Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys 2)

“Mr. Monroe? This is Officer Jones. I’m calling at the request of Ms. Maxie Sullivan.”

His heart almost stopped beating, and he lowered himself into his chair. “What happened?”

His friends immediately surrounded him.

“We’re still sorting out details, but she’s being taken by ambulance to Lenox Hill Hospital. You can meet her there.”

Kade insisted on taking his driver. The man always insisted on the finer things in life, and a little while later, Lucas sat in an emergency room, waiting for news on Maxie. And because he wasn’t related or her husband, he couldn’t demand to be let in to see her until the doctors were good and ready.

It was déjà vu all over again.

If he hadn’t already seen the result of Kade’s fist hitting a hard wall, he’d be tempted to do some punching of his own. As it was, he was stuck feeling helpless while time passed slowly and he could do nothing but wait. At least this time he wasn’t alone. Kade and Derek had accompanied him here, along with Lexie, who’d met them. Understanding he didn’t want to talk, they provided moral support and left him to brood in peace.

An officer had stopped by to question Lucas about Vincent Bernardi and had filled Lucas in on what had happened to Maxie outside the doctor’s office. Lucas was furious that the man had gotten near Maxie again, and if he hadn’t wanted to be here the minute he could see her, he would’ve been at Gold’s office wringing the man’s neck. As it was, Lucas directed the police to Gold for more information. If it was the last thing Lucas did, he’d make sure the man lost his job.

He couldn’t begin to imagine Maxie’s fear and panic when Bernardi had grabbed her, but he admired that she was smart enough not to go with the man and to take the risk to fight him in public. He clenched and unclenched his fists, the hands on the clock on the wall dragging as they moved.

The longer he sat, the further back his thoughts traveled, to the night she’d called him when she’d lost the baby. The panicked trip to the hospital. The long, interminable time alone in a small room with ancient magazines as he waited for news. And he came to one solid conclusion.

This was the last time he’d be kept away from Maxie because they weren’t married. They were damn well going to work through her issues and get married as soon as possible. In his book, their I love yous weren’t new, they were years in the feeling … and they’d wasted enough time apart.

“Mr. Monroe?” A nurse walked through the door and called out his name.

Lucas nodded. “That’s me.”

His friends turned, as eager for news as he was.

“You can come back and see Ms. Sullivan now.”

Lucas expelled a long breath of relief. “I’ll fill you guys in as soon as I can,” he promised, and followed the woman through the double doors.

They passed a row of closed curtains and finally came to the corner cubicle. “In here. She’s expecting you,” the nurse said.

Lucas nodded. “Thank you.” His heart galloped inside his chest as he pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the small enclosed area.

Maxie lay on a hospital bed, her head back against the pillows, her skin pale. A slight bruise marred one cheek, and anger swamped Lucas along with a sense of futility that he hadn’t been there to prevent her from getting hurt. Logically he knew he couldn’t be with her every minute of every day, but in this case, his anger was warranted. He’d relied on false information, and she’d been out alone, exposed to Bernardi.

He quietly stepped into the room, and she stirred, her big brown eyes settling on his. In that one instant, he affirmed that she was everything he wanted and cared about, and he’d do anything to fix whatever had been wrong over the last several weeks or so.

Anything to make her his for good.

* * *

Maxie was dizzy and her head hurt, but there was no better sight than Lucas walking in. She’d been asking for him for the past hour, but they’d insisted on checking her for injuries and making sure the baby was okay. She’d have been happier if Lucas had been here the entire time. But at least he was here now.

He strode over and clasped her hand, but it wasn’t enough. The next thing she knew, his arms were wrapped solidly around her, holding her tight, and the tears she’d been holding back since Bernardi had approached her fell freely.

“I’m sorry,” she said, sniffling against his shirt.

“For what?” He pulled back and met her gaze, all the worry he’d been through in his expression, all the love he felt for her in his eyes.

She swallowed hard. “For how I’ve acted lately.”

A corner of his mouth kicked up in a half smile. “We’ll get to that.”

He brushed her hair off her face, studying her intently. “Are you really okay?”

She nodded, regretting it immediately. The pain seared through her skull. “Just a bad headache.”