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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

After three days of complete surrender to pleasure, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life, I finally turn my phone back on.

I’m downstairs to see if there is anything we can eat. I’ll have to return to New York later today, but I want to feed her before I leave. I also want to try to convince her to spend next weekend in Manhattan. I could send my private jet to pick her up—if Alexis agrees.

I know there hasn’t been any emergency at the hospital, or my team would have called Morrison’s house. I left the number with my assistant.

Still, as soon as the screen lights up, dozens of messages flood in. All from my brothers.

I tap the screen to call Seth.

"You need to come back to New York,” he says immediately. “I’ve been trying to reach you like crazy for hours."

"What happened?"

"Whatever you do, don’t turn on the news, LJ. I’ll tell you everything when you get here."

"I’m in Cape Cod."

"Cape Cod?"

"At Morrison’s house."

"Get here. Fast."

"Tell me what’s going on."

"Jodie was in a serious accident."

I feel the blood freeze in my veins. "How serious?"

"Very bad."

"I’ll be there as fast as I can."

I head upstairs, and when I open the bedroom door, I see Alexis lying on her stomach, the sheet covering only one side of her ass.

She looks like a goddess in her sleep. Pure and delicious. For a moment, I hesitate to wake her—but I can’t just leave. Not after what we’ve shared.

The decision is taken from me when she shifts in her sleep. At first, she’s smiling—probably dreaming—but then she opens her eyes and blushes, quickly tugging the sheet over her breasts, still marked by my unshaven jaw.

"Hey," I say.

"Did I oversleep?"

"No, but I need to go back to New York." On the way upstairs, I thought about calling the helicopter, but the prep time makes it more practical to drive. I’ll take one of Morrison’s cars.

"Is everything okay?"

How do I explain that my ex-girlfriend was in an accident and is now in critical condition?

"There’s been a family emergency."

I see her draw back a little, and even though I’m not the affectionate type or one for promises, my gut tells me that with Alexis, nothing is like anything I’ve known before.

"Come here."

She keeps the sheet around her but accepts the hand I offer.

"I’ll be back next week." I pull her into my arms and bury my face in the curve of her neck.

"What happened?"

"I have to go," I say, kissing her lips, then her forehead. "I’ll see you this weekend." I don’t think it’s the right time to tell her about the change I’d been planning—taking her to New York with me. First, I need to deal with the situation with Jodie.

"Don’t promise me anything. I hate promises."

"I’ve never broken one in my life. I’ll be back."

She sits on her heels, and all I want is to take her with me into the shower and calm the insecurity I see in her eyes—but I know I don’t have time. I don’t love Jodie, but I don’t wish her harm either. I can’t just let her go without knowing I did everything I could to save her.

Alexis watches me in silence and nods. "Okay. I’ll wait for you."

As much as it kills me, I turn away, step into the bathroom, and I think I hear her murmur something—but I can’t make out what it is.

Half an hour later, I’m in the car, having arranged for a taxi to pick her up and take her back to Provincetown. Still, a weight like a lead ball sits in my stomach.

I’ve never had a problem sending women home in taxis or with my driver. Even Jodie, who was my girlfriend for longer, got the same treatment. But with Alexis, it doesn’t feel right.

I’m still gripping the steering wheel after more than two hours on the road to New York when, more than halfway there, the image of Alexis’s face as I kissed her goodbye haunts me again.

Less than two minutes later, my phone rings. My brother’s voice comes through the speaker. "Where are you?"

"About two hours out."

"She might not last that long, brother."

"What?"

"It’s bad. Athanasios?—"

"Fuck me!"

I know what that means. If Seth is saying Athanasios has lost hope, there’s nothing more to be done.

"But . . . Morrison?—"

"Morrison?"

"Shit."

"What the hell are you talking about, Seth?"

"Morrison was in the car with her."

"What?"

"Apparently, Mom called him to try to calm Jodie down. She was hysterical, begging her to convince you to get back together with her."

"Goddamn it!"

"Not knowing what else to do, Mom tried calling us, then decided to get our cousin. When he arrived, Jodie was leaving in the car, completely out of it. He got in with her. We don’t know exactly what happened—only that she drove onto the highway and crashed head-on into a semi."

"Morrison?"

"He’s in a coma, but according to your business partner, he has a better chance of surviving than Jodie."