I was sure my nipples would fall off in the process. People were whistling, catcalling, and girls were watching with utter horror and disgust. All of them be damned.
“Austin!” I shouted with everything I had in me.
And finally, his head turned in my direction for just a nanosecond. It was the diversion I needed. Because he was caught off guard, and it was all the edge James needed to flip him. My eyes went wide with horror as I watched Austin land hard on his arm.
“Shit!” Austin’s face scrunched, his eyes pulling shut. He held his arm as though he’d broken it.
James stood, realizing what he had done, and backed off, his hands held up in defense, like he didn’t trust the bear wouldn’t charge again. He was breathing hard, his face flushed red. He extended a hand toward Austin.
“Get the hell away from me,” Austin snapped, still breathing fire.
He flipped to his side and struggled, so I reached for his arm, and he used me to get on his knees and stand.
“Put your shirt back on, Sydney,” he growled.
I grabbed my stuff, put on my boots and shirt.
“Austin, you’re hurt. We need to get you to the doctor,” Brandy cried as she approached.
He jabbed a finger in her direction. “You … I don’t even know who you are anymore. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want anything to do with you. Just stay the fuck away from me.” His voice was low and icy.
He rubbed at his busted lip as he trekked to his car.
“The keys!” I called out as I chased him toward his car.
He flipped around, annoyed.
“Give me your keys,” I insisted. “You can’t drive like this.” I flinched when he winced at the pain in his arm.
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” He stood there by the door of his Porsche and lifted the handle with his right hand but flinched. “Shit,” he cursed, and I stepped into him.
I wouldn’t get anywhere, arguing with this man, not when he was this mad. My heart clenched, and I shook it off. I’d have to deal with Alec and the aftermath later. Right now, I needed to attend to Austin, help him out, probably get him to the hospital.
“Austin …”
His face turned murderous, but I didn’t back down.
“Austin, just give me your keys.” With my sweetest voice and a hint of a smile, I uttered, “Please.”
He scowled, but eventually, he handed me his keys. I watched him circle the car and get into the passenger side, and I slipped into the driver’s seat. The beauty purred to life, but I held the excitement from my face as I glided us out of the parking lot and into traffic.
“Go straight to the hospital. I’ll call my team to meet us there.”
CHAPTER7
SYDNEY
Austin Callaway hada nice car with leather seats and butt warmers too. Where I’d consider myself a regular middle-class person with my Toyota Camry, Austin was the epitome of wealthy. I could probably look up his salary if I cared, but I didn’t.
We drove in silence to Childar Medical Center. I knew Austin was still brewing, and I also knew better than to say a word.
“I don’t even know what’s happening anymore,” he whispered, his head turned toward the window.
The anger in me was gone. It’d left the moment I realized I’d have to tell Alec, break it to him that the woman he was about to promise his future to had backstabbed him. I couldn’t imagine how Austin felt.
“I’m sorry.”
He turned to face me then. “You’re sorry?” His voice was softer this time. “Why?”