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“You know what I’m talking about.”
There was a subtle sadness in Dr. DeMarco’s expression that struck Haven hard. Up until then, she hadn’t been able to sympathize with him. She could understand him now, could see his fears, and the most startling part was they wanted the same thing.
How was that possible? She couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
“Doesn’t seem so bad,” Carmine said. “Look what it’s gotten you.”
“Looks are deceiving.”
“You’re telling me,” he said. “So, why are we at the hospital? Implanting shit? Running more tests? Or let me guess—it’s a secret?”
Dr. DeMarco’s expression flickered with the same aggravation Haven had seen earlier in the day. “You kids get going. I have patients to see.”
He walked out, leaving Carmine and Haven alone. They sat quietly for a moment after the door closed before Carmine stood up. “It scared the hell out of me when I saw you sitting here. I thought I was gonna have to sucker punch him, grab you, and run.”
His words brought back everything Dr. DeMarco had said. Last week, Carmine told her he’d put her safety above his desires, and now she needed to do the same. She didn’t want him to get hurt, and if that meant giving Dr. DeMarco her loyalty, she’d do it for Carmine.
Because she’d rather sacrifice herself than him suffer a single moment because of her existence.
* * *
Haven stepped off the curb and paused beside the passenger door to the car. She and Carmine stood there silently for a second before he cleared his throat. “Why are you over here? You’re driving.”
“Now?”
He jingled the keys in front of her face. “Yeah, why not?”
She took them. “But I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I’ll walk you through it. See the black thing with the big-ass red button on it? Push—”
Before he could tell her what to push, she hit the red button. The lights flashed as the horn blared. He hit the button to stop it as she smiled sheepishly. This was about to be a disaster if they couldn’t get the doors open without a mistake. “You see the button with the picture of the opened lock?”
“Yes.”
“Press that motherfucker.” She pressed it, her face lighting up when the car unlocked. He smiled at her expression of pride. “Good. Now get into the car, but don’t touch anything.”
Haven climbed into the driver’s side as he got in beside her, and Carmine laughed at how far back the seat was. He used the controls to adjust it so she could see over the dash and reach the pedals.
She put on her seatbelt and raised her eyebrows. “Aren’t you going to wear yours?”
“Do I ever wear it?”
“No, but I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Driving is a piece of cake,” he said. “You can’t be that bad at it.”
“Whatever you say.”
“That’s right—whatever I say. And I say put the key in.” She stuck it in the ignition. He waited for her to turn it but she didn’t. “Are you going to start the car or what?”
She glanced at him nervously. “You didn’t tell me to.”
Haven turned the key and the engine roared to life, but she continued to hold it so it kept grinding. “Christ, let go before you burn the starter up or something!”
She pulled her hand away. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I should’ve told you, but I figured you’d know that much.”
