Page 102 of Enticing the Fixer

My legs tremble so hard that I land on my ass as police officers trudge through the open doors with guns drawn. The overwhelm of being kidnapped, being held at knifepoint, finding out who killed my father, and being rescued by Leo draws me under.

The sounds of clipped voices barking orders and Carla screaming about police brutality fade, and the only thing I see is Leo.

He spins to face me, pulls me off the floor, and cups my face, scanning me from head to toe. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I nod a fraction of an inch as tears fill my eyes. My entire body shakes, and I can’t catch my breath.

“Fuck.” He hauls me to his chest and wraps his arms around me. “I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If I wouldn’t have lied to you, you wouldn’t have run off on your own, and if hadn’t allowed emotions to override my intellect, I would have realized who was responsible.”

“I….” I look up at him, grab his biceps, and the room goes black.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Leo

Nothing can ever prepare you to watch the person you love with a knife to their throat. Until you see them turn white in your arms and sag against you. I wasn’t prepared for that. I’m still not prepared for that. I pace from one end of the ER lobby to the other. I’m not fucking prepared to wait either.

I jerk my arm upward and stare at my watch. Two minutes have passed since the last time I looked.

“Leo, she’s going to be fine.” Hunter grabs my arm and holds me in place. “Stop making everyone anxious.” He glares and tips his head toward the elderly couple holding hands on the sofa. Their faces are pinched as they wait to hear someone’s fate.

“Yeah.” I walk to the other side of the room and slump down into a chair. Hunter is the only one of my friends that rode with me. The other guys left the scene after giving their statements, with Jax taking Mac home for some much-needed rest.

The second Kinsley passed out, a policewoman helped me lower her to the ground and shooed me away. Since that time, I haven’t been able to get close to her. She woke up, answered questions, was evaluated by medics, and taken to the ER.

I raise my sleeve.One fucking minute later. Jesus.I rake a hand through my hair.

This is the longest day in history. The ER doors slip open, and Sean escorts Ann inside. Her eyes dart to mine, and I can’t tell if she’s going to spit in my face or hug me. Sean tightens his hold and whispers something in her ear. Her jaw works as she glances up at him and nods. She ignores me and marches to the front window.

After the glass slides open, she and the receptionist chat. One of the nurses walks behind the receptionist and waves for Ann to come inside.

The door to the ER shifts open, and Ann disappears.

Great. I can’t get in to see if she’s okay, but everyone else and their dog can get it. What if she’s asked them not to let me in? I rub my hands over my face. Even though I rescued her, she’s not going to forgive me for lying or not protecting her.

I close my eyes and inhale as the image of Carla’s hand at Kinsley’s throat with the knife shining under the ceiling fan’s light suddenly jumps in my brain–again. I can’t get it out of my head.

Fear clutches my chest. I can’t breathe over the knot in my throat.

Take a deep breath. Relax your shoulders. Inhale and count to ten. Exhale.

I almost lost her. Inhale. Relax your biceps. Count to ten. Exhale. Fuck.

I slap my hands on the arm rests and shove upward. “I need to take care of some things.”

“Set your ass down,” Sean growls.

“Screw that.” I stomp toward him. “I don’t have to do what you tell me to do.”

“Yes, you do.” He invades my space and cocks his head as if he’s going to knock my teeth down my throat. At least then, I could be in a bed next to Kinsley.

I lick my lips and swallow. “I can’t stay here and not do anything. You were there. You know how close we were to losing her.”

“And how close we were to losing you. Carla swiped at you. One inch closer, your throat would have been laid open and Kinsley would have been covered in blood. I told you to wait for me.” His eyes flash in anger as his hands ball into fists at his sides.

Bring it on.I tip my chin out, daring him to fight me. I want to feel the pain. I need to feel the pain.

“I would have never heard the end of it if you were killed in front of Kinsley. You’ve met my wife. She’s a ballbuster, and I like my balls intact.”

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