Page 23 of Hearts Held

Early the next morning, my curiosity gives in. I find myself following this woman.

Following her.

I have no idea what I’m doing, but my legs have a mind of their own as I stalk her.

She just finished up her night shift at 0300. This woman worked as our nurse all day, went home, changed and then worked a shift at the hospital.

I thought I was a workaholic. Granted, I didn’t take her statement about her jobs wholeheartedly. My cynical stance on life doesn’t allow me to fully trust others I’ve just met.

She walks into a run-down apartment complex. That is owned by Carlton, a known piece of shit.

She is probably overpaying for this dump, and being the piece of shit he is, I’m worried Carlton is also harassing her.

I observe the building from the side street, watching for a window to light up to her room. It doesn’t,and from my observations, Carlton probably cornered Brielle to the top floor.

Despicable.

Approximately twenty minutes after discerning which apartment is hers, I walk into the run-down complex.

Almost as if I have Baba’s predictive abilities, I find Carlton, the greasy landlord, outside Brielle’s room trying a key, but it appears she has bolstered the door with furniture to make sure he cannot get in.

Good girl.

I watch him struggle for a bit, his drunken state and overall existence irritating my soul as he yells, “You owe me a date! Dammit!”

He doesn’t hear me sneak up behind him.

I hear Brielle trying to sound polite through the door, as she shouts, “Please leave me alone!”

Deciding I’ve had enough of this situation, I saunter over and slam my palm into Carlton’s fat face, causing him to become cheek to cheek with the door.

“What the f—” he tries to mutter through his crushed face. Then I grab the bastard by his chubby cheeks. His jaundiced eyes go wide as he gazes up at the devilhe knows. I don’t really want to hear him speak one more word after hearing him yell and curse at Brielle, persisting she go out with him and about how she “owes him.”

What the hell is everyone so fucking entitled?

He tries to push me off, then claws at my hands.

“Hiya, Carlton. You really shouldn’t speak to a woman like that.” Then I slam his head against the wall a few times, until I’m satisfied he won’t be getting up anytime soon.

His body slumps down to the floor as he takes an involuntary nap.

I peer over to find Brielle’s beautiful eyes peering through a small gap between the door and the frame. Holding my hands up, I say, “I’m not here to hurt you.”

“What do you want?” She tries to sound confident but I can hear the cracks in her voice.

No, no… I didn’t want to scare her, but this fucker…

“Brielle, I’ve come to take you to your new home.”

She opens the door a fraction more and stares up at me.

“I have an apartment,” shestates.

I chuff, “You have a shithole, Brielle, and it clearly isn’t safe. I can’t have anything happen to our company nurse.”

Her brow furrows as those emerald eyes question me.

I stare at her gorgeous face, darkening my features as I calmly state, “Brielle, please. Before I break the door down, put you over my shoulder and carry you to your new apartment.”