Break Me

I can’t do that.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket as I put back the medical chart. I pull it out of my pocket and sneak into the bathroom.

“Hey, there.” I smile as I answer.

“You wanna turn up the heat tonight?” Jason asks.

“Do you really have to ask?” I whisper.

“It’s fight night, angel.” His voice is gravelly.

“Oh,” I say, not knowing if he hears me.

“You sure you’re up for it?” he questions.

“Yes.” I close my eyes as soon as I realize how throaty I sound.

“You just made me hard,” he whispers.

“The next four hours are going to be hell.”

“You wet?”

“Jason,” I scold lightly.

He laughs. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I can’t wait.”

The rest of the night is quiet, which makes the time go by even more slowly. I am nearly out of my mind in anticipation of fight night, taking one for the win, one for him, one for me, one for us. I should feel anxious, nervous, worried, but I’m not. I know he will win. I know he will fight hard to get to me. And I will be standing in his corner, just like he is in mine.

I walk out into the cool night air and look around for the black Chevy. I spot lights in the distance and almost run toward them.

Chapter Twenty - Six

“You’re off your game tonight, Cobra,” Chainz says as I take the hit to my gut.

Where the fuck is she? I keep looking around for Lo, but she’s not here. Brock is waiting outside for her, so I have no one in my corner. My head isn’t in the fight. For once, my need to beat the shit out of something, out of someone, is gone. My only concern is for her. Where the fuck is she?

“Guess my boys didn’t need to step in last time,” Chainz goads.

I need him to shut the hell up. I need this fight to be over so I can find Lo.

My insides twist and turn, knotting up as the adrenaline pumps through my system. My nostrils flare as I fight to breathe. My lungs burn as I take his hits.

Backing up, I get the space I need to see clearly. Waiting as I duck and dodge, I find my opening. With a left uppercut, I hit the sweet spot, and down he goes.

His crew rushes the cage, and I ready myself. I will beat the fuck out of every one of them to get to her if need be. Thankfully, they are too concerned over Chainz’s unconscious state to bother with me.

I bolt out and grab my bag. Once again, I don’t bother to cover up or put on shoes. I find Brock right out front, still waiting.

“Handle the shit,” I say, taking off to my car.

He can keep the money for all I care right now. I need to get to Lo. I need to feel her, touch her, hold her, and breathe her in. I need to know she’s okay. She is everything right in my world of wrong.

I call, getting no answer repeatedly. Her voicemail driving me crazy, I drive straight to the hospital. I don’t bother to look for her car. She has to be pulling a double shift. It happens in her line of work. Not often, but it does happen.

When I don’t find her in the emergency department, I ask the receptionist, and she pages. No response.

She dials the nurses’ station. The brown eyes of the woman meet my cold, green stare, and I fight inside to hold it together when she speaks.

“Lorraine is off for the evening, sir.”

I slam my fist down on the countertop before taking off out the automatic doors, rushing back to my truck.

I drive absently, calling her over and over with no answer. My panic only rises.

I call the front desk of my complex. She hasn’t been seen coming or going since she left for work this morning.

I keep driving and calling and driving. It’s not until I stop in the driveway I realize where I have carried myself.

Home.

Well, that’s what most people would call it when they come back to the place they grew up. The place my parents live should be home, but it’s not, and I don’t know that it ever has been.

I jump out of my car and rush to the front, where I pound on the door. My father answers, his surprise visible.

“Jason.” He says my name calmly as he steps back to allow me to enter.

“What the fuck did you do with her?”

“Who?”

“Don’t you fuck with me right now! I know what you and your council friends did. I know about the money you all filter around and split. I have proof and a backup, so do not fuck with me. Where the hell is she?” I roar, not caring who hears me.