CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Mouse
I couldn’t get the smile off my face. Not that I wanted to.
The night before with Ingram had been mind-blowing. I’d never felt anything like that and I didn’t want to lose it. So I had to make sure I did things right.
I knew I probably wouldn’t see her for the next couple of days but I had the urge to let her know that I was thinking about her. Maybe I needed to know that she was thinking of me too. The text had been simple but meaningful. The woman had my damn heart and I was alright with that.
I was in such a good mood that I decided to hang out with my brothers that night. A bunch of us headed up to the bar and though I didn’t drink, I was having a really good time.
My phone was ringing in my pocket. I couldn’t hear it but I could feel it vibrating like crazy letting me know it wasn’t just a simple text.
I was hoping it was Ingram but I doubted it because she’d sent me a goodnight text over an hour ago. I knew she was more than likely asleep right now.
I saw the local number right before I swiped to answer.
“Hello?” I said as I walked out of the packed, loud bar.
It wasn’t much quieter outside and so I kept on walking toward the dark path that led to the compound.
“Is this a, um, Mouse?” the woman asked me.
“Yeah. Who’s this?” I semi-barked out.
She told me her name was Amanda and that she was calling me from the hospital.
And that I was listed as Amber Smith’s only emergency contact.
My heart stopped at the same time my feet did.
“Sir?” she asked when I hadn’t responded for a long moment.
“I’m here. I’m sorry, can you tell me what’s going on?” The words were raw and cut like glass as they crawled up my throat.
“Miss Smith was brought in about an hour ago. If we could get some information from you, please.”
Information? What the hell had she been brought in for? And why the hell was I her emergency contact?
“Why is she there? Was there an accident?” I asked.
“No, sir. She was having chest pain and her blood pressure was elevated. But with her cond—”
“Should I be there?” I knew that sounded a little cold but my head was still spinning. I didn’t even realize that I’d cut her off until after I’d spoken.
She let out a long, sad breath.
“I think that would be a wise choice.”
“I’ll be there in five,” I said and dropped the call.
I was on my bike and tearing off and away from the compound in less than two minutes.
As my boots pounded to the front doors of the emergency wing, I caught sight of Amber’s roommate, Carla, sitting there. She met my eyes and I didn’t miss the flair of her nostrils or the intense hate in her eyes.
I had no fucking clue what her problem was.
Amber had been the one that walked out on me. She told me that I wasn’tfunanymore and basically said that I meant nothing to her.
