Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(12)

“Lucky?” Her eyes opened wide.

He sighed. “He looked like a drug addict. I’m sure he was just looking for money and when he saw us, a well-dressed couple strolling along, he probably thought we’d be an easy score.”

“Actually,” I began and leaned against the side of the elevator. “I don’t think that’s true.”

“She’s right.” Vance stopped clutching his wound and zipped his jacket to cover his bloodied shirt.

“Why?” Oliver furrowed his brow.

“When I approached him, he told me to get out of his away. He wasn’t interested in me,” I said.

“He seemed dead set on getting to both of you,” Vance added.

“Oliver…” Camille’s eyes filled with tears.

Oliver took a second to digest what we’d said. “Still think I’m being dramatic for needing bodyguards?”

Her head tilted, and she blinked excessively. “Really?”

“I’m sorry. It’s the stress. I’m still processing everything. I didn’t mean that.” He pulled her into a hug. “It’ll be all right. He didn’t get either of us. They didn’t even let him get close.”

“He’s bleeding!” She pulled out of his embrace and motioned to Vance with a few erratic hand gestures.

“Don’t worry about me. This is nothing. My sisters have done worse to me with their fingernails growing up. We’ll get you both settled in for the night and take off so you can relax.”

Camille swallowed. “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.”

The elevator doors opened onto their floor. Vance stepped out first, confirming the hallway was clear before we proceeded into the penthouse. When the door closed, Cici’s voice called from upstairs.

“Hey, you guys are back already?” She stopped midway down the stairs when she saw the expression on everyone’s faces. Camille sat on the couch, and Oliver was already pouring dark brown liquor on the rocks into a tumbler. He walked it to Camille, and she raised it with unsteady hands to her lips.

Cici scanned everyone’s faces. “What happened?”

“Some drug-crazed madman tried to kill us on our walk,” Camille said.

Cici looked at Vance, and her eyes shot open when she saw his blood-stained fingers. “Oh my God! You’re hurt!” She ran to Vance and attempted to lead him to the kitchen.

“It’s a scratch,” he politely fended her off but walked to the sink and washed his hands.

“Please, go have that checked out at the hospital,” Oliver said. “Cici, let them handle it. We’re safe here for the rest of the night. The guard downstairs won’t let anyone up and we’ll lock the doors. We’ll be fine.”

“Fine. We’ll be fine?” Camille narrowed her eyes. “I’m not fine.”

“Cici and I have made sure this building is secure, and Vance and Diana have confirmed it.”

Camille laughed. “Yeah, I’m sure you spent hours and hours researching it.” She rolled her eyes.

Oliver took a deep breath and exhaled while looking up. “Please, go and clean your wound. Diana, be sure to put some ice on your cheek, it’s starting to swell.”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks,” I said.

Vance and I confirmed the next day’s schedule before leaving. When we were by the car, Vance snatched the keys from my hand, and I immediately took them back.

He held up his hand. “Hey, I’ll—”

“Shut up. No you’re not. I’m driving.”

He sighed and slid into the passenger seat. “Fine, but I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

“Your shirt is saturated. You need stitches.”

He unzipped his jacket, glanced down, and pulled his shirt out to inspect the carnage. “Saturated? Hardly. I’m fine.” He frowned and slapped his hands down on his thighs. “Damn it, I loved this shirt. Another one bites the dust.”

“If you won’t go to the hospital then you’re coming to my place. And you can lock up the complaining before you even start… or I’ll call your mother.” I wouldn’t have called her, but the threat alone was enough to grab Vance’s attention.

“You wouldn’t call my mother.”

I reached into my pocket, retrieving my phone. “Wouldn’t I? I don’t know? I’ve got her on speed dial. I remember how mad she was when you didn’t call her after you got shot.”

Vance’s lips thinned, and his stare grew hotter by the second. “I swear to God, if you push that button…”

“Chill. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m just messing with you. But seriously, I don’t know what kind of cleaning supplies you have on hand at your place. I have everything to patch you up. God only knows what was on the tip of that man’s blade. Have you had a tetanus shot lately?”

He glared at me and blew a hot breath through his nose.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I shot him a toothy grin. “Why don’t you call Cavanaugh and tell him what happened?”

“This doesn’t sound like a fair trade at all,” he grumbled.

Vance called our office and reported the incident. Since the client was uninjured, a standard report was filed through one of the office workers. After, Cavanaugh had him report the assault to his buddy, Commander Rivas at Cincinnati’s District Five police department. Being retired from the force, Cavanaugh remained connected, and those connections had proven beneficial a time or two.