Page 32 of Bitter Heat

“I don’t know how to repay you,” Kaia said, hanging onto her arm.

“No need,” she said and patted Kaia’s hand. “Get well soon, okay?”

“I will.”

Jasmine eased around the medical staff and slipped out the door. She focused on the exit and didn’t take a breath until the double doors of the ICU closed behind her. As she power walked down the hall and pulled out her cell phone, she ducked into an empty waiting room and dialed Sunny.

“Girl,” Sunny began.

“Get me a plane,” she ordered.

Sunny’s tone instantly became formal and no-nonsense. “Absolutely, Ms. Hennessy. Where are you?”

“I’m—”

The phone was yanked from her grasp. She whirled and saw Roth glance at the screen before he held it up to his ear.

“That won’t be necessary,” he said and hung up.

“What the hell are you doing? Give it back!”

He tapped the screen, and his brows came together. “You spoke to Lyle Caruso this morning?”

She was lightheaded with rage. “That’s none of your business! Stop going through my phone!”

“Did you tell him about us?”

She ground her teeth together. “There is nous. Now, give me my phone.”

He stared at her for a full thirty seconds before he started tapping the screen. She lost it and launched herself at him. He grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back, forcing her to bend over to avoid having him snap it.

He pressed his mouth against her ear. “Don’t push me, Jasmine.”

“I’m not pushing you! I just want to get away from you.”

He released her. She rubbed her throbbing shoulder and bared her teeth when she saw him still messing with her phone.

“I swear to God, if you don’t—”

He pocketed it, and said, “We’ll leave in thirty minutes.”

“I don’t need a ride to the airport. I’ll call a cab.”

“I already have a plane.”

She stared at him. “You’re going to leave Kaia?”

“She’s coming with us. I have a nurse ready to care for her until she recovers.”

She shook her head to clear it. “Okay, good, but I’m going to New York.”

“So am I.”

Alarm bells went off in her mind. “You live in London.”

“I moved my headquarters back to New York.”

She had the sensation of falling. “I thought you were doing well in the UK.”

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