Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
SOFEE
You’re such a dumb bitch. You’re such a dumb bitch…
My inner voice chides me relentlessly as the automatic sliding doors open, and I’m blasted with a burst of frigid air. The industrial air conditioner cooling my overheated, too-tight skin as I step into the bustling emergency room, sending gooseflesh racing down my back.
If I’m being completely honest with myself, I can’t even blame the voice inside my head for speaking to me as if I’m an idiot. Really, who the hell gets shot at and then thinks, “Hmm, this seems like a good time to squeeze my ass through a tiny window and sneak out of the safest place I could possibly be right now.” I must be insane to risk my life just to escape the people who have done nothing but deceive me for the better part of a year.
Did I get halfway through the window and think to myself that this was probably the worst idea I’ve ever had? Yes . Did I still confidently march right up to my borrowed motorcycle, start that bitch up, and tear ass out of there like I stole it? Also, yes . Do I regret it? No, not really.
Right now, I feel as though getting shot would hurt less than the gut-wrenching suffering I was experiencing on the floor in that godforsaken MC room. Ironic, how the only place I could escape the people who betrayed me was in the very room Declan first promised to ruin me. How could anyone expect me to willingly sit on the floor in that room and be reminded of the fact that I was so easily fooled? So easily manipulated into thinking my life was just fine.
So, instead of dissolving into a puddle of tears and despair, I decided to take control of my situation. The first step in reclaiming myself was gaining distance from those who believed I was too delicate to handle the truth. When I stated that this was my life, it was not just a message for my brother; it was a realization I needed for myself as well.
Since the fire, I have spent too long floundering, longing for a place in this new life of mine. All that searching led me to a position where I felt safe letting people in who should have always been left in the dark. Being around the MC and watching how they formed their own family made me think that perhaps my life had been missing something this whole time. So, I decided to take a chance.
And look where it has led me. On the run from a psychopath I’ve never even met, resorting to grand theft auto just to flee the people I once relied on, all while my splintered heart barely beats on. It clings on desperately, akin to a useless hunk of flesh I wish could be torn from my chest. Anything would be better than this excruciating agony.
I step past the automatic doors and into the busy emergency waiting room. A surge of guilt hits me right in the stomach as I look around at all the sick, bleeding, and needy patients waiting to be seen. I was supposed to be clocked in over an hour ago, but that was before my world imploded.
Ignoring the curious stares from patients, I pin my eyes to the floor as I march toward the reception desk. As I approach, I glance up to see Maria and Miles both standing behind the desk, speaking with people who look beyond frustrated by the long wait. Miles notices me almost immediately and stops speaking to a patient mid-sentence as his eyes widen.
Glancing down at my disheveled appearance, a flush creeps up my neck in embarrassment. I look like I’ve been run over by a Mack truck when in reality, it was a five-foot-nothing master hacker plowing me over. My scrub pants are filthy from rolling around on the dirty pavement while being actively shot at. My white tank top is just as dingy and wrinkled.
Glancing toward one of the windows, I catch sight of my reflection and cringe. My curly hair is wild and tangled from the wind beating me on the way here. My eyes are puffy and red-rimmed, as is my nose. It’s blatantly obvious I’ve been bawling my eyes out.
Pulling my gaze away from myself, I catch sight of Miles again. His emerald eyes soften in concern before he raises his finger and quickly directs his patient over to Maria. Then, he rounds the desk and strides toward me.
Warmth flashes behind my eyes again as he approaches. My breath becomes unsteady as my tears threaten to resurface at the sight of my one and only friend coming to comfort me. I swallow thickly, trying desperately to squash the unwelcome emotions. Rolling my shoulders back, I strive to maintain my composure as I walk toward him, meeting him halfway.
“Where the hell have you been? You’re over an hour late for your shift and I’ve been calling—” Miles starts, but his words are cut off as I rush to him. I wrap my arms around his middle, squeezing him tightly as I bury my face in his chest. His light blue scrubs feel soft against my ruddy cheeks.
He seems taken aback for a moment before slowly wrapping his arms around me and hugging me back. His hand finds the back of my head, and his fingers start playing with my hair. A long sigh escapes from his chest as his nose finds the top of my head. “It’s okay, baby girl. Tell Miles what happened,” he coos.
I sniff and shake my head as I ward off my tears. Emotion clogs my throat, making it nearly impossible to speak, but still, I try. “Long story,” I choke and pull away. His arms tighten briefly as if he doesn’t want to let me go before he reluctantly releases me. His brown shaggy hair covers the worry lines marring his forehead as his dark eyes glimmer with kindness. “But it ends with a bunch of lies and me needing a place to stay,”
“It’s about time,” he murmurs. His eyes seem to unfocus for a moment before they crinkle around the edges, and his lips tick up in a small grin. I frown in return, not understanding why he seems happy that I need a place to stay.
But as he sees the look on my face, he shakes his head as his smile broadens. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and starts to lead me toward the reception desk.
“It’s about time for a sleepover at my place,” he states matter-of-factly. “Since our last one was so rudely interrupted.” He grins down at me so brightly that I have a hard time fighting off my own smile in return. Miles has always been able to make me smile, even when it’s the last thing in the world I want to do.
My heart jumps in my chest as a surge of grief almost overwhelms me. The realization that Miles is my only friend in the world right now makes my new Declan-shaped wound fester.
You can’t just blame Declan. Everyone was pretending to be your friend. You would do well to remember that. My inner voice snarks, making me question whose side she’s on.
“Sofee?”
A familiar masculine voice calls my name from behind, pulling me away from Miles' embrace. I turn to see Joel rising from one of the waiting room seats. Confusion clouds my mind as I watch him approach me with a warm smile and another large bouquet of flowers in his hand. This time they are a deep violet color that reminds me of Declan’s eyes.
Wincing, I shake my head to ward off any more unwelcome thoughts of the man I’m trying to escape. Miles lets his arm fall to his side as I pull away from him, but he still hovers close behind me as Joel nears. I crane my neck to meet his gaze as he towers over me.
“I tried calling you, but I can’t seem to get through. Thought I’d try my luck here,” he says as he smiles down at me. A flush warms my cheeks in embarrassment. I’ve kind of been avoiding him after what happened with Declan. I didn’t know how I was supposed to look him in the eye again after letting another man fuck me directly after our first date.
Joel thrusts his flowers between us, all but forcing me to take the ridiculously huge arrangement. I swallow back my frown and muster a small smile on my lips.
“Yeah,” I clear my throat. “I kinda had to leave my phone behind when I—” I wince as I stop myself from revealing too much. “Joel, this really isn’t a good time,” I say as politely as possible. He’s a sweet guy, but I just can’t see myself in a relationship with him.
His injured shoulder is still trussed up in his sling, so he raises his free hand to stop any further protests. “I just wanted to let you know that I've been called back home. The company I was working with finalized all the paperwork this morning, so my job is done. I didn’t want to leave town before I said goodbye and that my invitation still stands. I’d love to see you again,” he says before grabbing my free hand. I suppress a less-than-polite sigh as I let him.
His perfect lips form an adorable grin until he glances down at my clothing, finally noticing something amiss. His brows furrow as he glances between me and Miles, who’s still hovering behind me. His light brown eyes narrow as his small smile vanishes from his full lips. “Are you okay?” he asks.
He’s a regular ol’ Sherlock Holmes, isn’t he?
I shake my head, silencing my inner voice. “I’m fine?—”
“You’re not fine. You look…. Are you in trouble?” he asks in a rush before taking the flowers away from me and tossing them into an empty seat. Then he grabs my hands and pulls me closer to him, eyeing Miles over my shoulder wearily. “Do you need me to take you somewhere safe?”
“Oh cutie, she is completely safe with me,” Miles coos at my back, his southern accent dripping with condescension as he steps forward, placing his hands on my shoulders.
My lips form the rejection to his offer, but then I pause. Would it really be so bad to let him take me with him? My brother and the rest of the MC may be heartless liars, but they aren’t idiots. If they haven’t already, someone will notice I’m gone sooner rather than later. And they may already know where I’ve run off to. Unfortunately, I know they have access to the hospital security system. They will see that I came here in search of refuge from the last friend I have in this world. If I leave with Joel, it may give me enough time to think of my next move.
Are you really going to just pick up your entire life and leave?
I nearly scoff at the invisible voice residing in my head that doesn’t quite sound like me anymore. What life? As far as I or anyone else is concerned, my life stopped being my own when my house was burnt down by a man I don’t even know. Leaving with Joel, asking him to take me with him to Baton Rouge may be my one and only escape route. Running not only solves the problem of my imminent death but also ensures that I’ll never have to see Declan again.
Is that really what you want?
Ignoring the internally voiced question, I nod to Joel. “If the offer still stands, take me with you,” I say in a low voice, barely recognizing it as my own. His eyes flare, his brows climbing his forehead in surprise. “Please,” I murmur, the word feeling wrong as it leaves my lips.
This isn’t like you.
I roll my eyes to myself. That’s the point.
Joel straightens and glances over the top of my head. His eyes narrow briefly as he pulls me closer to him, his hand tightening possessively against my hip. Turning my head, I catch sight of Miles scowling at us. He shakes his head as if I’m making the worst kind of mistake.
“This is a bad idea, Sofee,” he says in a tight voice. His dark green eyes flash with anger as he studies Joel. I shake my head at my overprotective friend.
“You don’t know what’s going on right now, but I promise to tell you soon. It’ll just be for a little while, just until the heat is off, and I feel like I can come back and start my life again,” I say as I pull away from my new savior and step closer to my best friend. Miles keeps his scowl directed at Joel as if he’s trying to solve a problem. I grab his hand, tugging on him until he’s forced to look at me.
“I need to disappear for a while, Miles. And I can’t do that at your place.” I beseech him. I need him to hear me now more than ever. “It will be one of the first places they’ll look for me.”
His scowl softens as worry mars his brow. “This is crazy,” he murmurs. “Please, just tell me what’s going on.”
I shake my head and glance back at Joel. He stands next to the door with his unrestrained hand casually in his pocket, waiting for me with a warm look in his eyes. Miles is right, this is crazy. I barely know this guy, and I’m going to let him take me away on a whim. But for the first time since discovering how far Declan has gone to hide the truth from me, I feel like this is the most solid decision I can make.
This is my life; it's time I take control of it again.
I pull my hands away from my only friend. His eyes droop in a way that tugs at my broken heart as I step away. “I’ll call you as soon as I get settled,” I promise.
“Sofee,” he starts as he follows after me.
“I promise?—”
“You don’t have your phone,” he says in a rush. His movements are jerky as if he doesn’t quite know how to handle this situation I’ve put him in. He shakes his head and points over his shoulder toward the ER bay. “Mine is at the nurses' station. Go get it.”
I shake my head. “I can’t take your phone?—"
“I have an extra one at home.” His brows furrow as his lips tighten into a thin line. “Go,” he shoos me. “Get the phone, and I’ll call you tonight.”
A swell of affection rises in my chest for my best friend as I rush him. Crashing into him, I wrap my arms around his middle and squeeze him. His hand finds the back of my head again, his fingers burrowing into my hair as he tucks me against him one last time. His hug is warm and familiar as I sink into him, soaking in his comfort before we reluctantly pull apart.
“Go, before I change my mind and lock you in the supply closet,” he mutters as his hands trail down my shoulders before dropping to his sides.
I grin despite myself before skirting around him and briskly walking toward the nurses' station. Finding his usual seat, I pick up scattered papers that cover the desk, searching for his phone.
You should listen to your friend; this is a bad idea.
Ignoring the internal voice of reason that sounds vaguely like Declan, I find his iPhone under a mountain of paperwork. A flare of guilt has me rethinking this as I notice how busy the hospital is tonight. All the aides and nurses are so occupied they don’t even notice me standing behind the unattended desk.
Maybe you should stay for your shift and rethink this. Declan’s imaginary voice fills my ears.
Shaking myself to ward off his voice, I snatch the phone and quickly turn back toward the busy waiting room. Rushing back, I tuck it into my back pocket. My mind is made up; I’m leaving this town that has held nothing but heartache and lies. Maybe I’m making the wrong decision, but it’s my decision. I’m done letting everyone else dictate how my life should play out.
Glancing around, I search for Miles but can’t spot him. Frowning, I stop in the middle of the waiting area and turn on my heels. Looking toward the reception desk, but when I only see Maria, I become even more confused.
“Ready to go?” Joel asks from right behind me, startling me. I flinch and turn quickly, turning my face up to him. He holds a small smile on his lips as he grabs my hand. I let him hold it, even as a sense of wrongness forms in the pit of my stomach.
Am I making a huge mistake? I barely know this guy, and I’m going to let him take me away. This is the most spontaneous and reckless thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I can’t shake off the daunting feeling that this may all lead to disaster in the end.
But still, I straighten my back as resolve thickens my blood. I’m doing this . I’ve spent my entire life doing what everybody else has wanted. Bending and forcing myself to fit into a mold someone else said I should fit into. I’ve been a good person who has never taken a damn thing for myself. And look where it’s gotten me. Standing in the middle of a hospital waiting room in filthy clothes with the tattered remnants of my heart dangling within the hollow cavity in my chest. I’m done.
“Yes,” I murmur almost too quietly for anyone else to hear. Locking my gaze with his gentle eyes, I nod my head. “Let’s go.”
He squeezes my hand before leading me to the doors. As soon as they open, the humidity from outside takes my breath away. A fine sheen of sweat gathers on the back of my neck, and I’m not sure if it’s from the summer heat or my nerves. It’s finally dusk as I allow him to lead me to his sleek black car parked outside. His stride is confident, and when I glance up at his bright face, a wash of trepidation nearly causes my steps to falter.
You don’t even really know this guy. What if he’s a creep? He could have chains anchored into his basement walls specifically for capturing and torturing innocent women just like you. He could be the guy who just got done shooting at you for fucksake!
Ignoring the mental list of things that could go wrong, I allow Joel to open the passenger door for me before I slide in. I’m operating solely on the hope that if Joel is really the villain out to get me for reasons unknown, the MC would have taken him out the moment he started sniffing around. I wipe my sweaty palms against my thighs as he shuts my door and rounds the vehicle with an odd bounce to his stride. As he opens his door and slides in, my heart tries to claw its way up my throat. He pulls his door shut with a solid thunk , and I flinch in reaction to the noise.
It's dark inside the car, the dense tint and muted sunlight making it hard to see much past the windshield. I glance over at Joel when I feel him staring at me. His lips are drawn into a small smile as his light brown eyes glimmer at me in wonder. I return his smile with a forced one of my own.
“Is this crazy?” I blurt. “Are we making a mistake?”
I try to steady my wobbly breath as he searches for his words. But just as I’m about to shake my head, retracting my words of apprehension, something catches my eye in the backseat, prompting me to glance in that direction.
“Yes, baby girl, this was a huge mistake,”
A deep voice emanates from the backseat, sounding entirely indistinguishable even as I watch the words fall from recognizable lips. My throat constricts around a startled scream as my heart rate accelerates impossibly high and my limbs go tingly.
“Miles?” I breathe, barely audible above the roaring in my ears as I lock eyes with my best friend in the back seat of Joel's car. For a moment, everything slows down as the unmistakable feeling of dread fills my gut.
“What the fuck?” Joel turns around quickly, anger and confusion clouding his eyes as he stares at my friend.
Miles diverts his gaze from me and fixes it on Joel. And before my very eyes, he transforms into a completely different person. Gone is the silly boyish grin with a single dimple on his cheek. In its place is a malicious sneer from a man I’ve never met. His usually bright green eyes darken as if tainted by a volatile poison. A chill runs down my spine as he leans in, his jaw hardening with a frightening intensity.
“Look, man, I don’t know who the fuck you are or what you want with Sofee, but you have three seconds to get the fuck out of?—”
“One,” Miles cuts off the rest of Joel’s words as he starts counting. “Two,” he cocks his head to the side as his hand disappears behind his back. My inner voice is screaming at me to move, to run, to do anything other than watch in horror as insanity fills his eyes. This time, as Miles studies Joel, a sinister smile splits his lips, and I stop breathing altogether.
“Three,”
As that one syllable passes his lips, Miles lunges for Joel. I can do nothing but watch in terror as he grabs a fistful of his hair and yanks his head back toward the backseat. He’s dragged back with such force that his injured shoulder is rammed into his seat at an awkward angle. The sickening pop of it being snapped back out of the socket fills the car just before his howl of agony fills my ears. A scream crawls up my windpipe but refuses to escape as my throat clenches tightly in fear. And in a single blink, Miles reveals a shiny, slender scalpel and places it against my would-be savior’s throat.
A maniacal smile creeps over his lips as Joel’s eyes widen for a fraction of a second before Miles slices his throat. My scream finally finds its way out as his blood bubbles and spurts like a vile water fountain from the gaping wound. My fingers search for the handle on the door as he digs the blade in, never letting up on his grip even as blood sprays all over his face, covering his malicious sneer in thick droplets.
I frantically search for the handle while keeping my eyes locked onto the geyser of blood draining from Joel’s open throat. It splatters out in time with his slowly waning heartbeat, covering the leather interior and me in the warm sticky liquid. And when Miles finally takes his eyes off the man choking on his own blood and finds me, I realize that I’m looking into the eyes of a fucking psychopath.
Turning quickly, I fumble for the handle and finally manage to open the damn door. My lungs struggle to draw in enough air to feed my adrenaline-flooded extremities. My vision swims as I stumble out of the car, losing my balance and crashing my knees onto the unforgiving pavement. Ripping my grimy scrub pants and tearing open my flesh with a pained yelp. Still, I scramble to get my feet under me again.
“Help!” I scream, praying anyone is listening as I take off at a sprint. I run for my life until I feel something sharp slam into my back. Pain shoots up my spine and my vision immediately dims around the edges. I reach behind me, feeling something cold protruding from my lower back before I yank it out.
A strangled yelp escapes my lips as my legs turn impossibly weak. I stumble once more as I glance back toward the car. Dizziness swamps me as a total stranger rises from the back seat, his light blue scrubs completely drenched in dark red blood. A pistol of some sort dangles from one hand, and the still bloody scalpel in the other as he saunters toward me.
I raise my hands in surrender and attempt to retreat as my vision swirls, making me nauseous. My legs give out, and I crumple to the hot pavement below, further damaging the torn skin on my knees. Struggling to rise, my arms also fail me. My rapid pulse gradually slows until my heart feels like it’s barely beating and my eyes become extremely droopy. Terror coats me like a million fire ants crawling all over my body.
The man with my best friend's face squats in front of me, dangling his bloody weapon in front of my nose as he grins down at me nefariously. He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth as if disappointed in me before everything fades to black.