I watch the way his blue eyes darken while he glares down at mine, hands fisted by his sides, and I know by the way he’s breathing that he’s trying to calm himself. I can only imagine what kind of man he is when he doesn’t hold himself back.
“Do it.” I bait him. “Put your hands around my throat and choke me out. Just like you did the last time I was with you.” Dillan is a fucking bastard. I remember the stories about him and the Kings as kids. It was my thirteenth birthday when my father shipped me away. The Kings and Luca were six years older than me. Well, except for Grave, who was a year younger than the rest. He was only five years older than me. But I overheard stories about the Kings, and they were already tearing up Vegas. It wasn’t hard to figure out what kind of men they would grow up to be.
He lifts his hand, and I flinch. That smirk returns to his lips. He opens his fist and runs his tatted knuckles down my face. The skull ring is cold against my skin. My breathing hitches, and my knees threaten to buckle. The last time he touched me, he kissed me. My lips part on their own at that thought. “If that’s what will get you some rest. I’m a problem solver.”
My heart begins to pound in my chest at how easily he threatens me. That memory of him choking me out in the limo comes to mind. He was strong, and I was too weak. I swallow the fear, trying to calm my heart and arch a brow. “Then fucking do it.” I’m not sure if I want him to choke me or kiss me. At this point, I think I’d welcome either one.
The door opens, and I step away from him, taking in a shaky breath. His hand falls to his side. “Hello, miss.” The nurse from earlier enters with a wheelchair. “You ready to get out of here?” She smiles at me, then looks at him. “I’ve been told by Dr. Lane that she’s going home with you.”
My stomach sinks. The doctor? What did he say for the doctor to allow this?
“She is,” he confirms.
“Great.” She nods once. “If you want to pull your car up to the entrance, we’ll meet you out there.”
He exits the room, and I sit in the wheelchair with my purse on my lap. “Have you seen Haven Bianchi?” Maybe if I can find her, I can talk her into going to her and Luca’s house.
“Yes, ma’am. Bones spoke to Dr. Lane, and he pulled some strings. Luca was placed in a private ICU room in his own wing, and she is going to be staying with him.”
Bones spoke to Dr. Lane? Haven gets to stay with him?
I slump back in the wheelchair and cling to my purse. Why would Dillan do that for her? Maybe it’s for Luca? All of them are friends. I’m the outcast. The burden.
She pushes me out into the harsh afternoon light. My eyes squint to see a matte black car sitting at the entrance. Looks like something he would drive. Sleek and expensive. Probably a limited edition. I’m sure it cost him what would feed a small country for a year.
“Here we go,” the nurse says cheerfully. She’s happy that I get to leave the hospital. That’s their goal. I want to trip and fall flat on my face, so she’ll have to admit me again. At least that’d mean I’d get to stay closer to Luca.
I stand from the wheelchair, and he walks around the front of his car to open his passenger door for me. I fall into it, and he slams it shut. Just further showing me how aggravated he is about this situation.
I look over the black interior and close my eyes. The car smells like his cologne that night in the limo. Clean, like fresh linen. When his hands were on me, his face inches from mine. Then I remember the kiss. It would be innocent to someone else but to me? Goose bumps rise along my arms at that thought, and I shiver. It was my first. I doubt he knows that. And if he had, I doubt he would have done it.
He gets in the driver’s seat and pulls away from the entrance. I hold in a sigh at how close I am to Luca. At least I know Haven is with him. Luca wouldn’t want to see me anyway, even if he was conscious. He’d be so disappointed in me right now for multiple reasons.
“Why did you talk the doctor into letting Haven stay in Luca’s room?” I ask him. I feel like Dillan isn’t the type of guy to lie to you. He’ll tell you the truth no matter how much you hate to hear it.