Page 36 of Diamonds

Speaking of which, I should go check up on her.See how she’s handling the news.I’m sure she’s overjoyed, of course, but also concerned for her special friend.

But I should change into my scrubs first.I rush out the door to Lou’s room and?—

Dr.O’Rourke.I bump right into him.

“Sorry, Doctor.”

He brushes off the sleeves of his medical jacket.“It’s all right.Just watch where you’re going.”

“Of course.”I brush past him.

“Alissa.”

I turn around.“Yes, Doctor?”

He narrows his eyes.“Why did Maddox ask me to keep you safe?Is something wrong?”

Nerves skitter up and down my arms.

“No, everything’s fine.He just likes me, I guess.Wants to keep me safe.He can’t keep an eye on me twenty-four seven, so since you’re a trusted friend, he just wants you to do what you can.”

He cocks his head.“That’s it?There’s nothing going on?”

“No.Nothing at all.”I turn.“I really should?—”

“I don’t have to kick Maddox’s ass, do I?Because I will if I have to.He’s my best friend, but?—”

I hold up a hand.“Maddox has been nothing but a perfect gentleman since we met.His only concern is for my safety.”

“But why?”He takes another step toward me.“I can tell something is wrong.It’s in your eyes.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Alissa, please.”He lowers his voice.“Just tell me what’s going on.If I’m going to keep you safe, I need to know what’s happening.”

I swallow.I don’t think he’s going to let this go.Damn it.

I can’t tell him everything.That’s far too much information to put on one person.

But I can give him something to just get him off my case.

I sigh.“It’s nothing, really.As you know, Maddox has been taking me to his club.Aces Underground.We’ve been on three dates there now.”

He nods.“Yeah.Aces.An odd place, filled with odd people.Did any of them threaten you?”

“No.It has to do with…” I look down.“I don’t want to burden you with this information.It’s really between me and Maddox.”

He shakes his head.“You can trust me.Maddox and I have been friends for years.Our fathers were best friends, and we grew up together.If there’s one person that Maddox trusts implicitly, it’s me.And you’ve worked with me for a while now.You know I care about the people at this hospital as if they were my own family.”

I bite my lip.

“Maddox wouldn’t have asked me to protect you over nothing,” he continues.

I wring my hands together.“Fine.It’s just… Maddox and I found something out about the woman who runs the club.And we’re not sure if she knows about what we found out.So we’re a little anxious about…about it affecting Maddox’s membership.”

He raises an eyebrow.“The woman who runs the club… You mean the one who dresses up like a medieval queen and flirts with all the security guards?”

“That’s the one.Rouge Montrose.”