Page 59 of Tainted Tempos

“I fucked up.”

Greg swears. “Yeah, but...not entirely. You were right about a few things.”

I sit up straighter, and my eyes snap open.

“The guy, Branson, he approached her in the library. Put her on edge. I could taste her fucking fear, even from across the room. That guy’s dangerous.”

“Fucking hell.” I clench my eyes shut.

Jameson gives me a look, but I shake my head. He presses down on the accelerator to catch a yellow light.

“Your intentions were good. Your instincts were right,” Greg continues. “But I’m out. I can’t do this anymore unless Mckenna wants protection. She... If you saw the way she looked at me, Mav. She tried to use pepper spray. I want to keep women safe, not scare the shit out of them.”

“Yeah. I got that,” I mutter, fucking furious with myself. “Text me her room number.”

“Yeah. I’ll wait in the hallway until you get here. But come now.”

“I’m on my way,” I confirm before disconnecting.

“How bad is it?” Jameson asks.

“I fucked up.”

“How bad?”

I glance at my brother. “She thought Greg was stalking her.”

Horror washes over Jameson’s face, and he flicks his eyes back to the road. “She made her mark. Of course, she did. Mav, Mckenna is one of the smartest women I know.”

“Yeah,” I agree miserably. “She must have been so scared. Jesus, I did that. I caused her to feel the fear I was trying to protect her from.”

“You need to talk to her.” The warning is clear in my brother’s tone.

“Just let me off here.” I gesture toward the main entrance to the hospital.

“Want me to come in?”

I shake my head. “Nah. I don’t know how long I’ll be, and honestly, I doubt Mckenna’s up for visitors.”

“Alright. Good luck, brother. Wouldn’t want to be you.”

“Thanks.” I glance at my phone to confirm Mckenna’s room number, flip Jameson my middle finger, and slide out of his ride.

I stride into the hospital and avoid making eye contact with anyone. Instead, I focus on the elevator bay, punch the number nine, and find my way to Mckenna’s room.

Greg’s leaning against the wall next to the door. He flips his chin when he sees me. “I’m taking off.”

“Thanks for waiting,” I say, meaning it.

“I’ll connect with you soon.” Greg slaps me on the back.

I wait until he’s in the elevator, exiting the hospital, before I knock on Mckenna’s hospital door.

As I cross the threshold, her eyes snap to mine.

They’re blazing with fury. Her mouth is pulled tight. Tension radiates around her, causing the air to vibrate with an intensity I don’t like. In fact, I despise it. For a moment, it reminds me of how Mckenna used to look at me. Like I was beneath her. Now, I’d prefer that. Because she’s looking at me like I broke her fucking heart.

Lost the trust I worked my ass off to earn.

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