Quiver (a Suspenseful Romance Novel) (11 page)

“
T
here it is
. Has to be,” I said as I nodded toward a beast of a car. My arms trembled and my knees nearly buckled under me from the effort of keeping Eric on his feet as we moved off the path towards the small car park.

Dotted around the verges were vandalised picnic tables, most without their benches, but close to the path leading onto the trail along the river was the car. Just a few more feet.

We stumbled the last steps and our bodies slammed against the side of the car as I jabbed my thumb at the remote, praying we’d hear the
clunk-clunk
of the locks.

I sighed with glorious relief when the car’s lights flashed twice. Maybe we’d make it out of here after all, I thought.

“Right, let’s get you to a hospital,” I said once I’d managed to bundle Eric into the passenger seat beside me. The wound on his head looked no better under the stark interior light, blood still oozing down the side of his face. I tried not to think about how much blood he was losing.

“No,” Eric mumbled.

“You don’t get to decide, Eric,” I replied.

“They’ll find us. Kate, promise me…” he asked, his voice fading.

“No can do.” I was determined to do the right thing at least once tonight. His head shook violently from side to side and he lunged for the door handle.

“Stop that!” I yelled, terrified he was going to do more damage to himself.

“We can’t go to the hospital…” His breathing was laboured, getting worse every second.

I quickly leaned over him and yanked the seat belt around his slumped torso, then engaged the child lock.

“OK! OK. Calm down,” I urged, trying desperately to placate him.

“Good…” His head rolled to the side as he passed out.

I turned the ignition on, pulled out of the car park and headed for the hospital, ignoring his earlier pleas. Eric was right—it would be risky going there—but it was a chance I was willing to take. I’d rather have him alive and mad at me than… dead and happy.

What if he does die? It’ll be all my fault.

No, don’t think like that. He’s going to be OK.

My bare feet were reluctant to touch the cold metal pedals, which dug into my soles, but after a few minutes the alien feeling of driving without shoes dissipated.

The streets were quiet and the hospital wasn’t too far away, thank goodness, and I cautiously moved us forward. Adrenaline rushed through my veins, urging me to go faster, and with every glance over at Eric I nearly gave in to the temptation to accelerate. But the last thing we needed was to get pulled over for reckless driving. I could only imagine the questions.

Just keep to the speed limit, keep it steady
, I thought, as I manoeuvred the SUV up to the General Hospital emergency entrance.

“
M
iss
, what happened?” the nurse asked again. “We need to know so we can help him.”

I wrapped my arms around my waist and looked away from her. Eric had been wheeled away moments earlier. What could I say? I should’ve planned what I was going to say, made up a story on the way here, but now I panicked. There was no way I could tell her the whole truth.

“There was a fight…” I said carefully, hoping that would be enough.

“Has he been drinking or taking any drugs?”

“No, nothing like that.” I paused. “Will he be OK?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you his—”

“Girlfriend, well, fiancée,” I added, quickly improvising.

I could tell from the way she glanced at my ringless left hand that she didn’t believe me.

“They stole it… the thugs, in the fight,” I said, surprising even myself at how easily the lies just slid out of my mouth.

“Oh, I see,” the nurse replied in a more sympathetic tone. She led me to a ghastly orange plastic chair and encouraged me to sit.

“He’s taken a nasty beating. He’s probably got a few cracked or even broken ribs, and the cut on his head will need stitches. Your fiancé will need to stay in for observation, of course, but it’s nothing that time won’t heal—I’m sure he’ll be just fine,” she said in a whisper and patted my hand as my eyes welled with tears.

“I’ll let you know when you can see him, OK? And I’ll be right back with a blanket for you; you’re frozen solid.”

I nodded as the shivers took hold of my body. “What’s your name?” I asked.

“Becca,” she replied and smiled.

“Thanks, Becca,” I said and sniffed back the emotion that was desperately trying to break through.

Keep it together, Kate. He’s going to be fine.

My bum fell asleep sitting on that uncomfortable plastic chair, but it wasn’t long before the kind nurse from before led me to Eric. Becca pulled back a dividing curtain and dragged over a much more inviting-looking chair next to Eric’s bed for me to sit on. My hand instinctively moved towards his but hesitated at the last moment.

“It’s OK, you won’t break him. He lost a fair amount of blood, but he’ll be fine.”

I nodded my understanding, never pulling my gaze away from him.

“I also brought you these,” she said and handed me a pair of clean hospital slippers. “They should fit you.”

I swallowed a thickening within my throat and managed to look at her. “Thanks for everything,” I replied and slipped the fluffy open-backed slippers onto my grateful aching feet.

“Just doing my job,” she said, smiling. “I’ll leave you two alone. Call me if you need anything.” And she quietly left, pulling the curtain closed behind her.

They’d cleaned him up, and while half his face was partially swollen, I was grateful to see it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it was. The darkness and the shadows had played tricks with my mind and had made the thick coating of blood look that much worse.

God, how did we get here? How had one not-so-innocent bus ride home all those weeks ago propelled my life into so much turmoil? And yet, there I was, still holding the hand of a man who’d shot and probably killed my oldest friend. I should’ve stayed on the boat, stayed with Max, but Eric had given me no choice. I think I knew deep down inside what Eric had done was right. The more I played it over and over in my mind—standing on that deck next to Max, his hand clamped upon my arm—the more I started to distrust Max’s intentions. Was he going to dispose of me, fulfilling his promise to his mobster father? Eric certainly believed so… and so far Eric has never been wrong.

What a mess this night has been.

“Kate?” Eric croaked and squeezed my hand.

“I’m here,” I said and moved closer, stroking the less damaged side of his face.

“Where are we?” he asked as his eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings and eventually focusing upon the hospital equipment beeping beside him.

“Kate—”

“I had to, but don’t worry, we’re safe.”

“Don’t you understand? We’ll never be safe,” he said, his voice clearer. He sat up and groaned.

“Keep still. You’ll do yourself more harm.”

“We have to get out of here. What did you tell them? Did you give them my name?”

“No, of course I didn’t. Do you think I’m stupid?” The familiar feeling of rage was building up inside me again; he always knew how to push my buttons.

His tired blue eyes met mine and he let out a slow breath.

“Sorry, you just don’t know these people like I do. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

I bowed my head and looked away.
Let him suffer a little longer
, I thought.

With a quick pull on my arm he reeled me towards him, forcing me to either yank myself away or make eye contact.

“Kate?” he whispered softly, and I couldn’t help myself. Being this close to him always made me do crazy stupid things.

His lips grazed mine, instantly making me want more, sending signals up to my brain telling me to forget everything that had happened, to push it all away, and to kiss him back. Nothing else mattered.

The tip of his tongue traced the soft flesh of my bottom lip, and without thinking I fell into him. Our mouths clashed as if it were their first time. I breathed him in and he did the same; we tasted each other’s turbulent exhalations.

“This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you,” I gasped in between kisses.

“Shut up,” he moaned as my hand trailed down his chest.

I could feel his need for me rise as he gripped my waist tight with his bruised right hand; slowly caressing his fingers over the now dry, but thoroughly creased, little black dress.

He lifted the hem of the dress over my butt and slid his hand past my knickers and in between my wet folds. I buried the moan that dared to escape as he moved his thumb over my swollen clit, circling it first, then teasing it, tapping gently, driving me crazy.

My hand drifted beneath the crisp, clean hospital sheets to find his cock eager and hard, ready for me. I wanted so bad to climb up on to the bed and ride him till we both shattered, but I feared for his fragile ribs.

“I need you inside me,” I whispered.

His cock pulsed in my hand and his eyes turned electric-blue with desire.

“Closer,” he requested and I kneeled one leg upon the edge of the bed and stood on tiptoe on the other; the dress rode high so that he could see my ripe pussy.

Eric swallowed and eased my dripping folds apart while I caressed his entire length with my palm wrapped around his throbbing cock.

With gentle movements that drove me crazy, he parted my lips.

“Always so wet for me,” Eric said.

“Eric,” I moaned, needing the release only he could give me. I tightened my grip upon his cock and used the pressure of my thumb to swirl him into a frenzy. I, too, knew what he needed.

As if in answer, two digits thrust inside me, breaching my entrance. His fingers curled and bent as they brushed past that heavenly spot. Eric did it again and I almost lost my balance, rolling my eyes back as he finger fucked me.

Our movements synced up perfectly and we gazed deep into each other’s eyes as we both neared the brink of a glorious explosion.

“Not yet, my love. Hold on,” he whispered, staring at me.

I bit my lip as the pressure inside me increased to an almost unimaginable peak that I was dangerously close to falling off.

“Oh god, oh god,” I repeated breathlessly, trying to cling on, while my vision began to blur.

“Now,” he commanded, and my walls shattered, crumbling as pulsing waves bounced through me. My legs shook and I eased the caress upon his cock as his juices flowed over my hand.

“Well, I definitely feel better now.” He grinned, tweaking my clit one last time before removing his hand.

Suddenly the curtains were pulled back on their rail. I jolted away from the bed and desperately pulled at my dress, smoothing it back into place.

The nurse from earlier, Becca, stopped for a split second, her face full of knowing, but then went on as if she hadn’t noticed a thing.

“How we doing in here?” she asked.

“Absolutely fab,” Eric replied, a stupid grin plastered all over his face.

“Well, I’ll just be a moment, then I’ll leave you and your fiancée in peace.”

“Fiancée?” he asked, momentarily confused, but then the lights came on inside his head and he quickly corrected himself, “Oh, you mean Kate? Still getting used to the word. We’ve only been engaged a short while, isn’t that right, honey?”

“Yes,” I replied through gritted teeth as he stared at me, his eyebrow cocked way up on high.

“All done. Seems your pulse is still a little fast… how about you just rest for now, huh?” she said, making sure to look at us both in turn.

I nodded rapidly, my flushed cheeks no doubt betraying me, and Eric just grinned. “Nurse’s orders?”

“Nurse’s orders,” Becca replied firmly.

I
came rushing back
from the coffee machine, holding two dangerously full cups in my hand for Eric and me. My hands trembled so bad the hot brown liquid sloshed over the rim and onto my skin, but I couldn’t stop. I had to get back to Eric.

Oh god, I hope they didn’t see me.

My slippered feet slapped against the polished floor. It was a struggle to keep them on while moving so fast, as I swerved to avoid patients and staff, making sure to keep my head down, avoiding the temptation to look over my shoulder.

I swooped past the curtain barrier, grateful I’d remember which one was Eric’s, and dumped the cups onto a nearby table.

“Max is alive!” I hissed at Eric, who was dozing on the bed. “Wake up! They’re here!”

His eyes bolted open. “Are you sure?”

My head bobbed up and down. “Pretty sure…”

“Did they see you? Is Max OK?”

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly.

“Shh,” he interrupted.

Over the din of hospital noises, incessant beeps, announcements and passers-by beyond the curtain, I strained to hear what Eric had heard.

But then, there it was and my blood ran cold. They’d seen me.

“…find her, then!” Terry’s voiced echoed down the hallway to our right. It boomed with thunderous rage.

“We have to go. Grab me my clothes from the cupboard.”

I hesitated, his words a jumble in my mind.

“Kate!”

“Wouldn’t it better if we just stayed here and hid?”

He shook his head. “If he believes you’re here he’ll make sure his lackeys search this place with a fine-tooth comb.”

I’d foolishly thought we might’ve been safe, that it was over. But I had deluded myself, and I knew Eric was right: Terry would do everything in his power to find us here. He’d personally go from bed to bed, room to room, hunting us down to make us pay for Max’s ordeal and to make sure our mouths remained shut regarding his illegal endeavours.

Dazed, I pulled Eric’s clothes, contained in a see-through medical bag, from the cupboard. They were covered in dried mud and caked-on blood. He couldn’t wear these without being noticed by everyone; he’d stick out like a sore thumb.

He saw what I saw as I brought them over to the bed. “Crap.”

“Two seconds, I have an idea,” I said boldly, my mind emerging from its protective cocoon and leaping into action. I slipped in between the curtains to the next patient over. Earlier I’d see an old man admitted into the cubicle next to us and hoped he wouldn’t mind us borrowing his clothes—it was an emergency, after all.

I came back with my prize, another see-through bag, in my hands. Luckily the elderly man had been fast asleep and never noticed my presence.

“Here, put these on.”

Eric cocked his eyebrow at me and then quickly emptied the contents onto the bed. He eased himself out from beneath the covers and with a light touch upon his elbow I helped him to his shaky feet.

He studied the drip going into the back of his hand and peeled away the medical tape keeping it secure. I had to look away, anywhere but his hand, not wanting to see it when he pulled the needle out. I shuddered just thinking about it.

“OK, a little short in the legs, but they’ll have to do,” he said after putting on the old man’s brown corduroys.

I hovered at the parting in the curtain, drawing it back to reveal a tiny sliver of the hallway.

“Wait,” Eric hissed, “let me go first.”

My heart decided it was the perfect time to induce an attack; blood careened through my veins and my breathing was short and rapid. My mind was having second thoughts; it didn’t want to fight nor flee… it was telling me to stay put, to crawl into a ball and hide.

Before I knew it, Eric had checked to see if the coast was clear, grabbed my hand and yanked me along with him. His long legs made it difficult to keep up with him, especially with these flimsy slippers flopping around on my feet.

“Just act normal… and no matter what, don’t stop,” he whispered to me, keeping his eyes alert, scanning every doorway and face for a potential threat.

Up ahead the exit came into view.

Not too far now.

We were just about to pass the nurses’ station when I saw her. Becca, the kind nurse from earlier, had her head buried behind the desk studying a clipboard. Her eyes flitted upwards for a fraction of a second, then back down to her work as if she hadn’t registered us passing. But it was too good to be true.

A moment later, her mind made the required connection and told her something wasn’t quite right with what she had seen, and her head lifted back up again.

“Hey, wait!” she shouted across the hallway.

“Eric…” I whimpered.

“Just keep walking! Ignore her,” he snapped.

“Mister! You haven’t been discharged. You should be in bed!” her voice scolded, trying desperately to pursue us. I cringed at her loudness; if any of Terry’s men had an ounce of sense they’d hear her yelling and figure out something was up and come to check it out.

The automatic doors opened and a waft of chilly mid-afternoon air greeted us. I welcomed the fresh air that blew onto my face and skin, making me feel free. I hadn’t realised how contained I’d felt while inside the hospital.

“OK, where next?” I asked, smiling up at Eric, who looked to be contemplating the same question. But he never had chance to answer.

“There they are!” a loud cry bellowed from behind us, from inside the hospital.

My stomach twisted and Eric’s grip tightened on my hand.

“Where did you put the car?” he asked urgently, his head scanning the front car park.

A lump caught in my throat. Dread.

Oh, crap.

I’d forgotten all about the car we’d “borrowed” last night and had simply abandoned it at the front entrance of the ER, more preoccupied with getting Eric some help than parking the damn SUV.

“Eric! Don’t fuckin’ move!” the voice behind us warned.

He saw the look on my face, remorseful and foolish. I shrugged, hoping he wouldn’t be disappointed in me for being so forgetful.

“Never mind, we have to leg it.”

We ran holding hands as Eric used his other arm and hand to brace the left side of his rib. My feet were already starting to ache from trying to keep the slippers on while I ran. But Eric, he must be in agony, I thought as I glanced at his profile. Beads of sweat dripped down his temple, and his jaw pulsed incessantly. He’d been battered and had gone through a lot more physical pain than I had, and the least I could do was run on scraped feet.

The road was fairly busy and I had visions of Eric jumping in front of a car, just like in those cop shows, and forcing the driver to give up their vehicle.

Luckily, we didn’t have to put some poor soul through that ordeal as a taxi appeared from beyond the bend.

I took a moment to glance over my shoulder, which wasn’t the best idea, and nearly lost my balance on the damp grass. Our bear-like pursuer was not giving up; he came roaring down the grassy hill behind us. My eyes focused upon a metal object in the man’s paw.

Was that a gun? Shit!

This time my ankle caved under me and I half slid down the bank, but Eric was able to pick me back up and steady me, no doubt wrenching his side to keep me upright as we launched ourselves towards the oncoming taxi. We only had this one chance. Eric stuck out his arm, waving frantically.
Please stop
, I thought, wishing the taxi driver would see our desperation.

Tires screeched and the taxi pulled sideways up onto the curb.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Eric managed to fling open the rear passenger door. He shoved me inside as precious seconds slipped by, the man rumbling toward us, only a few strides away.

“Go! Go! Go!” Eric yelled as he slammed the door shut. He banged his fist against the back of the headrest in front, urging the driver to pick up speed.

A huge meaty hand bashed against the window. “Stop the fucking car!” he yelled from outside.

“No!” I squealed. “Go!”

“Bloody hell!” the driver cursed, glancing at each of us in his rear-view mirror. His eyes widened more when he spotted the breathless hulk lifting his arm, aiming a weapon at the back windshield. The driver slammed his foot on the accelerator, tyres skidding, and swerved onto the road. Horns beeped all around.