Page 19 of My Silver Fox Savior

“But—”

“Or we could report the incident,” Carter growls. “Then the bosses will ask why he visitedyourapartment, and then I’ll have to tell them you were there alone. That means both our asses. You know you’re not supposed to be handling this crap alone.”

“I know, but?—”

“There are no buts,” he snaps. “Do you think I’m happy about this? Don’t you think I’d help every kid in this city if I could? But we can’t. Not even close. Forget about this case.”

When he hangs up, I jump to my feet and almost throw my phone at my bedroom wall. My head feels cloudy with the unacceptable state of it all. So scumbags can threaten people, use kids, intimidate parents, and there’s nothing we can do about it because he flashed a gun. It’s a joke.

I don’t throw my cell phone, getting a grip at the last moment. Instead, I scroll to Landon’s number. He probably needs to know what’s happening. After last night, calling him feels difficult, like there’s this mental block inside me.

Why did I stop him from kissing me? Why didn’t I just let it happen?

He’s tall, handsome, and so damn intense, but this isn’t about that.

“Should I make us some coffee?” Mom asks, knocking on my bedroom door.

“Uh, yeah,” I say, deciding to text Landon instead. Something about hearing his voice makes me feel … That’s it. It makes mefeel. I don’t know how to handle that. I never have.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

LANDON

“No, sir, Doctor Coleman, our most senior oncologist, is on a short break. She’ll be back next week.”

I sit at my desk, drumming my fingers against it, tapping my foot, feeling like I want to be anywhere else and doing anything else except having this conversation. There’s too much riding on it. It’s not logical to face something like this. I can’t neatly put it on a list.Handle death …

“Well, I need the best,” I say, knowing I sound like an ass, knowing I’m stalling.

“With all due respect, I think the sooner we book this follow-up?—”

“With all due respect to you, if Doctor Coleman is the best, then I want her. That’s it. Thank you.”

I hang up, actually panting as if I’ve just gone for a run. My head is spinning. My thoughts are crashing like a car collision on repeat.Months, not years…

Standing up from my desk, I pace the room, looking over at the picture of Damon. He’s sometimes calledDamon the Demonon the streets, which is probably a nickname the bastard gave himself. My phone vibrates. I want to ignore it. It’s probably the doctor’s office demanding that I book the appointment, Doctor Coleman or no Doctor Coleman, but it’s Lily.

After I made an ass of myself last night, I didn’t expect her to reach out. The world suddenly doesn’t seem as dark until I begin reading her text. Damon came to herhouseand threatened her.

When I call Lily, she rejects it.I’m with my mom.

Are you working today?

Yeah.

Let me give you a ride.

I wait outside her apartment building, looking between her front window and the park. To think that Damon was leaning againstthatswing, taunting them from across the street, intimidating them. I want to crush his sneering goddamn face in. Who does he think he is?

Taking out my phone, I check my messages, even if I only checked them a few minutes ago. After I offered her a ride, Lily replied,Uh, sure.

Since it’s a text, there’s no reason for her to include theuh. Maybe I’m looking too much into it, but it’s almost like she wants to make me aware that she feels awkward. Why wouldn’t she? An older man decided randomly to attempt a kiss afteran evening of work. I definitely misjudged. I won’t make that mistake again.

Somehow, it’s easy to tell myself that before I see her. She walks from her apartment in a tight-fitting black shirt that shows those thick, delicious-as-fuckhips. Her shirt doesn’t show any cleavage, but it outlines her shapeliness. Mostly, though, it’s the determination on her face as she strides toward me.

She opens the door and climbs in, shooting me a quick look before looking out the window. “Hey.”

Her perfume is intense. Or maybe it’s just Lily.Months, not years …I want to reach over and take her hand. Obviously, I’m a madman.

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