Page 30 of Hell on an Angel
Cree was pulled from the icy water by Maliki and another officer. Shivering on the snowy ground, Kennedy and Cree were helped up. Maliki swept Kennedy up into his arms and moved quickly across the ground. Cree allowed the other officer to help him but refused to be carried. When the officer stared at him in confusion, Cree headed after Maliki.
With every step, his clothes and shoes became laden with ice and snow due to the whipping wind coming off the lake. Wrapping his arms around his body, he huddled in an attempt to shield himself from the cold. Coming around the corner of the house, he found two EMTs with a gurney. With his energy dissipating quickly, Cree dropped onto the gurney, allowing them to take him to the ambulance.
The doors closed once he was loaded. Kennedy sat wrapped in blankets, looking exhausted. When her eyes opened slowly, Cree saw a sheen of tears and held his hand out for her to take it. They rode all the way to the hospital in silence.
Chapter Sixteen
After being looked at by the doctors, Kennedy had been given a pair of green scrubs and a pair of socks to put on. Now, standing alone in a private waiting room, she tried in vain to stop shivering. Maliki had checked in sometime back. He was still at the house, boarding up the windows and going over the scene. He told her other than the three windows and a pair of drapes, there had been no other damage. At least nothing a good cleaning wouldn’t take care of. He promised to bring her clothes and boots from the house when he came to the hospital.
As she tugged at the oversized scrub shirt, she thought about Cree and how much she cared for him. The big question was, did he care for her? If he said goodbye once they got to Montreal, she wouldn’t make him feel bad. She was a grown woman, and crying over a man leaving her behind would not kill her. It might hurt like she’d die, but she’d survive. The song “I Will Survive” popped into her head, causing Kennedy to laugh. “Kennedy.”
At the sound of her name, she looked toward the door. “Maliki.” Struggling to gain control of her emotions, she somehow managed to get the laughter under control. “Would that be my clothes?” she asked, pointing to the bag in his hands.
“Oh, yeah. I brought some for Cree as well.”
Taking the bag when he entered the room, she asked if the police had any idea who had attacked them.
“I think it was the guy who attacked you at the gas station.” Maliki shrugged off his coat, setting it aside. Tugging off his hoodie, he handed it to Kennedy. “Put this on so you can warm up. I’ll get it from you later.”
“Will you arrest the guy?”
“We’re looking for him. The problem is, he will have an alibi.”
“Of course, he will, by the same men who were with him at the house tonight. And he’ll be theirs.”
“It’ll get sorted, promise you that.”
“If you say so.” Kennedy pulled the hoodie on and relished the warmth. “The doctor hasn’t come out since they took Cree in the back.”
“He’s getting stitched up.” Maliki saw the look on the pretty brunette’s face. “Cop, remember? I can get information when you can’t.”
“I guess that’s true no matter where we are.”
“Exactly. Can I get you anything else?”
“This is good for now,” she said, rolling the sleeves up on the hoodie. Setting the bag down, she took a seat and folded herself up, tugging the oversized hoodie over her legs. “I’ve been so cold.”
“Let me go get you some coffee,” he said as he pulled the door open. Kennedy had never seen a man look for a way out of a room like Cree’s cousin just had. She didn’t care why he wanted out of the room and away from her so fast as long as he brought her a cup of hot coffee back.
She couldn’t blame Maliki for being squirrely. Hell, she felt squirrely being in the hospital. The place was no bigger than a clinic back in the States. And quiet. It was like a damn tomb. When she was led to the waiting room, the only sound had been the grippes on the socks squeaking against the linoleum floor as she walked down the hall.
Kennedy stood in the doorway as a doped-up Cree talked to her brother. The hospital had stitched him up and sent them home after he had been cleared. She’d put the call on speaker to not miss any part of it. From where she stood, the conversation wasn’t going well between the two. She listened as they swore at each other, neither backing down. Kennedy knew if Cree wasn’t currently on pain meds, the conversation would be completely different. Like not happening at all, she was sure.
“If you wouldn’t have been too busy to come get your sister your own fucking self, I wouldn’t be screwing her.”
“I asked you to keep her safe, not take advantage of her, asshole.”
“You don’t know your sister. Maybe she’s the one taking advantage of me. Maybe she just likes my dick.”
Kennedy’s eyes went wide at hearing Cree scream into the phone about them sleeping together. He was right in what he said, but still, she didn’t want her brother knowing what she was doing with his friend. Moving across the room, she fought with Cree for the phone. “Give me the phone. Now,” she snapped at him.
Taking his phone away, she heard her brother ranting on the other end. “I’m gonna slit your fucking throat.”
“Stephen . . . Player.”
“What?”
“Do not yell at me. I’m sorry you disapprove of me sleeping with your friend, but it’s not your business.”
