Chapter 15
COLE
“I’ll never leave you again,” I whispered before I kissed Rosalie’s forehead gently.
She was out.
These meds were way too strong for her little body. I figured they might be, but I wanted her to be in the least amount of pain possible. It was why I’d also let her call E.
E was a good guy. I trusted him with my life.
He’d get the message to Ass Hat. I didn’t even know what the fuck the message meant, but it was probably some sweet bullshit she had going on with that Ryder prick, whom I knew she’d been linked to at one time.
I’d hit that prick a little harder than I needed to the night I took Rosalie.
I stayed at Rosalie’s side for an hour before I got up and cleaned the room a little. Today, I’d run out and get her a new guitar since she smashed the old one against my back and shoulder. We also needed a gallon of milk.
I smoothed her hair away from her face and got to my feet after tucking her in deeper. I placed a new bottle of water and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a neat little wrapper next to her bed before I left the room, the door locking behind me.
I knew kidnapping her was nuts, but honestly, I knew it was keeping her safe, too. With a weird ass stalker out there, the person didn’t know where to find her, and that mattered.
I went out to my car, drove to the music store, picked up a new guitar, then hit up the grocery store and got a few things. This wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t the worst thing.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
I really just wanted her to want me again.
To give me a damn chance. I hated Ass Hat, and it crushed my fucking heart that she married him, but I needed to at least shoot my shot.
She’d have never listened to me if I’d just picked up the phone and called her.
Ass Hat wouldn’t have let me within a hundred feet of her if I’d gone to a show.
I wanted this one-on-one time with her. Just fucking two weeks so she could see I was worth it. So she’d know how much she meant to me.
Enzo and E were going to kill me. Hell, Church was probably going to kill me, but honestly, I’d rather die at this point in my life than lose her again.
Telling Enzo the night he was high really helped. I knew he’d not remember it, and if he did, he’d come help me. I’d been stressing out big time about it, but telling his doped-up ass really did help. I guess in the back of my mind, it counted as not hiding what I’d done.
I stopped at one of the shelters in town. They put cats to sleep there, and I didn’t like that shit.
“Hey, Dr. Scott,” Penny, the young college girl at the counter, said as I walked in.
“Penny. How many kittens today?”
“Mm, three new ones. Do you want those added to your list?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. “I’m almost done working on things. Here’s the check.” I slid a check across the counter at her. It would ensure they’d have the funds to continue paying for veterinary costs and food for another month.
She grinned and tucked the check into a cash box.
“You’re so generous,” she said, smiling at me.
I grunted. I just liked cats. They reminded me of Rosalie, and I loved her, so it tracked in my head.
“Say, I’m not busy this weekend—”
“Not interested,” I said immediately. “No offense, but I don’t date. I don’t fuck randomly. None of that. My heart belongs to someone, and I’m working on winning her over.”
“Aww,” she said, looking like she was going to melt in her seat. “That’s so sweet!”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“If we hung out this weekend, I could help you—”
I shook my head. “Buy the cats some toys with some of that money, OK?”
She nodded eagerly as I walked to the door.
“I’ll see you soon, Doctor Scott!”
I waved and left, shaking my head the moment I got outside. I’d be sure to avoid her. Penny had Stage Five Clinger written all over her. I had enough issues. I didn’t need to add crazy bitch to them.
Josie had already sent me six texts. Just random shit and smiley faces.
I didn’t respond to her. I definitely had better things to do than entertain mediocrity.