Page 112 of Forbidden Wish

“Dunno.”

Breathing in, she held for a second, then let it out. “Men are so infuriating.”

“Yeah, sugar, we’re the problem.”

“Actually, you are the problem,” she said, switching modes. “You didn’t tell me about the fire.”

“I did.”

“You didn’t tell me how long you were in there or how you got out.”

“We got out. What does how matter?”

“Because I want to know how close I came to losing you.”

He picked up her hand. “I’ve survived worse than a few flames and a little smoke.”

Was that supposed to appease her?

THIRTY-EIGHT

QUESTIONING HIM FURTHER wasn’t an option when they pulled into the hospital parking lot and got upstairs to Mila’s floor. As soon as he saw them, Coakley came storming over, halting them halfway up the corridor.

“Now might not be a good time, man.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, bobbing and weaving, trying to get a better look at Mila’s door. “What’s going on?”

“She’s… upset.”

“About what?”

“Fuck knows,” Coakley said. “A nurse went in there and—” Rounding Coakley, progress was essential. “I don’t know that she’s put together right!”

Ignoring Coakley’s call, she went straight into Mila’s room. Her friend was sitting on the bed, trying to get up, while a doctor and two nurses attempted to both stop her moving and lay her down.

“Imogen!” Mila called, reaching for her between people. “Help me!”

“What is going on?”

“She wants to leave,” one nurse said, struggling with their patient. “We can’t let her leave, she’s not stable enough—”

“Let me talk to her,” she said and smiled, stalling Mila’s struggle. “You’ll stay and talk to me, won’t you? We can decide what to do next together.”

After a quick glance at all the faces, Mila nodded, and the medical staff backed off. They went out and Jagg closed the door, staying in the room.

Resting a hand on Mila’s shoulder, she stayed loose. “What’s going on?” she asked, keeping her tone calm and, hopefully, soothing.

“I figured it out. It… it hit me and… It was him driving; he was the driver. Bryan hit me with the car.”

“Stephanie’s Bryan. Are you sure?”

“Yes! He killed her! And he tried to kill me!”

“Okay,” she said, rubbing Mila’s upper arm. “Don’t help him succeed. You need to rest. Recuperate.”

“Someone has to stop him or he’ll come back to finish the job.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Jagg has his people guarding your room. I told you he wouldn’t let anything happen to us, didn’t I?”

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