Chapter 40
forty
. . .
When my shift ended, the mere drizzle that began an hour earlier, turned into a steady downpour.
“I think dinner’s a no go for me, girls.
I’m beat,” I moaned as we converged in the foyer.
Between the two lead surgeons on duty, I’d run my ass off since lunch.
“The only thing sitting front and center in my head is a hot bath, hot chocolate and a hot blanket.” I eyed the rain pelting the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the hospital parking.
“No hot man?” Trixie wiggled her brows, earning an eye roll from me.
“I didn’t see any sports cars or blacked-out SUVs outside,” Brandi quipped having gone for a smoke while she waited for us.
Putting to sleep any notion that Remo drove anything other than the mentioned vehicles.
“Given this downpour, I’m pretty sure Mr. Rossi is canoodling some other lovely lady and forgotten about you. ”
“Well, good riddance,” I muttered, hoping she was right. “I’m guessing we don’t have umbrellas?” Between the four of us, we either didn’t have cars or driver’s licenses and usually rode the bus to and from work unless Stasia’s son fetched her when he was off duty. Then we’d hitch a ride with her.
“We’re in for a wet walk,” Trixie groaned, plumping her blond locks. “It took forever to get these curls in place. I’m going to look like I stuck my hand in socket by the time I get home.” We all laughed at her pouting face.
“Shit,” I muttered, pushing through the revolving doors into the pissing rain.
“Why didn’t we carry umbrellas again,” I yelled to be heard but they were already racing for the bus shelter.
Although it wasn’t far, we were drenched by the time we ducked under the cover.
“I was sure the forecast said clear skies,” I mumbled, shivering.
Usually, I loved the rain but only if I were at home watching it through my window.
“Well, at least the bus is on time,” Stasia gestured to the vehicle picking up passengers two stops down the road.
Engrossed in a discussion about plans for the weekend, the sudden appearance of a low-slung sports car, hissing to a stop in front of us, had us jumping back to avoid the splash of rainwater the tires spun out.
Already my heart began thumping against my ribcage before the front passenger door opened, and Remo leaned forward.
Against the darkness, his blue eyes appeared like two brilliant circles, almost alien in nature.
“Get in,” he demanded, halting my laugh at the comparison.
I shared a look with the three girls, their faces ranging from worry to surprise to excitement. The last being Trixie of course.
“No,” I said stiltedly.
He angled his head, his smile slow to form yet no less menacing before he looked at his watch. “You have five seconds to get in, or I get out and make you.”
A sudden crack of thunder made me jump and I grasped Stasia’s arm without thinking.
Strangely, I could argue with a man like Remo yet a simple thing like thunder scared me.
Swallowing my fear, I called on my inner badass.
“No,” came out in a disappointing squeak. Traitor, I internally reproached her.
“He wouldn’t get out of that warm car and get himself all wet, would he?” Brandi hissed out the side of her mouth.
Thankfully, the approaching bus tooted for Remo to move. We all sighed in relief. However, our moment of victory was short-lived. The driver’s side door of the car opened, and Remo stepped out.
“Oh no,” I grumbled, watching him stride around the front of the car, ignore the horn of the bus and approach us.
Stasia stepped in front of me like a big mama bear and I laughed aloud in panic.
My gaze clashed with Remo’s over her shoulder.
He pierced me with a look so intense; I almost rocked back on my heels.
A sudden flash highlighted the icy hue of his eyes, their turbulence no match for that second strike of lightning.
Clearly, this man was a power onto his own.
In full black, his thick dark hair glistened against the rain, water rolling down the angular lines of his face, only seemed to make him more mesmerizing unlike the drenched chickens we resembled.
He dragged both hands through his wet hair and the action tugged my gaze to the tattoos covering his neck and chest now visible between the three open buttons of his shirt.
All I saw was a skull before he stepped back, leaned his ass against the car and folded his arms over his chest bunching his brawny biceps in the process.
“What the…” my words were cut off by another toot of a horn.
Like some freaking model, Remo merely turned his head to look at the driver.
Rule on the road was the driver wouldn’t open his door unless he was parked in front of the shelter and why we hadn’t run to the bus.
The driver wouldn’t open, even if we begged and Remo’s fancy black car, combined with his relaxed pose, didn’t preface him as a potential threat.
A split second later, the bus pulled away from behind the car and left.
“Oh shit,” Brandi squealed.
“The next one isn’t for another hour,” Trixie complained.
“We could call the police,” Brandi suggested.
“What good will that do?” Stasia scoffed.
Feeling bad for putting them in this situation, I stepped around Stasia, gave her a reassuring nod when she opened her mouth to protest and neared Remo. “Do you plan on staying here all night?” I grumbled.
One of his dark brows lifted. “I’m a persistent fuck.”
Huffing out a breath, I swallowed my pride. “Please, they need to get home.” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. “If they miss the next bus…” I trailed off, leaving him to decide the course of action.
He straightened, bringing him closer to me. I maintained my composure when he slid a surprisingly warm finger under my chin and tilted until I was looking at him. “Get in my car and your friends will go home. Defy me and my men will welcome free pussy tonight.”
“Oh, my God,” I choked on a gasp, jerking back. Would he really harm my friends? My heart threatened to claw its way into my throat before anger took over. “You wouldn’t,” I hissed, clenching my fists and trying with all my might to glare at him.
It was unfair just how lazily that single brow went up again, his challenging smirk pissing me off. “Try me, little fox.”
The longer I stared at him, the colder I got and mentally cursed myself for not continuing my martial arts classes. The little skill I’d demonstrated that first time we met, already proved futile against him.
Persistent fuck indeed.
“Fine,” I muttered, turning to look at my friends. “I’ll go with him.”
“Are you sure?” Stasia asked, her worried gaze flicking to Remo who I now noticed was on the phone.
“I’ll be fine.” I forced a smile, not prepared to think about the ensuing consequences. “If I don’t go, you’re all going to freeze your asses in this rain.”
“I can call my son,” Stasia offered. Her home was a good forty-five-minute drive from the hospital, longer if the weather didn’t improve.
I shook my head. “A taxi will be quicker.”
“Okay, be safe.” Stasia squeezed my arm.
Biting back a nervous laugh, I turned to find Remo opening his car door for me. “Such a gentleman,” I scoffed, earning a simple lift of his brow yet the devilish twitch to his lips said a whole lot more I figured my ears probably weren’t experienced to hear.
Sliding awkwardly into the low seat, I was beyond caring that I didn’t come across as a lady.
My bones were frozen, to say nothing of my growling stomach.
He closed the door, and my senses were immediately overpowered by the smell of leather mixed with a scent that was distinctly Remo.
Sandalwood and minty musk. A skull, similar to the one I’d glimpsed tattooed on his chest, hung from a silver chain draped around the rearview mirror, taunting me with its slow side to side dance.
I could’ve sworn I heard the words, “welcome to hell, little fox.”
With a resolute roll of my eyes, I looked out the window.
Frowning, I watched Remo walk to the rear of the vehicle and glanced over my shoulder to see a black SUV pull up behind us.
My eyes trailed him as he chatted to the driver, walked up to my friends, spoke to them for a second or so before escorting all three of them to the vehicle.
“What the hell.” Anxious, my frozen fingers fumbled with the door and when I finally got it open, I stumbled out. Almost tripping in my haste, I landed face first into Remo’s chest.
“That eager, are we?” He chuckled gripping my arms to steady me.
I jerked back from his hold. “Where are my friends?” My gaze snapped to the SUV. “What are you planning to do with them? Rape them too? You’re sick—” I ranted, shoving at his hands.
“They’re safe,” he said calmly, grasping my flailing hands.
“Where are they taking them?” I pushed against his hold, and he let me go. Dashing to the vehicle, I banged on the blacked-out window. “Stasia, Brandi, Trix—” The window lowering had me biting my tongue, expecting a gun in my face.
“It’s okay, Ish, Remo arranged for them to drop us of at home.” Stasia smiled, gesturing with her chin at the two men up front.
“He what…” My eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” Brandi nodded. I looked back at Remo, standing in the rain, his hands in his pants pockets, his head cocked to the side as if daring me to insult him again.
How could the same man who was close to kidnapping me to have sex with him, worry about my friends enough to have them sent home?
“Go on before you catch a cold,” Stasia coaxed in her motherly tone, bringing my gaze back to her.
I sighed. “Okay, I’ll see you…” Glancing at my stalking adversary I couldn’t think any further than an ‘oh shit.’ They threw me kisses before the vehicle pulled away.