Page 90 of The Broken Keys

Sandra gestures toward the seating area. “Right over there. Someone will be out soon.”

He nods and turns away from the desk.

That’s when our eyes meet.

For a split second, neither of us moves. We’re frozen in this moment of recognition that changes everything.

His expression is stone-like. Of course it is. He’s used to being in stressful situations and has probably practiced his solid stance for moments of high volatility just like this.

“Cash.” He dips his chin as if he were expecting me.

“Jaxon.” I keep my voice calm even though I’m fuming inside. “Funny running into you here.”

He glances around at the visitors in the waiting room, calculating whether this conversation should happen here or somewhere private.

But there is no more privacy. The truth is out now, standing between us like a third person demanding acknowledgment.

“We should talk.” He gestures toward a corner of the room that’s relatively empty.

“Yeah, I think we should.” I follow him.

I slip my hands into my pockets to keep them from shaking. Or from doing something stupid, like throwing a punch at the man who helped save my life and stole my future in the same breath.

We stop near the windows overlooking the parking lot. Dusk is upon us, and I can’t help but note the dreadful metaphor. Darkness is creeping in.

We’re two men standing in a hospital waiting room, bound together by the woman fighting for her life somewhere beyond those double doors.

Jaxon speaks first. “Before I assume, why are you here?”

“Better question is why are you?” I’m not about to give him the power in this situation just because of who he is.

I did that before with Leon, and it ended terribly. Cash Mayze is no longer the “stupid boy,” the name Leon loved to call me.

Jaxon stares hard into my eyes. He’s still unreadable, and I’m doing my damndest to mimic him.

After a few beats, he nods. “It seems we’re here for the same reason.”

“Yeah, I bet we are.”

“What do you know about it…the car accident?”

“I was following her and saw the whole thing.” The admission makes me shudder.

He grimaces as something flashes across his face. “You saw it happen?”

“Every second of it.” My voice cracks despite my best efforts. “There was an SUV that slammed into her car, and I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.”

He swallows, his hand coming up to grip the back of his neck. “Is she… What was her condition?”

Well, let’s see how I can phrase this without wanting to murder him.

My pulse accelerates. “Oh, she’s in aconditionall right.”

“What does that mean?” He shakes his head as the wrinkles on his forehead deepen with concern. “Was she conscious?”

“Barely.”

“Did she say anything to you?”