“I heard that, Mrs. Coulter, and he’s likely afraid of lasting effects and wants to protect you. It’s common after drug-induced psychosis and terror like what he endured. Effects can linger. You said you’re pregnant; he likely wants to create distance to keep you safe in case he’s still having visual disturbances.”
I swallow down a lump of pain.
“My suggestion: go home, rest, give him a chance to process what he’s been through. It’s a lot. We’ve got a counselor coming to talk to him shortly. Try to rest. You’ve all been through a lot and you’ve only been gone a couple hours. I’m sure you could use more sleep, and by the time you get some, chances are he’ll feel a little bit more like himself. But don’t be surprised if it takes him a bit of time.” He gives me a kind smile.
I manage to squeak out a thank you, then follow Will down the hall. A few doors away we see Tony and Jessa in that room by Jagger’s bedside.
“Kill wants to see you,” Will says. “Wants me to take Violet back home.”
Jessa and I make eye-contact. She frowns.
Tony gives me a nod and rushes by us to go to Killian’s room.
“Doin’ okay, Jag?” Will calls out.
Jagger sits there drinking ice water from a bendy straw.
“Yeah. Gettin’ there,” he says. “Sketchy shit. You all right, Violet?”
A beautiful raven-haired woman rushes past us, to his bed.
“Oh my God,” she leans over and he embraces her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m all right.” He hugs her tight and kisses the side of her head, eyes closed like he’s soaking in her presence like it’s an elixir.
And my heart constricts. Because that’s how I would have thought Killian would’ve greeted me.
“We’ll head out,” Will says.
Jagger waves. “I’m working on figuring things out from here, Violet. Talking to Wes. Couple members of my team are on it, too. Don’t worry. We’re on this.”
I nod. “Thanks. I hope you feel better.”
His woman turns and reaches for a Kleenex and then wipes her eyes and gives me a wobbly smile.
“Violet, this is Jemma. Babe, Kill’s wife.”
“Hi,” Jemma says, dabbing her eyes. “Is Killian okay?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “He doesn’t want me here. I think he’s still feeling the drug effects.”
“He was having a drink already when I came in,” Jagger says. “So he ingested more of that drug cocktail than I did.”
Jessa pipes up. “I need a cig. I’ll follow you guys out.” She gathers up her handbag and her jacket.
We walk out and because we’re going past Killian’s room again to get to the elevator, I stop in the doorway, seeing Tony talking to him. I step inside.
“Violet,” Will whispers from behind me, but I ignore him and approach the bed.
Killian’s got murder on his face as he talks in hushed tones to Tony who stands there. Killian points at him, looking like he’s ushering orders and then Killian’s eyes slice to me and he clips, “Where’s my brother?” He does it in a way that feels like it blows my hair back. Rage in his eyes. Anger. Not a hint of the tenderness I almost always see when those eyes are aimed at me.
Will steps up behind me. “Just on our way out.”
“Go home,” Killian says, adding, “Fuck.”
I frown and don’t even try to hide the hurt in my expression before I turn around and hurry out.
I walk out feeling like there’s a crushing weight on my chest, mashing my heart.
“I don’t know why he seems so angry with me,” I say.
“He’s angry with everyone,” Jessa says, pushing the elevator button. “Pissed that it happened. Mad you saw him like that. Angry you called an ambulance and that the cops are involved. Ticked at everyone because it happened at all.”
We get into the elevator. It’s just me, Will, and Jessa.
“He talked to you?” I ask, feeling even more hurt.
She shakes her head. “I eavesdropped.”
“Do we know how it happened yet?” I ask.
Jessa’s head tips left, then right before she admits, “I overheard a few tidbits.”
“Jessa,” Will mutters with disapproval as the elevator stops, letting someone else in.
“What? She needs information. She’s asking. Being with a macho alpha ain’t easy, especially when he withholds information. Here’s what I know… one sec.”
We get off on the main floor and once we’re outside and away from people, she continues, “There was a bridal shower for you in his office at Numbers the other night? He specifically told his manager which employees to have up there for clean-up afterwards. They think the manager disregarded that and that a specific employee got access to his office for the cleanup. That she dosed all the bottles there.”
Felix Hoffman’s stepsister.
Jessa continues. “Whoever it was, they’ve got the Rossi brothers lookin’ for her. I feel sorry for that chick when she gets found.”