Page 13 of Entranced With the Hellhound

“Girl, are you okay? You look like we need to be treating you,” Tracy, another ER nurse, says in a pitying tone.

“Thanks for telling me I look like shit, Trace.” I roll my eyes at her.

“Listen, I’m just sayin’. I came to tell you that the charge nurse was talking about how you asked to be scheduled for multiple shifts. They act as if they care, but you know the cow is being nosy. Cause right after that, she asked if you were trying to go on vacation or something.”

“I’m working because I got bills just like everyone else.” I wave my hand flippantly.

Tracy might think she’s being slick, but the charge nurse isn’t the only gossip around here. If I’d told Tracy any reason, made up or not, the entire hospital would’ve known as soon as she was out of my sight.

These nurses act like there isn’t enough drama dealing with the patients because they love to keep mess between the staff going. I get why Tracy might be curious about me suddenly being antisocial, because I was always in the mix with everyone else before. But these last few months have been hell, and I just don’t have the energy.

“Okay, no need to get snippy. I was just telling you.”

“Thanks,” I drily answer back.

Tracy scoffs, but she doesn’t tell me anything else. The rest of the evening is actually pretty tame for the ER. There’s nothing too crazy going on until I see someone who makes my stomach drop.

My heart instantly constricts, and my mouth goes dry. Even though we get a plethora of different types of people in here, he looks out of place.

The menacing look on his face would scare even the toughest person. So, when his eyes land on me, I know that I’ve fucked up somehow.

“Shit,” I whisper.

“Damn, he looks like he’s about to kill somebody,” Tracy says, her eyes widening.

“Blue.”

“What can I help you with, sir?” I pretend not to know who he is, even though he just said my name.

Tracy sits down at the desk and watches us closely. She might as well get a bucket of popcorn; she’s so obvious. I look at her and nod for her to leave, but she just pushes the chair in and relaxes back in the seat.

When I see she’s not going to leave, I decide to take this conversation elsewhere. Tracy already has enough information to get the rumor mill going about who this man might be. It’s not every day a white man in a tailored suit, with menacing dark hazel eyes and built like a truck, comes in asking for me by name. There’s no telling what stories they might come up with. But it won’t be anywhere near the truth, that’s for sure.

“I’m taking a break. Be back in fifteen,” I say to Tracy before leaving.

Once I’m outside in the smoking area, I turn to the man. My heart is still racing, and even though I damn sure didn’t want to be alone with him, I don’t have a choice. His showing up at my job is insane.

“What are you doing here? This is my job! If I lose it, I definitely won’t be able to pay you your money back.”

“Look, you need to get your debt wiped clean and fast before Chauncey gets out of jail. He promised some shit you definitely don’t want to get involved in. I only came to warn you because I know you’re close with the Hounds,” Brick, the loan shark enforcer, says.

I frown because this is the second time I’ve been in this man’s presence, and the second time he’s mentioned the Hounds to me. I don’t know if he’s trying to tell me something, but I wish he would just come out and say it.

I hate a fucking mystery.

CHAPTER 8

FAMILY

BLUE

It was hard for me to focus on my work once Brick left. His warning was ominous and freaked me out. At least Tracy’s nosy ass was gone when I got back. But his words kept echoing in my head.

Pay the money back soon, or you will be in a world of hurt.

I don’t know what the fuck Chauncey promised, or when he’s getting out of jail. I just know that I told Brick that I would have the rest of his payment as soon as possible.

I know I’m gonna have to beg, borrow, and steal to get it, but enough is enough. I have to get my mama out of this mess, even if it’s the last thing I do. I never thought I’d have to give her an ultimatum, but I can’t go on like this. Chauncey creates a problem, my mom runs to me to fix it, I help, and then Chauncey fucks it all up again.