Page 63 of Bad Medicine

But unlike the first time I had ever laid eyes on him, when the warm ribbons of desire threaded through me at the sight of him, this time, all I felt were the icy cold fingers of terror.

Chapter twenty-eight

Rocco

Ittookhimawhile to notice me, his palpable rage so focused on Amber that he didn’t seem to even realize anyone else was even in the room.

But when he did see me, his face turned a mottled shade of red that I found immensely satisfying.

“Seriously?” he snarled at Amber, his eyebrows going up. “Things get a little rough and you run back to these assholes?” Reaching out, Gregor grabbed Amber by the arm, hauling her to his side with a savage tug. “If it was more dick you wanted, I could have arranged it. You didn’t need to go back to this gutter trash.”

“Watch it, Gregor,” I said lowly, stepping up to him, chest out. “Your uncle isn’t here to protect you, so don’t let your mouth start a fight your ass can’t finish.”

Curling his lip, Gregor sneered at me.

“I don’t need my uncle or anyone else to protect me from you and your ragtag bunch of degenerates.” If I cared about his opinion, I might have taken offense. “Now, get the fuck outta my way, before we make a mess in this nice hospital.”

I didn’t move; I couldn’t.

This was a classic alpha stare-down, and there was no fuckin’ way I was gonna blink first.

Of course, neither was he. So like a pair of douchebags, we stood there, glaring at each other in the waiting room of the ER until a loud clatter sounded from the direction of the desk. Gregor and I both whipped our heads in that direction, and I was surprised to see Mia standing there, her face ashen as she gaped at us, a pile of spilled pens at her feet.

The frightened look on her face made me pause. The last thing I wanted was for her to be scared of me. But when I took a step toward her, hands raised to show her I meant no harm, I realized it wasn’t me she was looking at.

It washim.

Narrowing my eyes, I looked at Gregor, not liking the way he was looking at Mia, a slightly confused expression on his face as she stared right back, the proverbial deer in the headlights.

“Do I know you?” he asked, Amber temporarily forgotten at his side. “How do I know you?”

“You don’t talk to her,” I growled, stepping between them with my back to Mia, covering her protectively. “You don’t even get to look at her.”

I should have known it was a mistake, letting Gregor know that she mattered to me, but she was so absolutely terrified, there was no way I could have just stood by and done nothing.

Still, the snaking feeling of dread that coiled in my gut when Gregor’s gaze cut down to the embroidered name on Mia’s coat, his face going from curious to satisfied, made me want to bash his face in.

“Mia,” he breathed, and I wanted to kill him for even saying her name. After a second, his confused expression melted away, replaced with one of surprised recognition. “I do remember you. Long time no see.”

What the fuck?

She knew him? How in the actual fuck did she know this piece of shit? What could have possibly brought the two of them together and why in the hell was she so afraid right now?

Whatever the story, this shit needed to end.

Now.

“It’s time for you to go, Bratva bitch,” I said, drawing his attention away from Mia and back onto me. “Next time your uncle lets you off your leash, come visit me.” I smiled, bearing my teeth and snapping them like a pit bull. “We can dance again some other time, when there’s less of an audience, ya?”

“Oh, I look forward to it,” he replied. “And I look forward to catching up with you, Mia.” His gaze darted over my shoulder, where I knew she was still pressed up against the wall behind the desk. “Such interesting company you’re keeping these days. I bet it’s a fascinating story.” Giving her an evil smile, he added, “I can’t wait to hear it.”

Turning for the door, Gregor called, “Amber! Let’s go.”

“You don’t have to go with him, Amber,” I said, not taking my eyes off Gregor for a second.

“And what?” she asked incredulously. “Stay with you?” Her eyes widened as she let out a derisive laugh. “You guys hate me. I’m not any safer with you than I would be with him.”

“I mean, you fucked up,” I said, not denying her statement. “You knew as soon as you did it that you’d fucked up. But can Enzo be as bad as allthat?” I asked, gesturing to her battered face.