Page 133 of Screwged for Christmas

“He always wanted the title for himself.”

“His medical career was all for show then? I don’t think so. You can’t bullshit a New Yorker.” I said flatly. Besides, Malcolm wanted to be working as a physician in New York with me.

Ronan met my eyes in the review view mirror. “You have a sharp tongue on you, Lass. I’m not quite sure what my brother sees in you. Although having seen the two of you in the hall, I have a good idea.”

Disgust washed over me. “Fuck you.”

“Would you like that? See how I measure up to my brother?”

“Gross. Just drop me off, I’ll get a ride to the airport with someone who doesn’t have the last name Murdoch.” If I never heard another Scottish accent that would be fine with me. I was so over this whole damned crazy kilt wearing family.

“I can’t do that, Lass. Not when there’s a stalker after you.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. Ronan faking his own death was crazy but him knowing I had a stalker was creepy. “How do you know that?” My mind reeled. The pieces all falling into place. “It’s you? You’ve been stalking me.” I’d never seen the man who pushed me down, but I thought of the phone message and mail. “Why?”

“Because I knew stalking you would drive my brother mad with worry.”

Oh, of all the fucking lousy luck. I ran away from one pain in my ass Murdoch brother only to run right into another one. And this one had some serious sibling rivalry issues to work out. Too bad, I hadn’t studied psychiatry. Working in Metropolitan Hospital’s Emergency Department, I dealt with plenty of psych issues daily, but none quite like this.

I turned my head to look out the window. The dark snowy Scottish countryside stretched out before me. Here and there, we passed a cottage, but most were dark. It was midnight on Christmas Eve, most everyone was asleep.

Ronan probably wasn’t going to hurt me, but I feared he was going to hurt Malcolm. I thought hard. I worked in an emergency department and had seen just about every type of injury there was. No way was I going to jump out of a moving car.

“How did you know about Malcolm and me?”

“Research,” he said simply. “My brother isn’t the only one who can hire security.”

I sat back against the seat. My mind spun. Malcolm hired security while I was in New York? That couldn’t be.

My mind churned and finally landed on the memories of my new apartment, gifted to me from a grateful patient. Grateful patient my ass. That was Malcolm.

“Motherfucker.” I breathed. I was going to kill him. Who the fuck did he think he was to take over my life like that?

Ronan’s laugh had no warmth. “You figured it out?”

I seethed. I hated Malcolm Murdoch.

Why?

There were so many reasons.

For being in my life.

For meddling in my life.

For making me his.

For making me fall in love with him.

“When Malcolm finds out where I am, he’s going to kill you.”

“I’m counting on him trying.” The timber of Ronan’s voice was so similar to Malcolm’s it was eerie.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Yeah. Not the answer I wanted. I leaned my forehead against my window. With the clear night, the moonlight shone down on top of the fresh snow. Even being kidnapped didn’t change how beautiful the still night was.

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