Chapter 45 LOVE-HATE EVERY SECONDS OF IT
Zip. Zip.
The defibrillator pads slammed against Erica’s chest, her body jerked up with a thud.
“Heart rate abnormal. High GHB concentration in bloodstream,” the nurse reported, scribbling hurriedly.
My eyes never left Erica. I ha never felt this anxious, not even during gunfights. That fat bastard… I should’ve kept him alive longer, torture him, I should have made him beg.
My jaw clenched as i sighted Tee standing by the window, watching with her narrowed eyes. I stepped out of the room, leaning against the wall.
“Spill,” I ordered.
“The sponsor’s identity is buried. No trail, no history, no digital prints. Whoever wants Erica is half Chinese, half American. Last spotted meeting the fat man at a bridge in Houston,” Tee said, tapping a folder against her palm. She handed it to me. I scanned the pages quickly.
Her eyes narrowed, questions clearly in her heart. “Ask,” I said.
“Is Miss going to be okay?” she asked quietly.
Tee never asked about anyone. She’d killed with pencils, fork prongs, hairpins—anything she touched became a weapon. She was the darkest blade in our team, and she hated almost everyone.
The fact she liked Erica at all meant something. And if Tee cared… Erica mattered.
The psychopath (Erica) better return to life, before I follow her to wherever she went.
“Hm,” I hummed, my voice low and dark.
“Burn these. Delete our investigation trail,” I said, handing the papers back. Whoever ordered her drugged—either wanted her dead or wanted to violate her....Both reasons made my blood boil.
“She has to survive,” I muttered, glancing at the ICU door. My chest felt tight, unfamiliar, this darn feeling.
EARLIER
“Erica!” I slapped her cheeks gently, each second, but nothing: Her skin turned cold. Her breath vanished.
I lifted her into my arms walking out. My team froze at the sight, but I didn’t. I shoved past them, got into the car, and sped off
My grip strangled the steering wheel. I pushed the engine to its limit, weaving through traffic like a man possessed. In the rearview mirror I stared, Erica looked lifeless...fragile.
That bastard mixed GHB with alcohol. Didn’t he know how deadly that combination was?
I slammed my fist into the steering wheel, my breath ragged.
The car screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, my mask still on.
“We’re full. We can’t take any more patie—”
My cold stare shut the nurse up instantly. “Move,” I snapped, placing Erica on the gurney. She obeyed without a word.
But there were no doctors in sight. “Who the hell runs this place?!” I roared.
The nurses stiffened, trading fearful looks. “Talk!” I yelled, waving my gun.
“They… they all went home,” one muttered.
“And Ethan?” I snapped.
A nurse hurried up, phone already in her hand. “If you call the police, it’s your funeral. And theirs,” I warned. She nodded frantically.
“Hello? Caroline, I’m on break—I can’t—”
“Get to the hospital. Five minutes.” I hung up before he could argue. He wouldn’t dare.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
My thoughts snapped back as Tee’s lips twitched into a hopeful smile. “She’ll survive. I believe that.”
I didn’t answer. My eyes returned to Erica’s door.
I was getting too familiar with her. Too aware. The ache in my chest felt like a criminal. I had only ever felt something like this for Celina.
My lashes lowered just as Diego approached.
“Boss, we have a problem.” My expression darkened instantly. “Details.”
Diego opened his mouth, then closed it as the doctor walked out.
“How is she?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“Stable for now. She’s back to life,” he said, smiling lightly.
My shoulders eased for the first time tonight.
“Good. Watch her closely.”
Ethan’s smile died. “I can’t stay. I have a family.”
“Do I look like I care?” I asked.
His eyes widened. Oh yes—he remembered me. The first man to ever see my face and live. The one who once saved me instead of calling the police.
No one has ever called the cops on me-the famous Mafia Lord. Those who did ended in hell.
“I can’t stay,” he repeated, his voice trembling.
I chuckled, gripping his shoulder not hard, yet enough. “I don’t care.”
He froze, before he could object, I walked past him.
“The issue?” I asked Diego, rolling up my sleeves.
“Your brother caused a scene at the office again.”
I stopped walking, and my jaw locked.
That bastard....First trafficking kids and now this?
My blood simmered, the air around me felt too hot, suffocating. I unbuttoned two buttons from my shirt, trying to breathe.
Should I show up at my father’s house and put a gun to his head? Or just put a bullet into my brother skull without warning?
I pulled my sleeves higher and the diamond spade tattoo on my wrist caught my eye.
I paused.
It felt like betrayal to even look at it.
Erica… was taking hold of me.....Unexpected, yet exciting.
And I loved—hated—every second of it.