French Wanker - Victoria Pinder Page 0,37

my heart.

Marlon’s head was bleeding, and I squeezed Quentin’s hand. “He’s hurt.”

He let me go and flew down the stairs. I called out, “Quentin!”

Simon and Bridget were right behind him.

I joined Calliope and Nigel who spoke to the police for a moment, but then I heard Quentin as he said, “Right. We need to wrap his head and get him to the hospital.”

I glanced at the heavy mahogany table and the sharp corner he must have hit when he went down.

I also heard Nigel telling the police that Marlon was drunk and about to attack his wife for stating he needed to leave her alone. Then he had his hands folded in front of him and said, “Quentin, Simon, this guy came out of nowhere and assaulted my wife.”

“It’s a head wound,” Simon said fast. “He’s lost consciousness.”

For my next screw up in life, I should probably take self-defense classes from Calliope. One kick knocked him out. But the bigger part of me ached that he attacked these good people because I was an idiot.

I never saw him drunk or angry like this at home, other than the occasional road rage where he stepped on the gas to somehow prove his manliness. Maybe that should have been a clue, but my goodness… What would my life have turned into if I’d actually married him?

Bridget used towels from the bathroom she somehow managed to find and tied his head as paramedics arrived.

Quentin then spoke in fast French where I basically heard médecin and Marlon’s name.

Marlon’s eyes opened, and he stared at Quentin. “That fucking doctor can’t help me. He’s the asshole who stole my life.”

Boy, I knew how to pick ’em. This was all on me. I closed my eyes and somehow wished I could stop myself from ever going out with Marlon.

Quentin helped him get onto the aluminum stretcher. “I took what was offered. Next time be a man if you want to keep a good woman.”

A moment later the paramedics pushed him away. I swallowed, and when Quentin came back to my side, I said, “You helped save him.”

He glanced at me, and his face was white. “I didn’t.”

I hugged him. He saved me from disaster. He helped save Marlon who, hopefully, calmed down on his own and moved on with his own life. He was a hero. “Quentin, you’re a gifted doctor. You need to live up to that.”

Quentin stared at Simon and Calliope. “I’m a doctor because I couldn’t save my brother or my family. I thought I could help others avoid what happened to me, but I can’t.”

His friends were right. Giving up on his dreams was a disaster. “Sure you can,” I said. “You did today. I’m sure you figured out countless patients’ problems.”

He took both hands of mine in his and shook his head. “Don’t try to save me, Kara. I’m not worth it.”

“Yes, you are. It’s why everyone’s here. You’re amazing.”

The words flew out of my mouth. Quentin deserved the best. I might not be his forever, but he needed to follow his own path.

He let me go. “I have to go.”

And then he walked up the stairs, alone.

My insides twisted as I watched him leave. I was broken now. I’d pushed away the only man I’d ever truly loved.

Chapter 15

Quentin

I aimlessly walked for hours. The beach had no answers, but my skin was all pins and needles and adrenaline kept me out there.

Kara’s face haunted me, but I wasn’t sure what to say.

Everyone there tried to get me to be a doctor. My plan to go back to the vineyard was good. My parents expected me.

And I failed Cecilia. I couldn’t forget that, ever.

Desiree’s legal suit against me haunted my nights, and I’d lost the ability to breathe for months.

It hadn’t mattered that the inquisition had found me not guilty of any wrongdoing; I hadn’t. Cecilia and Blake were dead because I’d been careless.

If I could miss clues in my fiancée’s case, when she’d trusted in me, I was a monster. I let her down, just as I let my brother down.

Once the dusk settled in the sky, I knew I needed to head back to the hotel.

Kara waited for me. I was losing precious moments of being with my personal goddess in my room. My wanker was hard just thinking about her there, without me.

So, I double timed it back to the room, up the stairs, and opened our hotel room door.

Stillness caught my attention. The room was empty. The bed