Page 95 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
“Got it. I’ll be glad to forget today ever happened.” He rushed back to his car and backed away from the barn, spinning his wheels as he zoomed away.
When his taillights were out of sight, I asked, “Lois?”
“I didn’t want him to know my real name.” She stepped out of my hold. “I’m what you’d call ‘on the lam.’ ”
“Jesus,” I muttered. “Let’s go inside and you can tell us what’s going on.”
She nodded and started to limp forward but Silas said, “Here. Let me help.” He picked her up and carried her inside as I trailed behind them.
She gave him a small grin. “Thanks, Sexy Silas.”
“Sounds like you know who I am. Who are you?”
“This is Sabrina MacKenzie,” I answered, “my best friend, who is about to get the biggest ass chewing in the history of the world.”
“Better you than me,” he teased to lighten the mood. “Nice to meet you, Sabrina.”
“You too.” She looked over his shoulder and asked, “Any chance an apology will save me from that ass chewing?”
“No way in hell.”
She sighed. “I figured.” When Silas set her down on the couch, she rolled her hand in the air. “Commence ass chewing.”
“It has been weeks!” I yelled. “I had to call your boss and your doorman just to make sure you were still alive. I have been fucking worried! You made me stalk you and now this?”
“I’m sorry but I can explain.” She brushed her fingers against her swollen lips and winced.
Damn it. She was in pain and didn’t need me scolding her right now. I took a breath and reined in my anger. “Have you taken anything?”
“No.” She shook her head.
“I’ll get you something.” After handing her a glass of water and a plethora of painkillers, I sat next to her on the couch. I took her hand in mine. Blood was peeking out under her French-manicured nails.
“I knew something was wrong,” I said. All of my initial anger was gone and now I was just really, really, really worried. “I should have pushed harder to get in touch with you these last couple of weeks. I should have flown to Seattle and kidnapped your skinny ass.”
She laughed but then winced, using her free hand to clutch her ribs.
“Where exactly are you hurt?” Silas asked. He was sitting on the coffee table across from us on the couch.
“My face, obviously. I know it’s probably a wreck, but I haven’t seen it. How bad is it?”
I shook my head. “It’s not good. What else?”
“My ribs on this side where I got kicked. My ankle is pretty swollen and I think it’s sprained. I can’t put much weight on it.”
“Anything else?”
She shook her head.
I studied her battered face to see if she was hiding anything more.
“Nothing else. I promise,” she whispered. “Just the beating.”
That was bad enough, but I said a silent prayer of thanks that she hadn’t been raped.
“Okay.” I brushed her long blond hair out of her face.
It was strange to see her hair so dirty. Sabrina was willing to leave the house without makeup but her hair had to be perfect before she went out in public. She was going to need two rounds with the shampoo to get it back to its normal light blond, but that was going to have to wait until we got back from the hospital.
