hurt. He’s in no state to attack me.’ And now that I’m on the sidewalk in front of him, I can say this categorically.
‘It’s usually the monsters who don’t look like monsters who are the ones you need to worry about. Just, please, call the authorities. Let them deal with this.’
‘I can’t just leave him here! Abandon the man bleeding on my doorstep.’
‘Abandon the man who, five minutes ago, you were sure was out to attack you?’
‘He was trying to get my attention, to get my help.’
‘And by calling an ambulance, you will be helping him.’
‘Yes, okay,’ I agree as the stranger moans once more. ‘I’ll do that. Let me call you back.’
Without waiting for her response, I end the call.
2
Rose
‘Rose?’
At the sound of my name, I’m jerked from my microsleep. ‘A-yesh. I mean, yes, that’s me.’ Grimacing at the metallic taste in my mouth, I rub my lips together, rolling my aching shoulders and stiff neck. Was I drooling? I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth just in case and straighten from my cramped position.
And there’s a nurse standing in front of me . . . why?
‘You can go in now. He’s in the end cubicle.’
And then it comes back to me; the man on my doorstep. I’d pulled his wallet from his inside pocket as I’d looked for his phone, hoping to find family or a loved one to call. As it was, there was no phone and only a French driving license and a few US dollars in his wallet. And a couple of condoms.
But at least it gave me his name.
Remy Durrand.
He’d groaned, his eyes flickering open as he’d grasped my hand. He was still clutching it when the ambulance arrived, and I was mistaken for his girlfriend. I’d decided to just go with it after thinking I’d hate to wake alone. Maybe I’d also need to explain the bump on the side of his head. He was still unconscious when we’d arrived at the hospital where he was whisked off while strapped to a gurney. I was asked a million questions, most of which I couldn’t answer, then shown the family waiting room.
Over the next few hours, the nursing staff had kindly supplied me with updates.
Don’t worry, he’ll be fine, and he’s coming around.
Then, it won’t be long now, along with he’s just undergoing a neurological evaluation. He has a nasty concussion.
And just before I fell asleep in the chair at seven in the morning, I’d received the last update.
He’s about to have his wound cleaned. Would you like to come hold his hand while it’s sutured?
That’d be a big fat no, actually.
I’d lived in a lot of places, at least ten towns across four states before I turned twelve, but I was born in Kentucky, and my mom used to say Kentucky women have both sugar and fire in their veins. But I guess even women from the Bluegrass State have their weak spots, and mine is the sight of blood. Or maybe it’s a case of a cat being born in a stable not making it a horse. Either way, if I can see Remy now, the gory business must be over, and I can breathe through my nose again without fear of passing out.
As I haul my tired body from the chair, the nurse’s kind smile suddenly falters. My gaze follows hers to where my coat has fallen open as I’ve dozed.
‘Thank you.’ I leisurely pull the sides closed, knotting the belt tight as I stride past her into the nearby hallway. She can judge me for drooling but not for an honest night’s work. Even if me and my slutty outfit could be mistaken for a hooker.
‘Ah, here she is.’
The curtain is open at the end cubicle, and I find myself freezing, not at the sound of the doctor’s voice, but because of the man facing me in the bed opposite. His hair is matted and stained russet in parts, his complexion sallow against the stark white of the pillows propping him up from behind. A Steri-Strip bisects one eyebrow, making him look thoroughly dissolute, but even that doesn’t detract from how good looking he is. I mean, I’d known he was attractive. Handsome, even. Didn’t I say as much to Amber over the phone? But it turns out that good looking doesn’t even cover it. The strong line of his jaw is a perfect complement to those sharp cheekbones, the whole effect made more mortal than Greek