Page 39

Ha-joon

The moment I stepped outside I swore under my breath. I was such an ass. I had been focused on controlling my temper and not making a scene instead of the whole situation.

If I made it clear something big had happened that was upsetting and left Ellie in front of my family… They’d pester her with questions.

And I just now left her alone to handle that.

Ass. Giant ass.

I spun on my heel and hurried back inside.

“It’s fine,” Ellie said, giving a wave as I reached the table. “I’m sure they’ll work out something so I don’t get—I don’t need the money.”

“Are you having a laugh?” I growled. “It’s not twenty dollars he took, Ellie. It’s twenty—”

“Are you just trying to rack up your sins?” she asked, her tone cold as she focused on her plate.

But I saw her hand shaking.

I let out a slow breath and knelt next to her, waiting until she at least cut me a glance.

“I’m sorry, my sweet kimchi. I’m a giant, huge, unforgivable ass.

I know. I just… It’s hard to see so many always taking advantage of you or asking too much.

They always expect you to clean up their messes or just swallow things down.

It’s infuriating as the man who loves you. ”

Byeol snorted. “Guess she’s not that smart and fabulous if she’s stupid enough to let someone steal twenty thousand dollars from her.”

I went to blast her, but Ellie chuckled darkly.

“Million, actually, child,” Ellie purred.

“And I run all of Atlanta basically, the lives of millions on my shoulders every day. Yes, I let my personal life fall to the side too often because I’m in charge of managing crises countries cannot handle on their own.

What have you ever done that makes you think you are worthy to judge me? ”

“Stop,” Da ordered Byeol, rage in his voice. “Your level of petty is beyond ridiculous, especially when she’s right and you’re a spoiled brat.”

I was glad when my siblings all looked at Byeol with disgust. They might still have issues with me and our family ready to explode most days, but Ellie was amazing. And the victim of a crime. A massive one.

And she was mocking her and victim-blaming? How horrible.

“Ha-joon’s mate is a master with portfolios,” Ha-yun told her. “I thought he was a clever pup, but—the man has a mind for numbers and the market that is beyond impressive. He should branch out into his own firm he’s that much of a savant.”

“He’s wanted to, but he’s not management material, and the idea of managing an office—he’d get screwed over,” I told her as I took my seat again. I kept my focus on Ellie. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even check if you were okay before I stormed out of here like a nipper throwing a fit.”

She lost her anger and chuckled. “I’m fine. It’s just money.” She chuckled again softly when I flinched. “Oh, you are too adorable sometimes. If you think this is the first time I’ve lost this kind of money—it’s not and it won’t be the last.”

I sighed as she booped my nose. “Ellie, be serious.”

Ellie gave me a sad smile. “The older you get, the more you expect to get screwed over, Ha-joon. It’s surprising every damn time but no longer shocking.”

“Amen to that,” Da drawled, Mum snorting as well.

“I get that, but it doesn’t always have to be you.”

“No, it would be better if there was more balance, but I can handle this type of being screwed and the president knows that.” She moved her fingers over my lips.

“Do you think he only screwed over wealthy people? I’ve known that man for decades.

He started in Atlanta. He started by managing the benefits of first responders. Would you rather them get screwed?”

“No,” I growled. “I only want the criminal screwed. That’s what’s fair.”

“Yes, but it’s not life. So I will let Gerald handle this and get us the best deal possible and not give the criminal the best deal either. Him riding off into the sunset with his full stolen booty is ridiculous. We have other ways to make people talk and I know many of his skeletons as well.”

“You are truly at the top of my list of people never to piss off, Dr. Reed,” Ha-yun said with a dark chuckle. “You do not pick the fight, but you will make sure to always, always finish it.”

Ellie glanced at her and winked. “I knew you were a smart one, love.” She gave me a kiss and pushed my legs so they went under the table and I faced properly instead of towards her.

She really was too much.

“Do you at least get to ride around in Air Force One if you keep doing the president so many damn favors?” I grumbled after a moment. My family laughed… But Ellie laughed harder. Like rolling laughing which confused me.

“Even I get the joke, baby brother,” one of my brothers chuckled. “She has a plane that is much nicer than Air Force One. That’s why it’s funny that you want her to downgrade for a favor.”

Ellie was still laughing when she tapped her nose and pointed at my brother.

Fine, I was a duffer but at least she was smiling and hopefully the awkwardness was over. If nothing else, the food was bloody fantastic, everyone saying so.

“The caterers are all companies or restaurants owned by women Amanda’s Hope has saved,” Ellie told us with a smile.

“None of us had ever thought about that. Aurora did. She said it like it was a given to brag about how far women can come with the right help instead of being bought and sold like mares. She immediately saw the wasted potential of this party.”

“She’s making her own point now that she’s being supported,” Mum praised, sharing a look with Ellie that I didn’t understand. “Well done to her.”

“Yeah, I’m glad.” She let out a slow breath. “I don’t know if I can ever really and truly forgive her for what she did and be what we were before I found out… But hundreds of years suffering is a penance I’m not sure she deserved either.”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. There wasn’t much else I could do for her or help her with on the topic. I just had to be there for her.

Gladly.

The event wrapped up well. Ellie wasn’t involved enough to stay after and help clean up or with the closing up details, but she was shaking a lot of hands now that everyone knew she was the founder.

Geez, if they knew she was the founder of ASH, our lives would forever be her shaking hands and kissing babies with me on her arm. I mentally shivered at the idea. We weren’t those types of people besides here and there.

No, Ellie and I were people who liked to jump in and get right at the problem. It was what we did best.

And support each other. I smiled at the thought as I escorted her outside to the valet station. I squeezed her hand and went to look at her over my shoulder.

I didn’t get to though, her hand ripped away from me and I felt magic as I was shoved hard enough to throw me off balance. I faced forward as I fell so I could catch myself easily… And had a front seat for what I thought was my worst nightmare.

But that was before the gun went off.

She’d shoved me out of the way to deal with a man who’d pulled a gun. I saw her grab him as I was falling. I caught myself and went to push up to help her but froze at the gunshot, horror filling me as I truly processed what was going on.

I had a split second of relief when the man froze, but Ellie kept moving, snapping the man’s neck while holding the gun.

Then she turned towards me and blood was flowing down her pretty dress.

“Ellie!” I roared as I found my feet and pushed others away.

“I’m fine, pup,” she lied, her breath in a wheeze. “Protect your family. She had other family.”

“Stop talking,” I ordered as I lifted her up in my arms. “Da, we need a—”

“Ha-joon, here!” Ha-yun bellowed, waving her arms… Standing next to a few cops waving us to hurry.

Perfect.

I glanced at the valet who I’d given my keys to and nodded to Da. “He’s going to take my vehicle and follow us.”

“Yes, good, right,” Da agreed, getting everyone to hurry into my SUV. “Ha-yun, go with Ha-joon.”

“Got it!” she called back.

“I’m fine,” Ellie told me. “I’ve had—”

“If you tell me you’ve had much worse right now as you’re bleeding from a gunshot, I will lose it and shift when I love you, you fool,” I warned her as I got us in the back of the police SUV. “I might have amazing control, enough to pass being a doctor, but I am not without flaws.”

“You are so handsome when you’re in doctor mode,” she muttered. “I’ll tell you when it’s bad. I promise. I’m just going to close my eyes and—”

“Don’t you dare!” I growled, pressing a towel Ha-yun got from somewhere against Ellie’s chest. “Don’t you dare sleep, Ellie Reed. You know—”

“Not sleep,” she interjected. “Being in the back while they drive crazy and the lights make me nauseous. Gonna close my eyes for that.”

“We’ll make it as best as we can, Ms. Reed,” the officer driving promised as his partner called into dispatch with an update.

“Can you get information directly to ASH so they know what we’re coming in with?” I asked, but then realized I was being dumb and could call directly. I handed my phone to Ha-yun after putting in the code. I told her who to call.

“I didn’t even get to try,” she mumbled before swiping my phone. “Dr. Carpenter, this is Ha-yun, Ha-joon’s sister. We are en route with Ellie. One gunshot wound to her upper right chest.”

“Put me on speaker,” he told her.

She did and I told him specifically where the wound was and what else I was sensing.

“Alan, it’s fine,” Ellie promised. “The bullet is still inside and it hurts less than a sword.”

I wasn’t the only one who looked at her like she was nuts. It was then I realized what she was trying to do. “Stop trying to dig out your own fucking bullet!”

“Driving here,” the cop reminded me.

Right, yeah. Shit.

“It will hurt worse if it heals over,” Ellie argued as I held her wrists in one of mine and kept pressure on her wound.