Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
TWO MONTHS LATER
MAYA
W eariness tugged at my mind and body after I woke to my alarm. It was going to be one of those rough days when my head already thumped with a headache. Groaning, I sat up in bed and twisted to place my feet on the floor.
Of course, the first thing that swept through my mind was how I hadn’t seen Texas in a couple of days. Yet before that, it had been the same. He’d somehow managed to be around wherever I was and tried for a conversation. Every time, I made excuses and bolted.
Sighing, I scrubbed a hand over my face. I really had to stop dodging him. It wasn’t his fault a part of me had clung to him and wanted more.
That damn first kiss had sealed the deal with my heart.
Well, it would just have to get over it because in a few days I was going on another date with Samuel. He happened to be one of Drake’s teachers who I’d met one time at school when I had the chance to pick up my brother and sister. We’d clicked that day, and our words had quickly turned flirty. I’d enjoyed our first two dates. He made me smile and laugh. He was easy to talk to.
The sexual energy would grow.
It would.
It had to.
The date coming up would be our third, and I planned to go further than kissing and fondling to see if the small connection we’d been building over texts, calls, and a couple of dates could ignite into something more than surface interest.
Samuel was a nice guy.
He also didn’t run when Dad opened the front door half naked and pointed at his wound, stating, “I got shot saving my son. Imagine the lengths I’d go to keep my daughter protected.”
Samuel had looked a little scared, especially when Dad then pulled a hunting knife from the back pocket of his pants and waved Samuel in.
Thankfully, I’d come running from the hallway and ushered him back outside. I could see he regretted coming to the door, especially when I’d originally told him I’d meet him at the car. I’d thought that would be the last date, but by the end of the second one, he’d asked me out again.
I was looking forward to it.
I was.
Sort of.
I thought I was.
God, I didn’t know.
I liked Samuel. I just wasn’t sure if I saw something more than friendship with him. Maybe it would be best to cancel over text. No, that’d be rude. I’d meet with him and tell him I was messed up in the head and heart.
Standing from the bed, I made my way into the bathroom and took a refreshing shower that helped my headache a little. Once dressed in my work uniform, I snuck out of my room so I wouldn’t wake anyone and went down into the kitchen. Since it was nearing midnight, it was still dark outside. I turned on the light above the stove to brighten the room enough to see. I pulled the refrigerator door open to grab something I could snack on until I bought a big breakfast somewhere on our break. But when I saw a packed lunch with my name on it, I smiled. Mum must have noticed I stopped making my own lunches when time got away from me, especially since I preferred to get an extra ten minutes of sleep than be prepared for the day. It made me sound lazy, but my body was revolting at my messed-up sleep patterns.
After driving in a daze, which wasn’t good, I dragged my feet into the depot.
“Maya.”
I turned towards the doorway off to my left when I heard a familiar voice. Smiling, I made my way over to Easton.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as we hugged.
“They’re low-staffed and called in a couple of us Melton people. How have you been? Are you getting used to the hours?”
I shot my brows high. “Do you ever really get used to the hours?”
Easton laughed and shook his head. “No.”
“How’s Parker and Lan going?”
It was cute how his face lit up at the same time that he blushed. “They’re good. We’ll be at the next family barbeque at the compound, since we missed the last one.”
“Great. You don’t want Mum and her posse coming after you three.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, we really don’t.”
“Maya, come on,” John called from our vehicle with a wave.
Reaching out, I pressed a hand to Easton’s elbow. “I’ll see you soon.”
“You will, and we can talk more about work.”
Nodding, I gave him a grateful smile. “I’d like that.”
By the time John and I were on the road, I knew it was going to be a quiet night. There hadn’t been a call in over an hour. It was great for everyone else, but the quiet only made things harder for me to stay awake.
“Favourite food?” John asked as he drove.
I laughed. “Haven’t you already asked me that?”
“Have I? Shit, I can’t remember.”
“It’s the old age getting to you.”
His glare only made me laugh louder. “Shut it, girlie.”
Reaching out, I patted his arm. “It’s all right, John. Aging happens to everyone.”
“You make me sound like I’m on my last legs. I’m not, smartarse.”
“Well, this smartarse could really go for a nice hot coffee to keep her awake.”
John snorted. “See how awake this old man is, girlie? I could run rings around your tired form.”
Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile. I loved working with John. He reminded me of a mixture of Dad’s club brothers. He also never minded if I gave him hell with the teasing. We’d gotten along from the first day, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better partner.
When he pulled into a twenty-four-hour petrol station where we knew the coffee didn’t taste like arse, I smiled over at him.
As he stopped the vehicle, I undid my seat belt. “You want the usual?”
“You know it.” He took out the romance novel that he’d been reading for a while and opened it. His wife, Moreen, loved to read, and he decided to check out some of her choices. He hadn’t been a fan of the polyamorous romances but didn’t mind romantic comedies. I thought it was cute how he read them so they’d have something to talk about.
I’d just grabbed the coffees and John’s donut when my phone rang. I glanced outside and saw John waving wildly.
We’d gotten a call. Finally.
I quickly threw the cash onto the counter and ran outside. John took the coffees and placed them in the holders while I got strapped in. We took off with the sirens blaring.
“What’s the call?”
“A bystander at a party said a guy collapsed. He’s breathing but not responding.”
“How far out?” I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Ten.”
I’d managed to get my coffee down by the time we stopped in front of a house that looked like it could use a makeover. There was music pumping from inside and lights flashing. A group of people stood in the front yard.
John and I grabbed our bags and made our way up the path. My partner opened the gate and called out, “Paramedics. We got a call about someone unconscious?”
“Yeah, over here.” A guy pointed down at the ground on the other side of a huge tree, and then he took a sip of whatever was in his cup. Once around the tree, I realised the people outside were all gathered around a prone form on the grass, staring and talking. “He’s probably just drunk,” the same guy said.
“Step back,” John ordered. They all did, just not far.
“Move back more, please,” I tried. They took another step and watched us work like we were a new television show.
John tapped on the unconscious guy’s cheek, and surprisingly, he opened his eyes. He smiled. “Oh, hey,” he called and tried to sit up.
We pushed at his shoulders to keep him in place.
“Please don’t move until we look you over. Do you know why you’re on the ground?” John asked.
The guy laughed. “Yeah.”
I flicked the penlight over his eyes. Glassy, bloodshot, and wide pupils. Could be alcohol or drugs or a mixture of both. I glanced at John, and he nodded in understanding. “What’s your name?”
“Phil.” He looked up at me. “Man, I just need something…. I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Phil. You’ve had a few drinks, right?”
He chuckled. “A few, yeah.”
“Maya, he has a cut on his leg that looks infected.”
I nodded. “Phil, how long have you had a sore leg?”
He waved a hand around. “Don’t feel it. It’s not sore.” He pushed at my hands. “Going home. Just tired.”
“Phil, how about you take a trip with us first? You can have a sleep in the vehicle while we take a look at your leg?”
“Nah.” He went to sit up and groaned, lying back down. “Feel dizzy.”
“Okay, Phil, just relax. John will go get the gurney, and we’ll wait here.”
“You sure?” John asked as he glanced around at the other people.
So far, the onlookers had stayed back, chatting and laughing among themselves. I couldn’t see them being a problem. “Yes.” Besides, I knew John wouldn’t be long.
I patted Phil’s shoulder. “Just rest there for a moment.” Glancing at the others, I asked, “Does anyone know Phil?” While I listened to the answers, I checked over Phil’s vitals.
“Never seen him before.”
“Nope.”
“Didn’t he come with Brad?”
“I don’t think so. He showed up with Gail.”
It seemed no one knew Phil. Why was he at a party where no one knew him? It didn’t make sense unless someone inside knew him. Right then, I guessed it didn’t matter. We had a patient to treat, and that was what we’d do.
John came back, and together we got Phil onto the gurney and into the back of the ambulance.
Phil groaned and gripped his stomach. “It hurts.”
I stopped checking over things and pressed down on his stomach. Phil moaned when I touched his right side. When John got into the driver seat, I called out, “John, maybe appendicitis.”
“All right. We’re heading to the right place to get that fixed.”
Phil groaned again as John started to drive.
“Phil, are you hurting anywhere else?”
“Head… just, just give me something to take the pain away.”
I was already reaching for the pain relief when I paused. “Let me check your stomach once again. Appendix is on the left, so tell me if it hurts.” I pressed on his left and he groaned. Phil was lying. Thinning my lips, I caught John’s gaze in the mirror.
“Give me something,” Phil ordered. “Anything. Just make it go away.”
“How much have you had to drink?” I asked.
“Doesn’t matter. Give me drugs.” He glared up at me.
Just as I looked at the restraints, Phil reacted. He punched the side of my head, and I instantly saw stars. The vehicle swerved, and I heard John cry out.
“Pull over, pull over,” Phil ordered.
I blinked repeatedly and wondered why John was moaning. When my focus cleared, I saw Phil raise a knife and stab it down into John.
“No!” I cried and lunged for Phil. He turned and kicked out, but I managed to get my arms around his waist and take him to the floor.
“—under attack. Help,” I heard John say and prayed the call went through.
A sharp pain to my lower back had me sucking in a breath and my grip on Phil loosening. My head was jerked backwards by my hair, and he pressed the knife under my throat.
His stale breath washed over my face when he said, “Get me all the drugs you have in here.”
“O-Okay,” I whispered. Panic clutched at my heart. My body shook, my pulse feeling like it wanted to leap from my skin. Calm down and think, Maya, think. “J-Just let me check on John and—” I whimpered as he slid the sharp edge down the side of my face.
“Now, bitch. I want it all now.” He shoved me back and pointed his knife down at me. “Move.”
Nodding, I got to my knees and went to the locked drawers. I grabbed a garbage bag to lay on the floor between my knees. My hands shook and I fumbled with the keys as I tried to unlock the first one. I needed to go slow. John called for help. They’d be here soon. Right?
John.
A sob caught in my throat as tears welled.
Please be all right. Please.
I cried out when I was suddenly knocked forward from a hit to the back. “Hurry up, bitch.”
My head throbbed, but I managed a nod, biting my bottom lip to try and control myself. I couldn’t lose it. I couldn’t break. John needed me. I had to help him.
“M-Maya,” I heard from John. He sounded weak, tired.
“I-I’m okay,” I called. I didn’t want him to worry, to try and help me. “I’m all right.” I heard him shifting up front and then he groaned. “John, please, you just stay there.” I grabbed whatever my hands landed on and dumped them into the bag. Drugs weren’t worth getting us killed over. I had to get Phil out of here as soon as—
Sirens sounded in the distance. I froze for a second and glanced at Phil.
“Fuck,” he spat. “They heard his call. Fuck.” He turned John’s way.
“No,” I cried. When Phil faced me again, I held the bag out. “Take it and go. Please .”
His jaw clenched. “Open the doors and get out.”
Get out?
He wanted me to get out with him?
But I needed to see to John. It didn’t matter that my head and body throbbed. I needed to help John, and I couldn’t do that if I got out with him. What would he do to me if I did? Would he let me go?
I shook my head, tears welling. “Please, take it and go so I can help John. Please, Phil.”
His jaw clenched over and over. The sirens grew louder. He thrust the knife my way and nodded to the doors. “Open the fucking doors and get out.”
I had no choice.
I had to do it.
I couldn’t look away from the knife. If I could get it away from him, the situation could turn in our favour.
Did I dare?
Was it the right choice?
When Phil kicked out at me, I lunged for his knife-wielding hand and grabbed his wrist. He held on and gripped my hair, trying to pry me off him. My hair felt like it was torn from my head when I leaned in and bit him.
His hand opened and the knife dropped. I managed to kick it under the bed before his hand wrapped around my throat and he threw me into the doors.
My mouth opened and closed, trying to draw in a breath. My eyes watered as I gasped, coughed, and eventually sucked in the air.
But Phil was there. Right in front of me again. The doors opened behind me. I tumbled out onto the ground with a cry and groaned.
Sirens sounded close. Engines revved. Tyres screeched. People shouted.
I was picked up and held against a chest. A sharp needle point pressed against my neck.
Help had arrived, but was it too late?