Ignite My Passion (The Vegas Men 3)

“Unless something distracted them.”

I stare wide-eyed ad Clara. “What do you mean?”

“Well, unless Jeremy has got them killed on the way over.”

It’s all quite a conspiracy theory, but with everything that’s happened over the last few days, I would believe anything. I want to talk to the cops, but at the same time the hospital is pulling me in. I want to get there to see how Nova is. The desperate need to believe that she’s alive is the only thing keeping me going.

“What shall we do then? Shall we leave? Shall we sneak out and get to the hospital?”

“You think?” Clara chews the inside of her mouth, her nerves shining through. “I guess we’ll be more protected there than here, won’t we?”

I nod even though I’m not totally convinced myself. I’m pretty sure if Jeremy wants to take me down, he won’t care where it happens. Right now, I think he’s just toying with me, playing a game of cat and mouse. I can almost feel him creeping up my spine, watching me, piercing me with his gaze. It makes me shudder violently.

But I can’t let him win.

“Yeah, I guess so. Let’s give it a go.”

Clara stands but she doesn’t look ready to bolt. She’s almost bouncing on her toes, but in an unsure manner as if she might fall back down onto the couch at any given moment.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask her, needing to be sure.

“We don’t have a choice, do we? We have got to do something, and I can’t think of anything else. I mean, we could go to the police station, but the hospital is probably nearer…”

“Plus, we need to check out how Nova is doing.”

“Okay, so my car is out in the back. We need to get there.”

“You think we can do it without… attracting any attention?”

“We haven’t heard anything for a while. Maybe they are gone now?”

Clara cocks her head and rests her hands on her hips knowingly. “You don’t believe that, do you? Jeremy is on a fucking mission to destroy the people who took away his reputation. That is honestly all he cares about. He wants to take you down.”

I sigh and nod. “I know, I heard you, but we have got to do something.”

“So… we just run to the back? Race to the car?”

“I can go first if you want. Then you can follow. They are after me anyway.”

“I don’t exactly want to see you all blown up though.”

“I know, I don’t intend to get shot, trust me.”

“Yeah okay. Let’s do it then.”

I head towards the back door, keeping my strides more confident than how I feel inside. I need to be strong for Clara’s sake. Once we get to the door, I turn to her and half-smile.

“Right, I’ll race out to the car, you wait here, then I’ll signal for you to come.”

I suck in a couple of deep breaths, darting my eyes everywhere. I can’t see anyone for now, but that doesn’t mean anything. Jeremy could have the best guys in the city on it. I don’t know what the crime scene is like here, despite all the rumors, but it could be awesome. So awesome that hit men could be anywhere, waiting to assassinate me.

Fuck it, I eventually tell myself decisively. It’s time to just do this. For Nova.

I duck my head low and run. I look like I’m in the middle of an action movie, which I suppose is a little like how I feel… but not in a good way. My heart pounds, my breaths come out ragged like I’m running a marathon rather than a couple of feet to the car.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter as I run. “Fucking hell. Fuck.”

My fingers shake as I hit the button on the key to open the car. I’m sweaty, it could slip away from me given half the chance. There is so much relief when the car pops open and I yank the door open to slip inside.