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“Ah,” I winced, shifting my body in an attempt to stand up, “I can walk.”

“Go slow,” Jacqueline instructed. She tucked herself under one of my arms, helping support my weight as she shuffled us to the back of the ambulance where I could get properly assessed.

“Fucking prick,” I heard Mary grumble, “Who sucker punches someone in the back of the head with brass fucking knuckles?”

“Those are illegal in California,” Brandon added, “So he’s got a lot of trouble ahead of him.”

“Leo?” Jacqueline’s voice pulled me from our coworker’s conversation, I tried to focus on her dark eyes. She was wearing her thin golden glasses today, and I tried to lift a hand to peel them off, but my movements were stiff.

“Yeah, love?”

Jacqueline’s lips twitched before she continued, “You need to rest at home for a few days.” I shrugged because I wasn’t going to object to that. I felt like hell, “Can I take care of you, or would you prefer Mary and Jamie to look after you?”

I frowned, “I want you.”

Jacqueline exhaled as if she was holding her breath until I answered, “Okay, we need to go.”

“Wait—” I resisted her when she laced her fingers in mine, “I need to be assessed.”

Jacqueline released a soft laugh, “You already were. You don’t need a hospital.”

Shit, really?

“He might be confused for a bit,” the paramedic from earlier was speaking…somewhere, “Pick up over-the-counter painkillers from the pharmacy of his choice, and if any of these symptoms show up or he needs something stronger, take him to the hospital.”

“Thank you,” Jacqueline nodded, her profile becoming clearer in my vision, “Let’s go.”

* * *

It wasdark when I opened my eyes, which I was grateful for. The next day after Vincent’s assault, Jacqueline kept all my drapes in my flat closed so the sun wouldn’t make me nauseous. I flexed my arms, sighing in contentment at the feel of Jacqueline’s soft, warm body tucked against mine. Her back to my chest. Her hair braided out of the way, so my nose could inhale the vanilla of her shampoo.

Apparently, after sucker-punching me in the back of the head, Zaid and Brandon tackled Vincent down. Jacqueline caught most of my fall, preventing my head from hitting the sidewalk while our coworkers wrestled her ex.

Building security called the police while Brandon and Zaid held Vincent down. Law enforcement arrived two minutes later with an ambulance, and I gained consciousness soon after.

According to Jacqueline, Mary was in hysterics after seeing me fall unconscious so easily. If he hadn’t worn brass knuckles, I doubt that a single hit would have taken me out that easily.

I also could have ended up much, much worse.

That probably explained why Mary had been blowing my phone up the last twenty-four hours, praising my thick skull for finally having a useful purpose.

After Vincent’s assault, Jacqueline took care of me for the rest of the evening. The entirety of the next day, too. Bringing me bland foods so I wouldn’t get nauseated again, rubbing my neck when I felt an ache, and switching out ice packs to help with lingering pain and swelling.

She even went to the store and stocked up on my favorite fizzy drinks.

This was the second night she stayed over, and I was worried it would be the last.

We didn’t talk about anything important. We watched the telly, we chatted about work and our friends, but never us.

I broached the subject before we fell asleep that night.

Jacqueline didn’t stiffen or react as if my inquiry surprised her. Instead, she met my gaze and said, “We’re going to talk. But not yet.”

The fact that she was still here, sleeping in my bed, gave me hope.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

LEO