Page 78 of Tempted By Poison

“Anything can happen, something can be ruptured or worse the abrasion causes internal bleeding. I don’t want that. I don’t.”

My thoughts and fears get the best of me. The image of her on the gurney, not breathing, sends an overwhelming shiver of hopelessness up my spine. The same way I felt when my mother was dead on the living room floor. When Carter was murdered before my eyes. I have to look after her.

I stare directly at her, even when she refuses to look at me. My throat tightens. “I’ll fucking die if anything happens to you.”

This time she catches my gaze, the sick desperation in my eyes, near pleading for her to acknowledge my concern in some way.

Her eyes lower.

“I hope you understand that.”

“I understand,” she clips.

She doesn’t.

Fuck this shit. I go toward her, but she withdraws, walking backwards slowly, disappointment settling in her hazy eyes. My chest clenches painfully.

She says nothing. Red comes around and opens his truck door for her. She gets into his vehicle, situating herself, then looks ahead. Never setting those eyes on me. I know she hates me all over again, and I'm not okay with it, but I have to be.

I stood there until Red drove off, and all I could think about was whether I did the right thing or not.

Time would only tell.

Chapter 26

Poison

Worry and burns

Once Anita left withthe kids, the dreadful pit in my belly didn't shut off, it only festered.

“Guess you could convince her,” Mal says, walking further up toward the building.

I look down at my boots as I make my way up the hill. “What does it look like?”

She only chuckles at my demise. “You did the right thing.” She pats my shoulder before speeding up to the building.

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