I had no idea what was going on with Lucas, but I figured it was better not to give his name out. Not on the phone.
“Your name is?”
“Ronnie,” I answered, staring at Lucas. Shit, was he still breathing? Was he? “Hurry up and get the fuck here.”
I disconnected before I could be asked anything else that might make Lucas furious with me. As it was, I suspected he was going to kick my ass when he regained consciousness.
Tossing my phone onto the bed, I crouched down beside him and pressed my fingers gently to his throat.
His pulse beat against my fingertips in a weak throb. So faint, so slow it scared me all over again.
“If you die on me, Lucas Pratt,” I muttered, “I’m going to be pissed at you.”
I straightened to my feet. I had to get some clothes on before the paramedics arrived.
I’d just pivoted on my heel to hurry away when a tight grip clamped around my ankle.
Stupidly, I let out a yelp.
Heart smashing up into my ears, I spun back to Lucas, my head roaring.
“Don’t…trust…” he mumbled, eyes closed, lips barely moving. His grip on my ankle grew slack.
And then he was silent and motionless again, his hand falling completely free of my ankle.
I stood frozen. Had I thought I was scared before?
Don’t trust? Don’t trust who?
What the fuck was going on?
Who the fuck was he?
“Lucas?”
He didn’t stir.
I crouched down again, searching once more for a pulse.
There. Weak, but there.
“You’re scaring the shit out of me, Lucas,” I scolded him on a whisper before straightening and hurrying for my closet.
No tight grip halted my progress this time. No mumbled warnings.
I snatched the first pair of shorts and tank my hands encountered. Yanked them on. I could do without a bra and panties. Finding them and putting them on would only slow me down, and I needed to…to…what?
I don’t know. Get back to Lucas’s side so I could prod him if he stopped breathing? Get him ready for the paramedics?
Don’t trust…
Lucas’s ominous, unfinished warning scraped at what little calm sanity I still possessed—not a lot, I’m ashamed to admit.
Pulling a steadying breath, I rubbed my hands on my butt and studied my unconscious neighbor. I noted his chest still rose and fell ever so slightly with breath.
Good. That was good.
Now, I had to do something about him being naked.