“You need anything, call me, all right?”
I nod.
He leans in and hugs me. “Give him time. He’s beatin’ himself up real bad right now. Tony’ll be here any minute. He ran out to grab Kill a prescription and then he’s comin’ back. Kill didn’t want me to leave until Tony got here unless you were still sleeping, but he’ll be here in five and I’m runnin’ late. I wanted to let you know to call me, day or night. And give him space, okay? Be patient.”
“Have a good day.”
“I think he’s afraid of more hallucinations and wants to make sure someone’s here to run interference. Wants you safe.”
I give him a tight smile and wave my hand dismissively. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m tougher than I look.”
I follow him toward the door and see Killian’s laptop bag on the floor by the door.
Will says, “I can set the alarm on the way out, not to worry.”
“Okay,” I say and instead of walking him right to the door, I head over to the fridge and pull out a bottle of water.
I’ve suddenly got the beginnings of a tension headache. I had one last night, too, but didn’t take anything for it, not wanting to take any medication if I don’t have to.
After hearing the alarm system beeps and the door locking, I go into the guest room. The shower is running.
I sit on the edge of the bed and play with the fringe of the pretty quilt that Killian bought for me when he decorated this room, trying to make me comfortable when he saved me from Ray and all his bullshit.
A tear slides down my face, so I dash it off my cheek and continue to wait while thoughts run through my brain about all we’ve been through in such a short time. And then the shower turns off.
I’m facing the door when he comes out.
He stops when he sees me. He’s just in a towel. He sighs like he’s disappointed at the sight of me.
“Hi,” I say anyway.
“I’m gonna try to get a couple hours sleep.” He walks past me and I frown before I get up and follow.
I follow him into our room. He’s gone into the closet. He comes out with a pair of trackpants on. His jaw flexes when he sees me.
“I need you to not be here.”
“Not be here?”
“Violet, I need some sleep. Fuckin’ hospital’s so goddamn noisy. Please. Don’t be here with me. Tony’s on his way. Go out or something. Wes needs to be on you, though.” He gets into the bed.
I climb up onto it on my knees.
“Baby,” he growls, frustrated.
At least I’m getting a ‘baby’ I guess. I don’t know what to think.
“This is so unfair,” I whisper. “Do you hear yourself with me? You’re shutting me out. Do you realize that? Are you really this oblivious or is it that you’re intentionally trying to hurt me here? Because this is really fucking horrible.”
His eyes flash with irritation and I hear his molars squeak, he’s grinding his teeth that hard.
“Killian? You’re shutting me out completely. You’re not talking to me. You’re acting angry, and-”
“Of course I’m fucking angry!” he roars, making me jolt. “First, I get drugged and nearly shoot one of my best friends, trash my office, and think I’m losing my fucking mind, Violet. The shit I saw… you have no fuckin’ clue. It was goddamn terrifying. I was trapped in a nightmare that I thought was really happening, and it lasted hours and hours and I couldn’t escape. I could’ve hurt you. You called the goddamn cops when my men fucking told you they had it under control which opened up a whole other can of bullshit that we could’ve avoided and right now, I just want you away from me, so I know I’m not gonna wig out again and hurt you while I try to sort my fuckin’ fucked up head out. So…” He gestures toward the door.
My mouth drops open as I’m about to defend myself, but he starts talking again, voice even louder.
“I get it. That’s the world you lived in. Something goes wrong and you call the cops. You call 9-1-1. But you don’t live in that world anymore, Violet, so get with the fucking program. If something goes wrong and my men tell you not to fuckin’ do something, don’t do it. And now I don’t fuckin’ know if I can even be around you safely because my head is still fucked and I could hurt you, so baby, either I go somewhere else for a few days or you do that because I can’t take the chance I’ll hurt you.”
He storms past me.
I follow him.
“Don’t, woman. I’m fuckin’ serious. Give me space.”
We’re in the hallway and I’m right behind him.
“So you think you can send me away from the hospital when I’m scared out of my mind and not talk to me at all, come home and then continue to ignore me? Sleep in the guest room? Was that what you were going to do?”