A Wicked Song (Brilliance Trilogy 2)

I turn away from Alexander, and it’s not long before I’m sitting in a room with a doctor, a man I guess to be in his thirties, sporting a shaved head and a pleasant bedside manner. “You’re lucky,” he says after pulling a piece of wood from my hand and covering my hand with a bandage to apply pressure. “You were close to a nerve. The wood was allowing the bleed to continue. And you almost took the palm of your hand off. We’re going to stitch you up, get you a tetanus shot and some pain meds, and get you home.”

“Thank you,” I say and it’s all I can manage. I just want to go home. Now.

Half an hour later, I have stitches, a shot, a warning that my arm might hurt and/or feel heavy as a result of the shot, and two prescriptions. Thankfully there’s a pharmacy in the clinic and Ellen heads off to have my meds filled for me.

While I wait, I check my text messages to find several from Kace. I’m worried. Aria, answer. Please. See? I can use good manners, too. Baby. Please.

I’d laugh but that’s what he wants, to seduce me all over again with charm and his brand of perfection.

There’s a knock on the door and the front desk attendant, who I now know to be Lynn, pokes her head into the room. “You have a visitor who wants to join you.”

My brows furrow. “I have what?” Even as I ask the question, my heart starts to race and I don’t give her time to answer. “Who?” I ask because it can’t be him. How would he know where to find me?

But I know it is. I know even before she says, “He says his name is Kace August.”

CHAPTER TWO

Kace is here.

How can Kace be here?

But even as my mind asks that question, I know the answer. He’s been having me followed since before we ever met. He’s still having me followed.

Lynn clears her throat. “Should I bring Mr. August, or ah, Kace—he said to call him Kace—should I bring him back?”

“No,” I say quickly. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“Okay, but for the record, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two such good-looking men in one place, and well, I’m not sure they can survive in the same room much longer.”

My brows furrow. “Alexander’s still here?” I ask because the truth is, I wasn’t sure he’d have the wait in him.

“He is, and at the risk of being out of line, I might add, to the extreme displeasure of Kace.” She winks and disappears, shutting the door behind her.

I press my good hand to my face. I don’t know what to do. He probably doesn’t even know that I’ve found those photos yet. Suddenly pain becomes anger. He doesn’t know, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t get to use me and manipulate me any longer. I slide off the exam table and walk toward the door. Ellen enters at the same moment I’m about to exit, which successfully defuses my anger.

“You’re all set,” she says, indicating the bag in her hand. “You already took an antibiotic and a pain pill. You should take another in four hours.” She hands me the bag. “And remember, some people do get a heavy, achy feeling in their arm from the shot. That’s why we put it in the same arm as your injury. That way only one side will be affected.”

“Thank you, Ellen. You really are wonderful.”

“I think you’re the one who’s wonderful, judging by the fan club you have in the lobby.” She wiggles an eyebrow. “Hubba hubba.” She backs up into the hallway to allow my exit.

Two men who want something from me do not equal a fan club, I think. I have never needed to be alone as much as I do right now. With my anger tamped down, I exit the room and hurry toward the lobby, but pause at the door, drawing a deep breath, steeling myself for all things Kace August. As if that has any chance of working.

I push open the door and enter the lobby.

Alexander is in a chair, his head back, eyes shut. Kace is literally at the center of the room, pacing, his back to me at present, a rock god in denim, biker boots, and his favorite tan leather jacket. He runs a hand through his longish dark hair, obviously frustrated, one might even think worried, and perhaps he is, just for the wrong reasons. As if they both sense my presence, Kace turns abruptly in my direction, and Alexander bolts to his feet. But it’s Kace I’m focused on. Kace whose blue-eyed stare is locked on me. Kace who fills me up with so many emotions that they are now a waterfall, crashing to the floor beneath my feet.