Page 137 of Lethal Attraction

“She was terrified of losing you,” Alana says. “But for once, she needs someone to choose her—show her that no matter what, they aren’t going anywhere. And I think that person is you, Reed.”

My eyes snap to hers as it all comes to a head—every night spent together, every smile, every laugh, meeting her beautiful family…

“What am I doing?” I whisper.

Why am I still here?

Alana smiles past her tears before looking over at Brooks’s still form. “First, we need to handle him.”

A chill crawls down my spine as my eyelids lower. The very reason this all happened is lying right here.

“Connor can give him a one-way ticket to the primordial soup.” The intel expert shrugs.

“No.”

She double-takes at me. “What?”

My fists clench as my teeth grind. “I’ll handle him and make it home before dinner.”

She blinks before nodding. “Well, okay then.” She heads for the door before stopping. “Want to have a double date at Dale’s tomorrow night? I’m sure you and Thalia will be busy once you get back.”

I offer her a crooked smile. “Of course. See you then.”

She winks before closing the door and leaving us. I stare at the man connected to machines, his whole life in the hands of the staff that preoccupy this floor. Except for right now.

No. His life is in my hands as of this very second, and I’m not feeling generous.

My hand slides into my coat pocket, and I retrieve the smelling salts I usually carry. I break the plastic tube before stalking closer and shoving it under his nose.

His reaction isn’t as instant as it should be, giving away his deteriorating state as he languidly blinks his bloodshot eyes open and tries to move his head away from the rancid smell. Refocusing is a bitch for him as he groans and his monitor spikes.

I slap a hand over his cheek sharply, jolting him. “Rise and shine, fuckface.”

His eyes snap to me, widening. “What…you’re—”

His voice is as rough as sandpaper before I cut him off. “Thalia’s boyfriend.”

He blinks a few times before turning away from me in dismissal. “Don’t…” He takes a ragged breath, “care…”

“Oh, you will,” I murmur as I observe his vitals and the meds being pumped through his IV. “Do you know what Lactated Ringer’s is?”

He’s still ignoring my presence as he stares out the window. “Don’t…care.”

“It’s what’s keeping your vital signs normal.”

His eyes shift to me, wide and alert. “What…are you…doing?”

I reach down, unplugging his monitor and then shutting his IV down. “Just some housekeeping.”

Before anyone at the nurses’ station can become curious, I duck my head out the door with a smile. “Just trying to check his vitals manually. Don’t mind me.”

A nurse gives me a thumbs-up before I shut the door and my faux mood dies.

“T-turn…it back…on,” Brooks begs, and I can see the pain in his eyes. “Please.”

I tuck my hands into my coat pockets as I rest my shoulders back against the door. “I don’t think I will. You tried to hurt the woman I love. You’re part of the reason she doesn’t believe she deserves happiness.” I push up, slowly stalking closer to him. His breathing is labored and deep as the pain consumes him and can do nothing more than lay there and take it. “I’m not doing this as a mercy to you. I’m doing this because no one fucks with the people I love. If Thalia wants security, I will tie up every loose end. Starting with you.”

“No…” he begs, a single tear welling in his eye. “I…can—”