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My eyes shift uncomfortably between the two men. They seem to be concurring wholeheartedly with unspoken words again, when it seems just five minutes ago, I was hearing them argue about something. They were loudly opposing each other in a heated battle of wills.
“Look, I’ll just step outside a moment while you two chat.” He gives me a reassuring pat on the arm, and then turns to Travis, giving him a curt nod. As he makes his way to the door, he pauses and turns around to meet my eyes, speaking with utter conviction. “Trust what this man says.” Then he turns to Travis. “I’ll just go gather a few things while you talk. It shouldn’t take but a minute.” He slips out, shutting the door behind him.
Based on the look on Travis’ face, I’m feeling a sense of unspoken urgency in his body language. I watch as he closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he takes a moment of silence before speaking to me.
“Look, I know this is a lot of information to take in all at once, but you have to believe me when I tell you I have your best interest at heart.” He expels a large breath and leans forward. “I’m going to shoot straight with you here.” He pins me down with serious, stark eyes, and I grow concerned. “I don’t think your mugging was an accident. I think someone is after you, and truthfully, I don’t even think you’re safe here in this hospital. Hell, I don’t even think you’re safe here in Charleston.”
“You’re scaring me, Travis,” I whisper shakily, twisting my hands in a knot. “I don’t even know you. If I’ve only seen you for a few dates, how have you surmised this wasn’t an accident?” I shift in the bed and immediately wince in pain. It hurts from my shoulders to my calves, and for the life of me, short of being put through a meat grinder, I can’t figure out what could’ve done this to me. I close my eyes while stealing a deep breath against the soreness. I feel the need to take inventory of my injuries, but before I can do such a task, the side of the bed dips as Travis sits by my side.
I gaze into his eyes as he grabs my hands again, this time a little more tightly, and his voice comes out urgent. “I wish we had the time to go into all of the details right now, but we don’t. I need you to trust me. I need to get you out of here and take you away to somewhere safe.”
“How do I know I can trust you?” My brows furrow in question. “I don’t even know who I am.” I pull my hand from his and wave it around the room. “How do I trust anything going on around me? I’m really confused, and I don’t know what to think. Plus, why would you help me, especially if you barely even know me? Why not just call the police?”
He lets go of my hand, exhaling heavily as he runs both hands through his wet hair in exasperation. “You’re right; you don’t know you can trust me, or trust anything going on.” Leaning in to cradle my face, he’s so close, close enough to kiss. The smell of an ocean breeze tickles my senses, and a shiver runs down my spine. His eyes shift over mine imploringly with utter sincerity.
“I’m asking you to take a leap of faith here. There is a small window of opportunity for safety, and it’s closing in on us. It’s closing in fast, Jules; we have to leave. I truly do have your best interest and safety at heart, and you heard Dr. Anderson.” He looks pleadingly at me and something in the tone of his voice rings true. “If I was the bad guy, I wouldn’t have brought you here, would I? I do have my reasons for helping you,” he pauses to give me a small grin. “Besides the fact I think you’re one hot babe, but right now, every minute that ticks by is a minute closer to danger. Please, let me get you out of here. I promise once I feel you’re safe, I will explain more to you.”
He pleads a convincing case, making me want to believe every word proceeding from his soft lips. Even though I have a niggling sense something is off, I have to weigh the facts. I bite my lower lip in thought. He did rescue me, after all, and he brought me to a hospital, seeking help. Both he and the doctor seem genuinely concerned for my wellbeing. I glance up at Travis, who seems to be on edge, waiting for an answer. Apparently, I need to make a hard and fast decision.
