Page 139 of Luck of the Devil

He didn’t introduce himself, and neither did we.

After doing a few coordination tests, a brief physical exam, and a check of his pupils, the doctor stitched up James’s head near his temple, then handed me a plain white business card with only a phone number printed on it. He said James had a concussion and likely didn’t have internal bleeding, but if he started talking nonsense, got confused, or if his pupils became uneven, I should call him immediately.

Then he hurried out the door and into his car as though he feared for his life. I stood in front of the window, watching his taillights disappear around the curve in the road, while two men with semi-automatic weapons stood in front of the house.

“He was already talking nonsense,” I mumbled, still uneasy.

“I wasn’t talkin’ nonsense,” James said softly behind me.

I spun around to face him, my stomach fluttering. “You need to go to bed.”

The corners of his mouth tipped up. “Only if you come with me.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Of course I’ll help you to bed. I plan on checking on you throughout the night.”

“You’ll be able to assess me better if you’re sleepin’ next to me.”

I drew in a breath. My pulse pounded so loud it drowned out everything else. I leaned back against the window for support. “Tomorrow, you’re going to regret everything you’re saying.”

He slowly shook his head. “No. I won’t.”

“I can sleep in a chair in your room. Just like you’ve done for me.”

“No,” he said firmly. “In my bed. I need you next to me. I need to know you’re safe.”

I tried for a teasing smile. “I think that’s my line.”

He huffed out a laugh, then winced. “All the more reason for you to sleep with me tonight.”

I stood there, teetering on the edge of something dangerous. A relationship with this man would torch what was left of my reputation, yet I couldn’t seem to care. Before Malcolm, I’d been sleepwalking through life. Now I felt wide awake. I didn’t want to miss a second of it.

I had no illusions. We were two broken people, clinging to the only other person who understood our pain. But I was okay with that. I’d take this for as long as it lasted.

Or however little time we had before Nicole Knox—or her son—tried to finish us off.