Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
"Thanks. Her meds?"
"She needs to stay on the antibiotics. I put the script in so when you get to Steeleville, it'll be ready to pick up from the pharmacy. I can have one of the guys pick it up so you don't have to get it yourself.”
"Thanks. I'll send a text to Cyber." I pull out my phone and send a text before I forget.
"Okay. Take care, Ms. Walker,” Doc says.
Soon, it will be Mrs. Santini. "It’s Jules."
"Jules, I'll see you around." He winks at her, earning a warning glare from me.
"Thanks so much."
"My pleasure." He goes before he sees me lose my temper. Doc's a great guy and is married, but he knows what it's like to be a possessive son of a bitch when it comes to his woman. I've protected each one of the Rider women, so it is fucking tearing me up inside that I didn't protect her.
Another couple of minutes pass before the nurse strolls in with the wheelchair for Jules. "I can walk just fine."
"Please, do it for me, baby,” I plead, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Fine,” she huffs. I take her good hand and help her sit in the wheelchair.
But as soon as Jules sits, I can see the relief on her face. She's more exhausted than she's letting on. Now I feel like a selfish fuck for using her body like I did, even if she enjoyed that shit. I wheel her out of the room with her bag over my shoulder while the nurse follows us with a few instructions. As we get to the lobby, we’re confronted with trouble.
“We’re so glad you’re getting out,” her mother says. We freeze in the middle of the lobby within feet of her mother. The harpy’s not alone. The piece-of-shit stepfather of hers is here along with another man that I don’t know, but he looks familiar.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I question. They shouldn’t be anywhere near their daughter from what I was told by Jackson and Mr. Banks. They didn’t trust them, and I don’t either. I can’t see Jules’s face, but I can feel her tense up in the wheelchair.
“We’re here to take our daughter home,” the step-asshole says.
“You know damn well that’s not going to happen. You couldn’t protect her, and you weren’t here when she needed you. She’s going home with me—end of story.”
“We can have this all straightened out soon,” the asshole in the suit says. Who the fuck does he think he is?
Suddenly, it hits me who the mystery man is…Brandon’s father, the politician.
“If you don’t get the fuck out of our way, I’ll treat you like your son did to my Jules and I assure you, I’m a hell of a lot better with a blade,” I snarl.
Doc comes out with the hospital’s security. “Blade, are these people bothering you?”
“He’s stealing our daughter,” her reproductive host says.
“Considering she’s an adult and in his care, it’s hardly stealing, but you are trespassing on hospital property and have no business in this facility. I’m going to have to ask you politely to leave,” Doc informs them. He may be a doctor, but the man can be merciless.
“I’ll make sure the hospital learns you cost them a large contribution,” the politician says.
“Since your son keeps bringing us clients, I believe we get enough dirty money,” Doc scoffs. “Now get out.” He snaps his fingers, and several Dallas Police officers approach.
“Thanks,” I say, wheeling right past them. The nurse looks shaken, but she does her job. “Don’t worry about them. That man’s all hot air.” I help Jules into my SUV that Doc had brought around. Once I get her situated, I run around the front end and hop into the driver’s side before those fuckers try to start shit. I can see them talking to the cops, hoping to stop us, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I let Jules end up in their hands again.
“Are you okay?” I ask, gripping onto her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Yes. Thank you for doing that.”
“Sticking up for you? You should be treasured. I’m sorry it took me forever to get my head out of my ass.” I brush the back of my hand over her cheek and she presses her face into it, forgetting that she’s got a nasty bruise on that side. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“It’s my fault. For a big brute, you have the gentlest touch,” she says almost to herself.
“Just wait,” I mutter under my breath. One day, my hand won’t be so gentle on her ass.
The entire drive home, I steal glances at Jules because I can’t help myself. I have a lot of lost months to make up for.
God, she's beautiful. It kills me to see her bandaged and bruised. Her dainty wrist is wrapped up and secured with a cast to help the healing. I nearly lost her, and that's something that I can't forget. She's my world now, and I'm going to do all I can to keep her safe and loved like she should. "Are you hungry?"