Page 58 of Playing with Trouble

I did.I hated the waiting game, especially with Violet’s safety on the line, but I knew he was right.

“I’ll let you know what we find out,whenwe have all the facts.”

I knew that was as good as I was going to get.We parted ways and as I walked back out to my car my phone rang.I pulled it out of my pocket and saw Chase’s name on the display.

“Hey, what’s up?”I asked, certain he was going to give me an earful about Violet’s mood.

“You’re going to want to meet us at the hospital,” Chase said grimly.

My world tunneled.My hand shook as I unlocked the car, my breathing coming too shallow as I imagined Violet hurt.Bleeding.Maybe worse.Fuck.

“I’m on my way,” I said, my voice rough as gravel.

I ended the call before Chase could say another word as I started the engine and tore out of the parking lot toward the hospital.My heart was in my throat, pounding so loud it drowned out every rational thought.

Because if something had happened to Violet, if I’d failed to keep her safe, then nothing in my life would matter.

CHAPTER22

Violet

Iknew that I was pushing Ford away, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.It was like watching from outside my own body, helpless as the part of me behind the wheel hit the gas instead of the brakes.I could see the cliff coming.I could feel the drop waiting ahead.And still, I didn’t stop.

Ford was the best man I’d ever met.Sexy as hell.Patient and strong.Gentle without being a pushover.He called me out when I needed it.He didn’t try and own me.I felt safe with him, and that was part of the problem, because safety and security never lasted for me.Not once.

You could have put his family in danger,I told myself, but that was just an excuse and I knew it.The truth was simpler, and it cut deeper.I was terrified of what it meant toneedFord.To care that much.Terrified that he’d see too much of me and finally realize what everyone else did.That I was too stubborn.Too damaged and broken.Too hard to love for long.

In my world, I didn’t trust love to stay or that sense of security to last.And every time Ford looked at me like I was worth keeping, I felt the ground shift under me, like the universe was winding up to take it all away from me.

I told myself it was better to retreat now, before I got even more attached, that losing him would truly devastate me.It was both cowardly and self-preservation.

Still, some dark, restless part of me almost wanted Ford to get angry.To snap and prove me right.To show me the limits of his patience, the breaking point where he decided I wasn’t worth the trouble after all.Because then I could stop pretending that this thing between us was different.Thathewas different.

If he yelled, if he walked away, I knew how to survive that kind of pain.Anger I could handle.Disappointment I could outlast.But kindness?Consistency?A man who stayed even when I’d given him reasons not to?That scared me more than anything.Because if Ford really was the man he seemed to be, then I was running out of excuses.

Chase drove me to the few errands I needed to run before work, quiet beside me, which was fine with me since I was all up in my head with my own thoughts.I didn’t have to pretend with him.He knew enough not to pry or ask questions, and I was for once grateful for his more stoic personality.

I started my shift, forcing myself to smile and engage with the players at my table.Work was the perfect distraction.Numbers, chips, the rhythmic shuffle of cards.No messy emotions.No complicated men.

By the time my break rolled around, my nerves were frayed.I grabbed a plate from the buffet and found Chase beside me, piling food like he was carb-loading for a marathon.The man could clearly pack it away and was still solid muscle, which was impressive.We met back at our table, eating in silence for a few minutes while the noise of the restaurant and casino filled the quiet between us.

Finally, I decided to be a little conversational.“So, how’s the wedding planning going?”I asked, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel.

“You should ask Andrea about that,” Chase replied, stabbing his fork into a piece of grilled chicken.“I don’t really have an opinion, other than don’t invite a thousand people.”

My mouth curved into a small grin.“Well that’s good because Andrea doesn’t know a thousand people to invite,” I teased.

Chase’s lips twitched with amusement and we engaged in a bit more small talk as we finished our meal.Before I started my shift again, I decided to check my phone for any messages, dreading the fact that there might be ones from Ford.I wasn’t ready to talk to him about everything yet.

I was both relieved and disappointed to see he hadn’t called or texted me.However, I had several missed phone calls from an unknown number.There was a voicemail, too.

I clicked on it and put it up to my ear, my stomach twisting because in this current state of my life, with someone actively terrorizing me, I didn’t know what to expect.

“Hi, Miss Corbin,” the woman leaving the message said.“This is Melissa calling from Valley Hospital Medical Center.You’re listed as the emergency contact for a patient named Christopher Young.I’m calling to let you know that he’s been admitted following an assault.He’s stable right now, but he did sustain several injuries and is being treated for bruising and a possible concussion.There’s no sign of internal or organ damage at this time, but he’s still in rough condition.We’d like you to come in when you can, or give us a call back at your earliest convenience.”

For a second, the world around me blurred.The low casino noise, the clinking of dishes, even Chase’s voice asking if I was okay.All I could hear was the nurse’s words replaying in my head.Assault.Injuries.Concussion.

My fingers went numb, and the phone nearly slipped from my grasp.Christopher.My brother.The image of him lying hurt somewhere sent a bolt of cold panic through me so sharp it stole my breath.Had my brother been targeted by the person or people terrorizing me to send some kind of message?