Page 70 of Avenging Azalea

“No need to interview. Any man who isn’t afraid to tell the truth or have a woman show him up is a man worth hiring. You have the job if you want it. You can start Monday.”

My whole body jerked as Steph grabbed my hand and scared the shit out of me. I’d almost forgotten that she was so close.

“Psst….”

I sat on the couch and held her hand as Titus and Oliver talked.

“Thaat wasss hottt,” she said.

“Which part?”

She waved her other arm toward the wall where Titus had held the manager.

“Allll of ittt.” Her head lolled to the side and then back at me before she pointed. “Whooo bee da hottieee,” she asked loud enough that Oliver looked over. Steph put her finger to her lips. “Shhhh yer bein too loud, theyyy hear youuu.”

“I think we should go get you checked out now,” I said. She rolled her eyes, then passed out once more. “What the heck am I going to do with you,” I whispered to Steph, but really, the question was for her and Titus. Neither of them was going to answer, and I was at a loss where both were concerned.

TITUS

I hadn’t entered a hospital since I was a child, and in the last week, I’d been here for Savannah and now Steph. Fawn was with her, and even though it hadn’t been Fawn who was drugged, the racing of my heart refused to slow. It could’ve been her. The fear that had gripped me when she called choked me all the way to the club.

One side of me wanted Fawn to fly away, to get as far away as possible, and the other…the other was far more toxic, and it had almost broken free tonight. I’d almost killed that manager simply to release the pressure building inside me.

I couldn’t sit here anymore. Glancing at the examination room where Steph and Fawn were, I decided to make better use of my time and go see Nathaniel. Standing and wandering along the brightly lit hallway, my mind chose to torture me further as it continued the internal battle that didn’t want to end.

The guard outside Savannah’s door nodded before allowing me to poke my head inside. Nathaniel was sound asleep on the bed. Savannah, on the other hand, was awake and reading a book. She looked up and waved me inside.

“It wasn’t anything important, just coming to say hi,” I said.

“At one in the morning,” Savannah asked, lifting her eyebrow at me. “You make it a habit to wander the halls of a hospital all hours of the night?”

“Shit…I didn’t even know it was that late. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I need the distraction. I’m not exactly a great patient. I’ve already worn Nathaniel out,” Savannah whispered, making me smile.

I sat down and didn’t have a clue what to say. My eyes bounced around the room, taking in the plain walls, random pictures that were supposed to be comforting, and the equipment that was in stark contrast to the abstract flowers.

“What’s bothering you?”

I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know.”

“Sure you do. You just don’t want to say it out loud.”

“Have I told you that even ex-FBI agents sound like they are interrogating you?”

“I don’t need to be FBI to know that something is bothering you, Titus. You’re one of the most lighthearted and easy-going people I’ve ever met, and right now…you look like the world is sitting on your shoulders.”

“I look that bad?”

She smiled and shrugged, making me chuckle.

“I’m afraid to say the words out loud.”

“Is this about your father?”

“In a way. This arranged marriage to Vera, I…I don’t think I can go through with it, but I have no other options. Dimitri has gotten the whole family into hot water with very dangerous people, and marrying Vera helps eliminate the threat.”

“You agreed to marry her just before Nathaniel found me, right?” I nodded. “Why did you agree in the first place?”