Page 93 of The Criminal

I rattled off all of Lee’s personal information as he requested each item. Apparently, that satisfied him.

“Ms. Vance is very lucky. It could have been much worse. The knife created a sizable gash but glanced off the ribs before it could cause more severe damage.” He smothered a yawn with the back of his hand.

I wanted to slap him, get him refocused on Lee. Like she knew what I was thinking, Quinn patted my leg. I could feel her willing me to be patient.

“She was unconscious when the paramedics brought her in?” I ran a hand over my face for what felt like the millionth time. The low buzz of the older fluorescent lights overhead seemed to drill a hole in my skull. I hated this room.

“Likely a combination of shock and possibly a mild concussion. She is having a CT scan right now.”

“Can I see her?”

“Look, fiancé, you’ll have to talk to the duty nurse over there. She can help you.” With a weary sigh, he stood and rubbed his lower back before shuffling off toward the door marked ER.

“That was all good news, Derek.” Quinn held my forearm with a surprisingly powerful grip.

I grumbled something about seeing her before I believed anything the infant doctor had to say. Onyx agreed. He tipped his head back and made a whimpering noise at Quinn. I patted his head, careful to avoid the white bandage on his shoulder and side.

“Come on, let’s go talk to the nurse.” The woman arched an eyebrow at Onyx when we stopped in front of her desk. I wasn’t on her good side. I didn’t wait well. “The doctor said I should ask you about going back to see Lee—”

“Lee Vance.” She cut me off. “She’s just finished up her CT scan. And…”

At my feet, Onyx whined pitifully. Poor guy, he was missing Lee. I reached down to stroke his head. When he unexpectedly bolted, the slack leash pulled from my fingers.

What the hell? I turned, looking for the dog.

In a wheelchair that had just pushed through the ER’s double doors was the best sight I’d ever seen. Lee. I flew to her side, skidding to a halt and dropping to my knees in front of the chair. My lungs seized; I gathered the hand not petting the over-excited Onyx in mine. I dropped my head to her lap, resting my cheek on the soft blue hospital gown.

I closed my eyes for a second and my world re-centered. She was alive. And safe.

“See, I told you. Your fiancé and dog were scaring people in the waiting room.” The doctor that had spoken with us a few minutes ago was pushing her wheelchair. “That’s why I expedited your discharge. He was going to punch someone.”

I looked up at the younger man. “Thank you.”

“Derek, I’m fine. Nothing that a few weeks won’t heal.” A few tears dripped down Lee’s cheek.

“Lee, don’t ever do that again.” I was smiling up at her, not willing to move or let go. I looked my fill. She had a bruise on her arm. Her hair and makeup were a fright, and from the way she sat, I could tell her midsection was wrapped. She was the best thing I’d ever seen.

“Okay, fiancé, I won’t.” She sniffed.

I twined our fingers together. “Love you, angel.”

“Love you too.”

Epilogue

Two Weeks Until Christmas

Derek

“I can’t believe we’re going to pull this off.” I patted Sara on the arm. It was five a.m. Lee assumed I was on my normal morning run. She was so wrong. I was at the store. I’d left her in our bed at what was now our house, mostly asleep after giving her two orgasms.

My flip house had sold quickly, and before I could find a new project, Lee invited me to move in with her. Best fucking decision I ever made.

“Okay, here you go.” Sara opened a small velvet ring box. Inside was a ring fit for the queen of Miami’s fine jewelry universe. I’d way overspent, even with all of Sara’s help sourcing a stone from a South African dealer at cost, and I couldn’t have cared less.

The center stone was a cushion-cut white diamond the size of an ice cube. It was cradled in an intricate filigree setting encrusted with hundreds of pave diamonds. Ostentatious? Hell yes. And perfect. Lee loved to show off what her store had for sale. Her engagement ring couldn’t be subpar.

“It’s better than the computer renderings you sent me.” I plucked the ring from the box and held it up to the light. Breathtaking. In the last few months, I’d learned a lot about fine jewelry. And Lee had hired The Smith Agency as her new security contractors.

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