“I know,” he said as his forehead fell to mine. “I know you don’t. But you have to. I know it sucks, but you have to. And I swear, the moment I can break away, I’ll be there.”
I looked over and watched the cruiser drive away with Ike. He craned his head back to keep me in view, and I watched as he disappeared. I knew he was going to jail. I knew he wouldn’t be able to get to me again. But I still didn’t feel safe.
I still wanted Grant.
“Go with the paramedics, Theresa. Trust me on this. It doesn’t make you weak, and this isn’t me controlling you.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”
CHAPTER 20
GRANT
I was calling Theresa repeatedly to see where she was. I couldn’t wait another night to see her. I had to see her now. I made my workday a short one and hopped on the road the second I could and reached Maine as night fell. I couldn't wait to see the look of surprise on her face when I showed up at her apartment, talking with her like I was still in Boston and then knocking on her door.
But her phone kept ringing and she wasn’t picking up.
I hung up to try and call her again, but then her text came through. I need you. Oh shit. She was ready for it tonight. I sped up as I weaved around town, aching to get my arms around her and my tongue between her legs.
I tried calling her again, however, and when she didn’t pick up that time I started to worry.
What if that wasn’t a sexy text? What if something was wrong? My happiness turned to dread, and I hung up the phone call mid-ring. I scrolled to Hollis’ name and pulled over on the side of the road as my eyes began to dart around.
What the fuck was going on?
“Grant?”
“Hollis. Where are you?” I asked.
“I’m at Theresa’s apartment. Why? Where are you?”
“I told you I’d fucking be back in town, and you’re not home. What gives?”
Fuck, I’d gotten way too good at lying to my best friend.
“Ike,” Hollis said. “That’s what gives.”
“What the hell did he do?” I asked.
“He attacked Theresa in her apartment. Look, I can’t go into details—”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“What?”
“What hospital is she in?”
“MDI,” he said. “She’s at MDI.”
I hung up the phone before he said anything else. Theresa had needed me and I wasn’t there to protect her. If that son of a bitch had hurt her, I’d never forgive myself.
I whipped my car around and broke every speed limit I could getting to that damn place. I sped through red lights and hopped curbs to get into a turning lane faster. If that son of a bitch had left one scratch on my woman’s body, I was going to kill him. I would hunt him down and make his life a living fucking nightmare from here on out. I blew past speed traps and lost cops on back roads before I sped into the hospital parking lot, and I saw Hollis’ cruiser sitting in the corner lot.
His car was still creaking with its cool down as I pulled up beside it.
I jumped out of my car and sprinted through the hospital doors. I stormed through the central lobby area and took the steps three at a time. I barged into the emergency portion of the hospital and found Hollis standing at the nurse’s desk.
I didn’t give a shit about anything anymore. All I needed was to see Theresa.