Chapter 8

Julie

"No," he said, "but thank—"

"Shut up, I wasn't asking."

Men. Always trying to act tough.

"You're in no condition to drive."

And they sure weren't. They didn't need her at the party any more, and this was much more important. She could talk to anyone who wanted to do business later, nothing was lost.

She drove all the way back to the city. Both guys were respectful, and in an improbable good mood.

"Make a right here," Mark said. He laid on the back seat, holding a wipe on his forehead.

"That's the building, in front of the black sedan."

She saw it. A tall, old building, probably ten floors. It was on a good part of town, though, probably one of those hipster places that were more expensive than they were worth.

"Guys, please, just let me take you to the hospital—"

"No," they said in unison.

"We're good," Remy said.

"If we thought we weren't, we'd take your offer."

"But what if you're dead tomorrow, you know, because of a contusion or whatever?"

"Then I'm an idiot," Mark said as she stopped the car, "but I'm pretty sure I'm not. Not even a broken bone. Strength!"

He said that last word like a war cry and left. Remy laughed, she couldn't do it, she was genuinely worried.

The man by her side, on the other hand, was quiet, looking ahead, talking as little as possible.

"Are you okay?"

He turned to face her, "sure, why?"

"You're awfully quiet."

He held a bunch of wipes on his eyebrow, they were soaked in blood.

"Thank you," he said, "you saved my life."

He looked at her with an intensity she hadn't seen in anyone before.

"He wasn't going to kill you," she said, "he's not that stupid."

"He's done it before?"

"What?"

"Threaten to kill somebody in front of you."

Her stomach tightened. She realized she was saying more than she should.

"Not with a gun out, no."

"You're used to seeing that? Guns, I mean."

She turned to see him, this man was way too inquisitive.

"You haven't told me where do you live."

"Just take the Kennedy Expressway, I'll tell you where to exit."

They drove in silence for ten minutes. They felt like an eternity.

"Are you feeling okay?" She asked.

"Yes. I think I just have to stitch my wound, it doesn't stop bleeding."

She gasped, every hair in her body raised, cold fear ran through her veins.

"I'm heading to the hospital."

"No."

"Yes," she said, pressing the accelerator, "this is serious, Remy."

The road was practically deserted at this hour, thankfully.

"I can do it on my own, don't worry."

"I'm not going to let you do that! Are you insane?"

"It'll take me a minute or two, it's easy."

She held his hand, it was much bigger than hers, rough and warm. His pulse wasn't agitated and he didn't move away.

She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back.

"I'm sorry," she said, trying to keep her voice from breaking, "I should have known what was going to happen. It's my fault."

He turned his hand and held her, entwining his fingers with hers.

She kept her eyes on the road, but she was sure Remy was looking at her.

"It's not your fault. You can't control other people. What he did, he did on his own."

"But I left him at the party. I should have known he was going to get jealous."

"Jealous?"

He stared at her.

"He's not your boyfriend, right?"

Julie took a deep breath and swallowed.

"No. Of course not."

"Then, what do you mean?"

"He's my ex."

"Oh."

A pregnant silence filled the cabin. He didn't say anything else.

"From long ago. I was fifteen. He's always been like that with me."

"And how do you feel about it?"

She looked at him, "you mean—"

"Do you still have feelings for him?"

"Christ, no. He's sick. He's a friend of the family, works for my dad, just like his father before him."

"Have you told him—"

"Yes, Remy. He knows I don't give two shits about him. But as you said, I can't control other people."

"He's dangerous."

"Don't worry, he's all talk."

"Not tonight it wasn't."

He was right. Tonight, Trey crossed a line. She couldn't give him the benefit of the doubt. She had to talk to her father about it. He needed to be disciplined harshly, before his behavior became a problem.

Anger flared inside of her. He never acted like this. Maybe he saw something in Remy she didn't.

He saw your reaction towards him.

She took the exit to the William Jackson General Hospital.

"No, where are we—"

"We're going to the hospital, tough guy," she said, "and I'm not taking a no for an answer."

He smiled.

"As you wish, princess," he said, bringing his hand over hers again.

She didn't know why, but she didn't take hers away.

He's not well, that's it.

Yeah, sure. That was it.

She didn't really believe that.