Predator - A Stand Alone Suspense Romance(44)

Her lips set in a thin line as she comes over to me. I swing my legs off the bed and then she places a hand on my knee. “Wait for the doctor, please.”

I smile as best I can and then shake my head. “I want to go home. Just take it out and leave. Say you didn’t see us.”

“Just so you know,” she huffs, clearly upset with us, “I’m not agreeing with this.” She pulls the needle from my arm and I wince, which makes Damian take a step closer to me.

“What are you going to wear?” the nurse asks and she gets a smug look, like she’s won.

Damian takes the blanket from the bed and throws it around my hospital gown clad shoulders. The nurse is just about to open her mouth again when he yanks his wallet out. He throws a couple of dollars on the bed and then he shoves her away from me.

“Time to go home, Gorgeous,” he whispers. He wraps the blanket tightly around me, and then he picks me up. Without sparing the stunned nurse another glance, he stalks out of the room.

I avoid any eye contact with the people around us and keep my eyes on Damian’s chest. When we’re out of the hospital it hits me that I won’t see Annie again. I’ll miss her so much.

I’m so tired of never getting to say goodbye to people. They always just fade into my past.





Damian~

I drive until I feel that we’ve put enough distance between us and that town. I find a motel and when I turn off the car, I take a moment to look at our surroundings.

It’s close to midnight and the parking area is quiet with just four cars.

It’s dark in the car and I hate leaving Cara here, but I need to go get us a room. “I’ll be right back.” She doesn’t answer me and I get out quickly. I make sure to lock the doors, and then I jog to the office.

The place is filthy and run down, but it’s the best place to hide. People don’t notice you around places like this. They’re too busy dealing with their own shit.

The man at reception doesn’t make eye contact as he comes to stand in front of the counter. “What can I do you for?” he asks, either half drugged or half asleep.

“One room for one night.”

He checks me in and gives me a key. I rush back to the car and quickly take my bag from the trunk. It has the first aid kit in it and I’ll need it for Cara. I unlock her door and when I have it open, I pick her up. Her head falls to my chest and for a moment I think that she’s asleep. I glance down and see that her eyes are open. The only life in them is the tears shinning in the dim light coming from the dingy motel sign.

I walk to our room and let her body slide down mine. “Just lean into me while I unlock it,” I whisper. Her hands are fisted in the blanket but she leans into me. At least she’s still with me.

I quickly unlock the door. I move us into the room, and then lock the door behind us. I switch on a light and then help Cara to the bed. I close the curtains and then I get the first aid kit.

I sit down next to her and only then do I take a deep breath.

What a fucking mess. We’ll have to get new identities. I have so much cleaning up to do so they won’t find her again.

I rub tiredly over my face and take a moment to close my eyes.

“I keep losing people,” she whispers brokenly. “I just keep losing them like they’re a set of keys or a sock.” She sniffles, and I open my eyes to look down at her.

The first time I saved her she was beaten and out of it, but not even that compares to the haunted look staring back at me right now.

“Let me clean your wound and then we’ll get some sleep.” I have no false words to offer her as comfort. She’ll just have to find her way back to me on her own and at a pace she’s comfortable with. We’re back to square one, but this time around I can’t find it in me to be clinical. She’s not just a job anymore. She’s become so much more than just a person in need of help. I’m not sure what she is, but she’s not just another target.

I reach for the blanket but then pause. “Is it okay if I clean the wound?” I don’t want to be the cause of any discomfort for her.

She nods and lies flat on her back. The previous time I had to clean her wounds, she would look away and stare blankly at some spot on the ceiling or wall, but now her eyes find mine.

“I’ll be quick,” I whisper. I pull the blanket from her and then I push the stupid gown up until I have a clear view of the bandage around her wound. She’s wearing one of those hospital panties. I’ll go and get her clothes first thing in the morning. She can’t travel in a hospital gown and blanket.

I open the first aid kit and take out the antiseptic and some wipes. I pull the bandage off and throw it on the floor. I can feel her eyes on me as I start to clean the area around the wound. I’ll have to take her to a doctor to get the clips removed.

Once I’m done cleaning the wound, I glance at her. “Can you sit up so I can put the fresh bandage on? There’s no tape to stick it on.”

She struggles until she’s resting on her elbows. This is the part where I should let her struggle, so she can get stronger, but … I just can’t.

I reach for her and slip an arm around her back. I pull her slowly into a sitting position.

She looks away to some spot on the other side of the room. “Please don’t be like this,” she whispers.