Page 14 of Overdosed: Her Dark Side
I took her hands and removed them from my body. “I have to go.”
She arched her black brow, her eyes searching mine. “Did something happen?”
“I’ll leave you the keys. Drop them in the mailbox on your way out.”
Her lips parted in a gasp, but I didn’t care. I quickly put on my pants and a shirt and hurried out of there.
Such an asshole, I know.
I moved through the sterile hallway of the hospital, Wyatt following a few steps behind. He was earnest about his job. Not only did he handle things for me as my right-hand man, but he also followed me everywhere like a ghost, securing my life with his. Two other guards stayed in front of the hospital. I didn’t know what happened or who shot my father, so I had to take all the precautions. As I walked further, the antiseptic scent hit my nose. Something I hated about hospitals. I reached the VIP wing. Wyatt moved by the wall, assuming his bodyguard-like position, trying to remain invisible. His hands clasped on his abdomen, his gaze on the wall opposite him. My gaze stuck on her. Melanie. She was leaning against the wall, a hospital blanket draped around her arms. Her shirt was stained with blood. I had to use all my willpower to quell the urge to run toward her and hold her in my arms. I put on a cold attitude and approached her. My tone betrayed no emotion. “How is he?”
Melanie looked up, her eyes still shaken. “He’s still in the surgery. The bullet might be lodged in his lung. They won’t tell. I’m not family.”
My eyes narrowed as I looked at her, scrutinizing the nervous expression that I knew far too well. “What happened, Melanie?”
Her gaze faltered for a moment. Her brows furrowed, and she started fidgeting her fingers. Something she would always do whenever anxious. “It was Callan. He shot your father,” the words blurted out of her mouth.
Callan. A man whom I had treated like a brother for years. I expected nothing more from this piece of shit. Not after he betrayed me like this, lying about Melanie. But this… hit differently. “Why?” I hovered over Melanie, my tone low.
Her head tilted back to look me in the eyes. “I don’t know,” she stammered.
“You don’t, huh?” I didn’t believe her. How could I after she ran away with him three years ago? It would only make sense she was covering for him now. And it hurt. It fucking hurt that she would choose anyone over me.
I stepped closer, trapping her between the wall and my arms I rested against it. “What were you doing with my father?”
“He came to talk to Anders, but he wasn’t there,” she said, her voice cracking. “Then Callan showed up out of nowhere.” She cupped her face in her trembling hands, choking on her tears.
Involuntarily, my fist slammed the wall behind her. “For fuck’s sake, stop protecting that bastard. Tell me what you know. Tell me the truth for once.”
She didn’t say anything. Her head shook, tears streaming down her face. Her body was quivering uncontrollably. Her breathing became more rapid, shallower. It seemed like she barely stood on her feet. I saw she was scared of something. Or someone. I knew she was hiding something from me. I just didn’t know what yet. In a way, I hated seeing her so broken like this. Maybe I was a fool for wanting to protect her even now. Supposedly, she was my brother’s fiancée. But I couldn’t help the urge. I pulled her body closer and held her tight. My hand rubbed her back, stroking her wavy, dark hair.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” I whispered, resting my chin against the tip of her head. “Please, don’t cry.”
She buried her head in my chest. It felt so right. Having her in my arms. I moved my nose nearer to her neck, inhaling the scent of her that hit my nose. The scent I had longed for so long. The scent was a soothing remedy.“I’m sorry,” I said again, brushing her hair to the side.
What the fuck?
My gaze got stuck on the embroidered initials on the tip of the collar of the shirt she wore. My initials. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together. She was here alone. Anders left after me. They weren’t living together. And damn. If she had kept my shit all these years, she must still have feelings for me too.
Now, what game are you playing, Melanie? Why did she keep playing her part so stubbornly?“Where’s Anders?” I slowly leaned back to look at her face. She wanted to play games? Well, count me in.
Melanie wiped the tears away, still sobbing. But her eyes widened, and she shoved me away. “Keep your hands to yourself, Shane.”
“What if I don’t want to?” I cocked my head, a wry smirk playing on my lips.
Melanie’s eyes flickered between mine before she found her voice. “You have no right to touch me like this. Anders wouldn’t be happy if he saw us.”
“And where is he?” I looked around in a tease.
Melanie’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. Sensing it was all fake, I couldn’t deny the sight was quite amusing.
“It’s none of your business. I don’t need a protector hovering over me all the damn time. Anders knows it, and he respects my space, unlike you.”
She rushed to leave, but I caught her elbow. Instinctively, she turned to face me again. Our gazes locked. Our faces were inches apart. “I told you already. You’re a liar,” I said.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Anders heading our way. I drew Melanie closer in, and a gasp escaped her lips as she fell into my arms. “Meet me tomorrow at eight.”
“Why would I want to meet with you?”
