Page 23 of House of Scarlett
“I know you don’t think that’s possible, but my Korean father made sure I took judo and tae kwon do until I could kick every one of my brothers’ asses, so don’t give me that look, Legend. I’ve seen you fight. I know your moves. I’ll take you on. I might not win, but you’ll be the one getting arrested, not me.”
The sad part is that even if she instigated the fight,on camera, she’s probably right. I’m a six-two man and she’s a five-foot-nothing woman. No hospital security guard or cop is going to believe that she attacked me without me doing something to provoke her that just happened to bemissedby the camera.
“Cut him some slack, Kelsey. He came. He’s obviously worried about her. He wouldn’t have come otherwise.”
Kelsey shoots a look at Flynn. “He’s lucky you’re giving him a second chance. I’m withholding judgment.” Her attention swings back to me. “But know that I will fuck you up if you do anything to hurt my girl again.”
“Duly noted.” My words come out dry, but there’s respect behind them, whether Kelsey realizes it or not.
Most men won’t dare speak to me like that, not if they know who I am. Most women ... well, let’s say when I’m walking the streets alone at night or with Roux, they clutch their purses against themselves or cross to the other side of the street so they don’t have to face me directly. Kelsey, however, deserves a medal for being a hell of a best friend—and Flynn too, for that matter. I can’t even be upset about it.
Every word they spoke, even when it cut deep, was deserved. Actually, if I’m being honest, part of me wants to smile at Kelsey’s threats to fuck me up. I know it’s twisted, but I’m glad Scarlett has people like this in her corner. Every woman needs crazy friends who are willing to threaten to kill someone for them.
And if Kelsey is withholding judgment, that means I get a second chance from her too.Now if I could only see Scarlett and know she’s okay.
Except ... “Again, what the hell is wrong with Scarlett?” I grit out the question one more time, but Amy rushes back into the waiting room before Kelsey or Flynn can answer.
“I spotted the doctor coming down the hall. I think she’s out of surgery.” Amy moves back to her chair in the corner, next to the laptop balanced on a stack of magazines. As soon as she takes a seat, a tanned woman in scrubs stops in the doorway.
“Scarlett Priest’s family?”
Flynn is already out of her chair. “I’m her sister. We’re all here for her.”
The doctor nods, and I count every beat of my heart until her lips curve into a smile. “Your sister is going to be just fine. The appendectomy was textbook. We caught it before it ruptured and were able to do it laparoscopically.”
A textbook appendectomy?
I look at Flynn, and part of me wants to wrap both hands around her shoulders and shake the fuck out of her. The other part of me wants to hug the hell out of her for scaring the shit out of me by withholding that key information. Not that an emergency appendectomy isn’t a big deal, because I know any surgery can have complications, butsweet fucking Christ, I thought it was something a million times worse.
The claws of fear that have been gripping me loosen until I can take my first true deep breath since Flynn stormed my office.
“She’s in recovery, but on her way to a room. Scarlett’s very lucky, though. She really cut it close.”
The doctor shakes Flynn’s hand and leaves the room. I realize I missed all the other information she gave us, but I don’t care. The only thing that matters is thatScarlett is going to be fine.
I’m getting my second chance.
One I’m not going to fuck up.
Flynn spins to smirk at me, and this time, I can see a manipulative yet victorious gleam in her eye. Before, I was too freaked out to notice.
“I had to, Legend. You’ll forgive me someday.”
I rise from my seat and cross the room to tower over her. “You ever do that to me again, and we’ll have fucking words.”
“Fair enough. Now, stop trying to intimidate me or I won’t tell you which room they’ve assigned her.”
Thirteen
Scarlett
I feellike I’m swimming through an opaque haze, and there are voices in the distance, but they’re garbled. My head is stuffed with cotton batting and sawdust, like that antique pillow that disintegrated on my window seat after being exposed to the sun for too long.
Wait. Why am I thinking about sawdust and pillows?
I crack one eye open, but the bright light has me flinching and squeezing it shut again just as quickly.
“Scarlett? Can you hear me?”
