Page 19 of King of Ruin
She follows my lead, but unlike the elevator, she doesn’t settle against me as she sits, her fingers slipping from my grip.
“Everything all right?” I ask gently, leaning back and closing my eyes. My head is pounding to a steady thrum as I cover my eyes with my hands. I know how to soothe an upset woman. I’ve been trained since childhood.
“Fine. I…” She swallows. I uncover my eyes to see her hands twisted together in her lap. “I need some more information.”
I reach for her hands again, covering them with mine. I feel her tremble of fear. “I’m going to protect you, Maddie.”
She gives a little nod, but her body language couldn’t speak any louder as she leans further away.
Is she worried? Scared of me?
She should be…
CHAPTER SIX
Maddie
The doctor comesand examines Roman. He doesn’t have a concussion. I have no idea how to feel in this moment.
I’ve been like a pendulum, going back and forth. In some moments, I want to shelter in Roman’s arms and then in others…I think I might have stepped into the lair of the beast.
A much more sophisticated predator than Vigo ever could be.
I sit silently, still on the couch as the doctor finishes. “And the lady?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Injuries?” the doctor asks in a gentle voice, his bedside manner like that of an office visit and not like he was blindfolded for a house call.
“She fell on her shoulder,” Roman answers for me. “Left.”
I am surprised he even remembers that happening. It was so crazy in that moment when Vigo dropped me. And honestly, the time in my living room when Vigo tried to carry me off feels like days ago, not just an hour before.
The doctor checks my arm, moving it this way and that, pokes the flesh, which is only mildly sore and declares me fine.
I’m not fine.
Remembering how Roman fought off Vigo helps me calm down, but I’m seriously debating asking the doctor for help getting out of here. Then Roman stands, placing himself between me and the doctor. He reaches into a pocket and pulls out a stack of bills, the slide of paper filling my ears as he counts out money and presses it into the palm of the doctor’s hand.
I stand too, trying to see what numerical value is on them. Roman has excellent lighting but I still can’t make them out, even squinting.
Are they fifty-dollar bills? One hundred? I don’t know why this is important other than it adds to the feeling that I am way out of my depth. My weekly grocery allowance is less than a hundred dollars.
“Thank you,” he murmurs just before Jack starts ushering the doctor back to the elevator.
I draw in a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I need to know some more details. Roman’s last name might be a good place to start. Why Vincent shot him would also be helpful. But I’m completely at his mercy now and I don’t know how much I can push.
Roman follows, whispering to Jack as they go. I can’t make out the words and I rub a hand down my face, realizing that I’m bone-tired.
I’m never up past ten and it has to be three in the morning.
I sit back on the couch, contemplating the safety, or lack thereof, of falling asleep right here when Roman speaks, “Maddie.”
His voice cuts through me and I sit back up. “I’m awake.”
“You’re fine, I just…” He comes to sit next to me, his arm coming around the back of the couch, his fingers brushing my hair as they pass. “You went very quiet.”
“Just tired,” I say, my chin dropping, as my internal debate rages.