“You don’t have to stay,” I tell him once we’re inside.
It’s a private part of the hospital Hannah is taken to, curtesy of Luca.
The nurses usher her down a corridor in a wheelchair.
“If you’re staying, I stay.”
After a few restless hours of waiting, a nurse appears in the doorway of the waiting area. “You can come see her now, one at a time.” She informs us.
Luca, squeezes my shoulders gently nudging me forward to follow the nurse.
She guides me to a room opening the door for me to enter.
Hannah’s eyes map my entrance, color returning to her cheeks, monitors beep next to her bed, tubes in her hand. “Hey?” I smile, coming around the bed to take her free hand.
“Hey,” she croaks, her throat sore from crying. “Where’s Luca?” she asks, looking toward the door.
“He’s outside. We didn’t want to overwhelm you with visitors. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
A gentle shake of her head causes a tear to fall. “No, I don’t want anyone else to know.”
Her words from the house have played on my mind since she spoke them. “Hannah, who were you talking about at the house? What did the father do?”
Squeezing my hand, she shakes her head again. “Nothing. I wasn’t thinking right.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“Alyssa,” she says, pleading, “please just leave it. I’m tired now. I think I’m going to sleep.”
I take the hint when she releases my hand and turns her head to look in the opposite direction. “Okay. I can bring you some of your things later?”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you for coming to help me. I’m grateful you came.”
I don’t want to leave her, but being here is clearly causing her stress.
Walking to the door, a sigh leaves my lungs. “I’m here if you need anything. What you tell me won’t go any further than us two,” I assure her.
Opening the door, I’m just stepping out when she calls “Alyssa.”
I turn back, her brows pinched. “I warned you about those men. Please get away from them.”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
“You’re quiet,” Luca says on the drive back to the house.
“It’s been an unsettling day,” I defend, watching the world pass by through the window. My life is so different now compared to only months ago.
I feel older, awake.
“Did you know Hannah was pregnant?” he asks, studying me.
“No.” I turn to him. “Did you?”
Blanching, he glowers. “No, we’re not friends, Alyssa. She’s an employee.” He checks his phone, then asks. “Who is Clint?”
Thud.
Clint’s name on his lips makes my stomach turn. “Why do you ask?” I sound defensive to my own ears.
“He’s at my house demanding to see you.” My mind fogs, his words taking their time to penetrate my brain.
Clint’s here.
At the house?
“I’ve seen his number on your phone. Always calling, texting. Who is he?”
He sounds calm, but his words and the look in his eyes are anything but. “He’s a friend from back home.”
“A friend isn’t that persistent, little dancer. Do better with your lies.”
Narrowing my gaze, I square my shoulders. “He’s a friend from back home,” I state once more.
Moving so fast, I gasp in shock when he pushes his body against the side of mine, his hands grasping his favorite spot on my jaw line.
“Has this friend been inside your body?”
My breathing is rapid, his hold making my pussy throb with need. I like when his aggression bleeds through into action.
“Once,” I pant, biting down on his thumb when he pushes it into my mouth. He doesn’t even flinch.
“You don’t understand how addicting you are, do you?” he growls, removing himself from next to me.
The cold rush of his departure leaves me wanting.
“I’ve known him nearly my entire life, Luca. He declared his love for me and was hurt when I didn’t feel the same way. It was a pity fuck, and barely that. It was over in seconds and not memorable.”
“He remembers,” he barks at me as the car comes to a stop.
Following him out of the car, my stomach churns to see Clint, here, in this space.
He jumps up from the steps of the house, attempting to jog to me, but a massive giant of a man grabs him by the shirt, halting his movements.
“Let me go.” He struggles, but it’s pathetic. “Alyssa?”
Luca’s demeanor must read danger because he stops wriggling and pales slightly at Luca’s approach. “How did you get this address?”
“Your father got an invitation to come here. Something about a wedding. Alyssa, what the hell is going on?” He talks over Luca’s shoulder, directing his questions to me.
“Can you let him go?” I snap, smacking the hands away holding him in place. Once released, he grabs my hand, pulling me a few feet away. Luca’s eyes are deadly, his jaw ticking with annoyance.
“What are you doing here?” I fume, tugging from his grasp.
His eyes widen. “What are you doing here?” His floppy blond hair covers his eyes before he swipes it away.