Page 48 of Prey

He looked at me, surprise evident in his eyes.

“What are you doing back here?” he asked, not sounding too happy with me.

“Later,” I said, not knowing if the bikers had more friends coming but knowing Roman wasn’t in any condition to fight.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried to haul him up.

He looked at me with incredulous brown eyes. I shook my head and tried again.

He stumbled to a standing position, and together we walked to the truck. I let him climb in and quickly made my way to the driver’s side.

Then we drove off, leaving the bikers behind. I didn’t bother looking back to see if they were moving. I couldn’t allow myself to worry about that.

“We need the hospital,” I said, pulling out of the parking lot.

I vaguely remembered the direction Roman took to get here, but if he didn’t tell me where we were going soon, we might find ourselves in the middle of nowhere.

“No hospital,” he grunted out.

“Roman, you’re injured.”

“No hospital.”

Anger coursed through me from his words. “You stubborn man! Will you just let me take care of you for once?”

I took in a deep breath, trying to regain some control, which he obliterated with a small touch of his hand to my shoulder.

Tears fell down my cheeks, and he slid in closer to me.

“Take care of me at the cabin,” he said softly.

I could only nod through the lump forming in my throat.

Roman showed me where to go.

I was afraid he might pass out on me halfway there, and I would have been completely lost. I wouldn’t have been able to drive him to the hospital since I didn’t know where anything was.

Luckily, he stayed lucid for the entire ride, his hand clutching his ribs.

“Turn here,” he said, his voice sounding off.

My fists tightened around the steering wheel as I did as he instructed and took a right turn.

An hour later, we were back at the cabin, I was a mess, and Roman didn’t look like he had any more energy.

Even still, he climbed out of the car by himself, and he seemed surprised when I came up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist once more.

I couldn’t seem to bring myself to let him go.

I had to hold him close.

I didn’t have any familiarity with violence.

I had never even been in a fight before, so it was taking everything in me just to stay standing.

He opened the door to the cabin, and we got inside. I closed the door behind us.

Now would be a good time for me to make my escape.

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