The Complete Quake Series Boxset - Jacob Chance Page 0,134

Why did I ever think he’d be different once we slept together? I consider myself to be a smart woman; I’m well educated. I might not have a lot of experience when it comes to guys, but I’ve done some research on the subject. I’ve read Cosmo – I’ve taken all the quizzes. I should know better. Women can’t change men. I know this and yet I let myself stupidly believe one time…okay twice, inside my magical vag would have him declaring his love for me. What the hell was I thinking? He’s never going to change. The worst part of all is that being with him has changed me and not in a good way. I can’t get him out of my head no matter how hard I try. He’s like a drug that changed my brain chemistry and now it’s wired to crave him. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stop. Dammit. I know I don’t want to stop because if I do, that will mean Derek and I will never be and I’m not ready to give up hope yet.

Work has been extremely hectic tonight which is good for keeping my thoughts off Derek. I think half the city has been in and out of this emergency room since my shift began six hours ago. The flow of people is starting to dwindle down now and I’m finally on a long-overdue break. I grab a cup of coffee from the machine in our break room and while I’m adding sugar and cream I hear the door open behind me. I don’t think anything of it because the staff is in and out of here constantly. It’s not until I feel something hard push on my back between my shoulder blades that I realize I’m in trouble.

“Hold fucking still or I’ll blow you away.”

Oh, my God. I freeze in place, afraid to even breathe. I’m instantly light-headed from fear.

“You and I are going to take a little walk. You’re going to show me where all the oxys are. Now.” He pushes the gun into my back for emphasis. “Let’s go.” He steps back and pulls me in front of him, he has a firm grip on my arm. I grimace as his fingers dig into my flesh, squeezing painfully. “Don’t even think of crying out for help or acting suspicious. I’ll fucking shoot you without a second thought. Now move.” I walk forward on shaky legs and with each step I take, I caution myself to be careful and not move in a manner that will have him firing his gun. If I can just make it to get him his drugs, he’ll leave me alone. The door to the supply room where we keep our opioids and other controlled substances is just a couple steps away.

“This is the room,” I say and we both stop in front of it. There’s a box beside it on the wall where we must scan our cards to unlock it.

“Open it, bitch,” he growls in my ear. I can smell the foul odor of his breath and feel the heat of it on my cheek. It has me fighting back nausea and the urge to gag.

“I have to scan my card. It’s in my pants pocket.” He steps forward lowering the gun and presses his chest against my back.

“I’ll get it,” he says. He takes his time sliding his hand into my right front pocket, dragging it out like it’s some sensual experience for him. Fuck. My heart pounds erratically in my chest. I have a feeling this guy isn’t going to be satisfied with just drugs. He pulls my card out and scans it, waiting for the light to turn green before he opens the door. He tucks my card into his pocket and pushes me inside with him. He shuts the door behind us and barks out. “Get me all the oxys.”

I gesture to the computer. “I have to login to the system with my badge number.” He nods his head, the gun still pointed at me and of all things, I notice the bright blue hue of his eyes. I type in my number and add the three-digit emergency code that will alert security that there is an active shooter in the hospital. As soon as I finish typing an alarm sounds and an announcement comes over the loud system.

“Code black, I repeat, code black.” The wail of the siren is painfully loud.

“You little bitch.”