She stepped aside, and I noticed Matty curled up in the chair behind her, clutching his bear. He was sound asleep, looking so innocent my heart ached knowing I must have scared him so much. Geez, he finally got to visit, and I fell apart. Poor kid. While I watched, his eyes blinked open, filling with tears of relief when he saw I was awake. “Sorry, bud,” I whispered, holding out my arms for a hug. He climbed in the hospital bed, stretching out beside me and crying into my shoulder.
“Your spine worries me, too, do you have a chiropractor? Are you keeping up with your physical therapy?” The nurse asked, and I sighed while shaking my head. “Oh, dear. We are setting you up with both before you leave. I will check in to ensure you make your appointments, dear.” I sighed, although secretly, I enjoyed someone caring. But I wouldn’t be going to either. Still, it’s nice she was willing to try.
A frazzled doctor walked in later and asked if I had any idea what caused my episode. When I shrugged, she frowned but admitted they had no grounds to keep me since I hadn’t coughed up blood in hours. She recommended I stay another night, but I turned her down. I signed the discharge papers while asking the kind nurse about her family to distract her from the fact that she wanted to set up those appointments. It worked, and I learned that she had two kids who shared her love for helping people, although her son took to water like a fish. Her daughter preferred to play the violin when she had the time to spare. Smiling after she left, I dressed, after which Matty clutched my hand so tight his fingers turned white. Tutting, I patted his head and chuckled. I wouldn’t alert him to the trouble coming my way. He didn’t need to worry about me.
Tammy waited out front, bustling us into a cab, and soon enough, we were back at my apartment. A sudden sense of disappointment thrummed through me, almost as if Marcus were in front of me to voice his displeasure. Shaking that weirdness off, I smiled in understanding when Tammy said she wanted to take Matty to the hotel room to force him to nap and shower. I admitted I needed to do the same. Tammy mentioned that Marcus took Ava to a doctor’s appointment, which was why he wasn’t at the hospital, and I smiled with a shrug. Sometimes Tammy read me pretty well too, although she’s known me for six years, so it made sense. Before they left, Matty gave me one of his amazing, loving hugs, and we bid each other goodbye just in case. Never take a moment for granted, ever. Us together was never guaranteed.
Even though neither of them ever mentioned it, I hoped the test was positive because Ava would be a wonderful mother. Shaking my head again, I snorted. Where the hell did that come from? What is going on? This place was beginning to worry me. What was happening to me? I noticed my phone from Char was blinking. I had two hundred messages. Holy shit. Ah, well, Matty came first. I wanted to get candy or something to apologize for worrying him. I placed my phone from Char in a drawer, some instinct saying I needed to. No idea why, but whatever. I wouldn’t bother with the messages now. I was too tired and wasn’t in the mood. It was noon on Monday, I spent the night in the hospital, and I didn’t want to relive it.
When I opened the front door, the hair on the back of my neck stood, and reliving last night seemed like a wonderful idea. Swallowing nervously, I stepped out regardless, because there was no stopping it now. As soon as I was outside, but my door was not yet closed, hands on my shoulders jerked me backward. I knew better than to cry for help. All it did was irritate them and make them even crueler. Like trying to swat a hornet. Dreadful mistake, but you only do it once.
Gritting my teeth when two men held me in place with their hands on my shoulders, I raised my gaze to glare at the bastard. “Angel, Angel, Angel,” he sighed, “I am so disappointed. How many times have we done this? Yet you made a mistake you haven’t in years? Are you in love or something? I will handle that problem for you.” The man who stars in my nightmares stood before me with a grim frown and disappointment in his eyes. He’s attractive, I’ll give him that. Usually, his voice was velvety smooth, and most people hung on his every word. But his anger made it harsh and abrasive, like rotting silk.
He was taller than Riff, with a more muscular build. Although, he hid himself behind a well-tailored suit. Sighing, he took off his coat, hanging it on the knob of my front door. A calculated insult that caused me to bristle until I remembered to control my expression. He casually rolled his sleeves back, and I swallowed while keeping my eyes on the ground at my feet. Talking back led to him commenting how horrible it would be if I could no longer sing because of the loss of my tongue. If I fought, he mentioned how upset I’d be if I couldn’t draw because they removed my left hand. No, he demanded obedience or silence. I didn’t even dare to think sarcastically in his presence for fear of what might slip out. He made good on his promises.
“After all these years, you carelessly use your insurance? How foolish. Did you
