Heartbreaker (Unbreakable #1)(79)
“It’s okay,” I assured him. Logan had privately enlisted my help a few minutes ago. “She’s got her own party to go to. One where a certain guy will be there.”
“Please, D? I haven’t ever been to a party before. Or asked you to go anywhere.”
Darren stared at me for a beat, then glanced back at Logan. On a heavy sigh, he gave a nod. “But be careful. And be home by midnight. And no drinking. And for f*ck’s sake, no—”
“—condoms,” she finished for him with a soft laugh. “No sex. Got it. And not planning to.”
“Good.”
I grinned, wrapping my free arm around Logan and squeezing them both. We’d become a family of sorts, looking out for each other—loving each other.
I stared at the evidence of how much Darren loved me, the transformation of my courtyard from dull charcoal into sparkling diamond. And I relaxed on a slow exhale, warmth spreading through my chest, as I realized I’d transformed too…we all had.
Then a greater understanding hit me…
The best miracles happen when we least expect them—when we finally let our guard down.
Darren…
“It’s working.” Kiki’s amazed whisper brushed over my ear from behind.
I smiled as her hands touched my shoulders, slid forward, and wrapped around my neck. The band was on a break between sets, and I sat at an unoccupied table near the sculpture maze, observing the party.
Her lips pressed to my earlobe with a soft kiss. “Thank you. You were right.”
“Just a hunch.” An educated one. But Dino’s connections had paid off. Bigtime. I put my hands over hers, then pulled her around, tugging her into my lap. “Glad you caved?”
She nodded. “Thank you for being persistent. I’m truly grateful.” She held her hand up, then fanned her face with a half dozen checks. “These babies will pay the rent for the rest of the year.”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about.” I’d hoped. But art, like music, was subjective.
She beamed with happiness. Then her eyes softened. “Really, Darren. Thank you. For caring enough to know when I needed help. Even when I was too stupid to realize it.”
“Not stupid. Stubborn.”
“That, I am.”
“And I won on oral arguments. Didn’t even have to pull out the big guns.”
Her breath hitched and her gaze lowered to my crotch. “And yet you did anyway…”
My lips quirked into a smug grin. “Had to seal the deal with something memorable.”
She blew out a slow breath, lips brushing over mine. “Definitely memorable.”
My phone vibrated in my back jeans pocket. I shifted her weight, then pulled it out and pressed the control button to light up the screen.
I frowned; I didn’t recognize the missed number. The phone chimed, the screen showing a new voicemail message. The phone vibrated again an instant later with another call: same number.
Curious, I answered. “Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Darren Cole?” A woman’s unfamiliar deep voice sounded over the phone.
“Yes. Who’s this?”
Kiki moved off my lap, but turned to face me, brows drawn in question.
“I’m Nurse Langston from Riverview Hospital. We need you to come down here right away.”
My heart jammed into my throat and I stood. “Logan?” I croaked out. “Is she…okay?”
The too-long pause that followed nearly brought me to my knees.
“Tell me!” Partygoer faces popped up, swiveling my way. I turned toward the warehouse, hand shaking as I crushed a fist around the phone. I lowered my voice. “You have to tell me.”
“Yes, sir. She’s alive and stable now. Please drive carefully.”
My breath shot out, temporary relief coursing through me. “I’m on my way.” I yanked my keys out of my front pocket.
In the next instant, the world spun, everything in it wrong. Dino and Gordie were gathering their instruments, prepping for the next set. People milled about. Glasses clinked. Laughter rang out.
Kiki stepped in front of me. “What’s wrong?”
“Logan. Hospital.” All I could manage to spit out.
She took the keys from my hand. “I’m driving.”
“No.” I snatched them back. “I need to drive.”
“Do you even know where you’re going?”
“No.” I tossed her my phone. “Riverview Hospital.”
I began weaving through the crowd, Kiki right on my heels.
As we passed Cade, she stuffed the wad of checks into his hand. “We have to go. Logan’s at the hospital. Will you—”
“Dino—” My gut clenched. I’d convinced my new boss to come.
“Go!” Cade barked. “We got this.”
We raced to my truck. Seatbelts clicked as we jammed them shut. I had to wait for several people to move out of the way as I inched the truck backward. As soon as we were clear, I threw it into drive and squealed onto pavement. Three quick neighborhood turns, left, left, right, and we were on the highway.
Kiki gripped the overhead grab bar with one hand as she scrolled through my phone with the other. “There it is. Two more freeway exits.”