my gaze.

“Mr. Rossi.” An asshole stepped into the bathroom, peered into the toilet, then settled his unflinching gaze on me. “Neale Gray, one of the island’s doctors.”

“I know who the fuck you are,” I muttered, and peered up at him. “Am I dying? ‘Cause I feel like I’m fucking dying.”

He just knelt down next to me and pulled out a stethoscope. “Well, there’s no blood in your vomitus, so that’s a good sign. Breathe in for me…now out.”

I did as he asked, wanting to shove the cold end of the fucking device up his ass. He pressed and prodded, then leaned back. “I can give you a sedative if you want?”

“What the fuck for?” I growled.

“To counter the effects of the drug in your system,” he said, confused. “Or you’re in for a very rough night.”

“I’ll take that over being fucking helpless.” I moaned and turned my head as a fresh wave of nausea hit me like a fucking truck.

I heaved, groaning between breaths as the asshole just rose. “Well, if you insist. Get your man to call me if there’s any change to your condition. Good luck, Mr. Rossi, you’ll need it.”

I wanted to flip the fucker the bird.

But I just didn’t have the damn strength to do it.

Instead, I just hugged the porcelain bowl like a fucking chump and growled through the pain. I vaguely remembered Freddy coming closer and dropping a bottle of electrolytes next to me, then leaving. I sipped it when the cramping eased, and when I felt like I wasn’t about to pass out when I moved, I dragged my ass out of the bathroom and climbed onto the bed, sinking into the softness of the comforter…until a voice broke through my mind.

Can’t trust the Salvatores…

I opened my eyes at the voice, and that ache that coursed through my body turned into something vicious and wild. It was all because ofhim.Finley fucking Salvatore.

They’ll find out…

Anna Eden’s words kept coming.

They’ll find out I’m The Ghost.

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the words. But I couldn’t. All this…because he wanted to keep his little fucking secret? And sprouting lies about who was behind his mother’s death? Taken’s blank eyes came roaring back to me, the shattering of the window still rang as clear today as it had then. I could still feel the warm splatter of his blood, still see the desperation in his gaze when he lay against the back of the seat and fucking died.

But did you see me crying and bitching about it?

Did you see me drugging those around me to exact revenge?

No. If I wanted you to pay for it…I came foryou.

That thought grew spines and wedged in tight.

---