Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
He doesn’t know the danger that’s lurking so close to him, because even if I don’t have any desire to attack him, I could. My hands have been the ones to bring about more death than he’s likely ever seen.
I frown when he turns down another row of vehicles, and I keep my distance, focusing on staying in the shadows. Shouldn’t he be parked closer to the front? And in an area of the lot that’s not quite so dark?
When he rounds the front of an SUV, the surgeon suddenly stops, whirling around to face me. I automatically pull my gun from the holster beneath my suit jacket, pointing it at him.
“Why are you following me?” His gaze shoots down to my gun, then back at my eyes. “Jesus, what the hell? Take what you want.” He lifts his hands so I can see them.
I don’t speak at first, honestly surprised that he clearly knew I was there, and then decided to confront me. Probably would have been smarter for him to do it closer to the hospital, but still.
“I don’t carry much money on me,” he adds. His voice is deep, with almost a melodic cadence to it.
“Your money is no good to me. I have my own,” I say. “I’m not a thug.”
“You look like one to me.”
“Well, that’s not very nice,” I counter. “How long did you know I was following you?” Had he known while we were still in the hospital? If so, why did he wait so long to say anything?
His brows draw together. “How long have you been following me?”
“I’m the one with the gun, so maybe you should be the one answering the questions.” The feeling isn’t there…the one I had before, the familiar tickle at my nape. I would think I’d imagined it, but I’d felt it twice.
“About two or three minutes? What do you want? Because if you don’t plan to rob me, maybe you’ll let me go home. It’s been a long night.”
I nearly have to bite down on the inside of my cheeks not to smile, which then makes me frown instead. What is it about this man that’s so intriguing? “I thought you wanted to know why I’m following you?” I don’t know why I’m standing here entertaining him, but then, I don’t know why I’ve done any of the things I’ve done tonight, so it’s par for the course.
“Are you going to tell me? And my arms are getting tired. Either kill me, rob me, or let me go home.”
I watch him then, as he lowers his arms. I wouldn’t allow this from anyone else, but then, I hadn’t planned on holding the surgeon at gunpoint tonight, either. He takes a step back, then another, and another. I allow that too, just watching him watch me, trying to figure out what I expect to happen, what I want to happen. Did I think my neck would tingle and suddenly I’d have some sort of answer?
Just as he’s about to reach for the door handle of the SUV that I’m assuming is his, a sharp squeal of tires pierces the morning. My gaze darts up just in time to see a car come barreling toward me. I dive between the surgeon’s vehicle and another, tackling him to the ground beneath me.
“Come on!” I pull him, both of us scrambling to get behind the SUV just as gunshots ring out.
“Holy shit. Who the fuck is that?” he asks, voice panicked.
“Shh.” I hold my finger to my lips. He’s shaking, pupils blown wide, the blue of his irises practically disappearing, as the car idles in front of his vehicle.
He pulls out his phone, trying to get his hands to cooperate so he can dial, but I rip it from him. “What are you doing?” he mouths.
I roll my eyes as if that should be obvious. Do I look like the kind of guy who calls the cops?
Before he can question me further, one of the would-be assassins asks, “That’s him, but who the hell is the other guy?”
“I don’t know. Go fucking check on them,” another guy replies, just before the door creaks open. These are definitely not seasoned professionals. Why the fuck would they come after me?
“Stay,” I mouth to the surgeon, crouching low as I move to sneak around his vehicle.
His shaking hand reaches out for my jacket, but I pull free, ignoring the fear in his gaze. We’re not the ones who will die tonight. The Bellini brothers have highly underestimated me if they think I’m this easy to take out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Abbott
What in the hell is going on with this day?
I watch as my stalker slinks away, gun in hand, taking my cell with him. This isn’t how I expected tonight to end. This isn’t how I’ve ever expected any night or maybe my actual life to end.