Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(6)
As they paused at the glass doors of the hospital in the day’s dusk, Shane cataloged the quiet streetscape. Thirty-five vehicles sat in the lot, and three businesses lined the other street: one selling food, one a pawn shop with possible weapons, and one a mom-and-pop convenience store. There was a good probability the store had a shotgun near the register. A row of apartments stood above the businesses, probably three. Statistically, at least one residence might have a weapon.
How did he know that? Sudden claustrophobia had him struggling to appear normal, even while he tilted his head to hear… something. Anything. But all sounds arrived muffled, as if his head were under water.
So he concentrated on the soft skin beneath his rough hand. Josie had a classic face, well-defined cheekbones, and delicate features. Yet her chin held a stubbornness that intrigued as much as it challenged him.
Josie’s teeth ground together. “I don’t know how badly you’re hurt, but if you don’t release me, I’m going to kick your ass.”
His quick smile felt rusty, as if the muscles hadn’t been used in far too long. Two years maybe—since she left him?
With a shrug, he let go, straightened, and stepped back. Every slight movement dug sharp needles into his skull. Lights flashed behind his eyes from the pain. “I need to know. Are you scared of me?” He didn’t know himself. Would he hurt her? The idea that he’d harm such a tiny, defenseless woman was like a punch to the gut. Who the hell was he?
She arched one delicate eyebrow. “If you’re asking if you abuse women, the answer is no. If you’re asking if you’re an *, the answer is yes.”
He huffed a laugh, barely holding back a wince as his eyes sparked agony. “I appreciate your honesty.”
“Anytime.” She tossed a thick blond strand over her shoulder and shoved open the exit door to the cool night air. “You might as well come on.”
He paused at her statement, taking a moment to appreciate her tight body in the soft gray pantsuit. The woman had an ass he’d love to sink his hands into. The flash of lust rolled through him followed by unease. He’d just scared her, pretty much threatened her about the boyfriend, and now he wanted her naked. After a brief marriage, he’d abandoned her. What if he hadn’t had a good reason? Was there a good reason to leave his woman unprotected? Probably not.
Following her out, he quickly caught up to her, his gaze raking the sprawling parking lot. Quiet, peaceful, and nicely lit in the cold evening. Pine and the hint of snow wafted on the breeze. “You’re taking me home, angel?” He figured he’d have to cajole to end up at her place. He needed to crawl into a hole until his head stopped pounding, and then he’d figure out who’d jumped him.
Darkness and peace seemed more important than safety right now.
She sighed, yanking keys out of a monstrous purse and striding in pointy shoes toward the center of the lot. “Like it or not, you’re my responsibility right now. At least until you sign the papers.” She halted and flipped around so abruptly he had to catch her arms to keep from running her over. Her gaze met his. “Unless you’re full of shit. Amnesia? Seriously?”
She felt good under his palms. Ignoring the migraine, he stepped into her, truly enjoying the flare of awareness and then irritation filtering across her stunning face. “Have I ever lied to you?” The question held risk, considering he had no clue if he had lied or not.
Anger slammed the irritation out of the way, narrowing her eyes. “No. You just didn’t tell me anything.”
Oh, but he’d hurt her. The set of her shoulders, the line of her lips, told him he’d caused her pain. What kind of an ass was he to hurt such a soft little thing? “I’m sorry.”
She blinked three times and took a step back. “It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does. Whatever mistakes I’ve made, I’m sorry.” She was so tiny, her head didn’t come close to the bottom of his chin. Maybe he should take off by himself right away—leave her the life she’d built over the last two years.
But he didn’t want to. There was warmth buried in the woman, and he was so damn cold. She’d loved him once. Maybe she could explain why.
A humming set up at the base of his skull. He lifted his head to scout the parking lot, its quiet abundance of SUVs providing no answers. Someone was watching, though—of that he was sure.
The headache disappeared, shoved somewhere to be dealt with later. Awareness filtered through his brain that he shouldn’t be able to do that. His heartbeat slowed. His breathing calmed. He tucked Josie into his side, ignoring the pain of her shoulder meeting his bruised ribs, hurrying them both deeper into the lot. A cool breeze stung his face, and a van across the street caught his attention. Yep. “Where’s your car?”
The woman failed to shrug away his protective arm. “Right here.” She pointed a key fob at a black Toyota Highlander, its beep echoing through the silent area as it unlocked the doors.
Adrenaline flooded his system, somehow calming him more. That wasn’t natural. Should he be more scared of himself than his attackers? “You should’ve parked under a light.”
“Don’t lecture me.”
“Then you should be more careful.” He had a feeling he’d said those words to her before. Shoving speculation away, he opened the driver’s door, and she climbed inside. He followed, grasping her slender waist and lifting her over the center console, setting his own butt in the seat. Doubt tried to crowd his instincts, but his movements were graceful and trained—his muscles worked quickly as if separate from his brain. Pain began to well behind his eyes, and he shoved it away.