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“Nowhere, thankfully.”
Apparently not reassured, he took stock of me, patting me here and there.
“She’s got no other injuries that I can see,” Jenson told him.
Dax rudely didn’t even spare him a glance. His gaze clung to me, like I’d disappear if he looked away.
“I’m okay,” I assured him.
His nostrils flared, and he clamped his lips shut.
“Paramedics are on their way, they can check to be sure you’re good,” said Jenson.
Panic zipped through me. I wasnotgoing in an ambulance.Been there, done that, got the worst news ever when I did.
I grabbed Dax’s shirt. “I just want to go home. Can we go home?” EvenIheard the wobble in my voice.
His face softened slightly. “Once they’ve taken a look at you, yes, we can go.”
∞∞∞
Standing before me a short while later, Dax held out a tumbler of whiskey. “Drink this.”
Settled on the sofa, I reached out and took it. “Thanks.”
To be honest, I’d have preferred a hug. But he hadn’t touched me since that moment he’d crouched in front of me while I’d sat on the bench.
He’d remained close while the paramedics cleaned and applied butterfly stitches to the cut on my head. He’d also remained close when cops appeared—minus Lowe—and asked me questions. But after that, he’d kept his distance.
It wasn’t that he was being cold or insensitive. He was just so damn pissed that he was struggling to hold himself in check. It was clear by the vengeful glint in his eyes, the tension in his jaw, the stiff set of his shoulders, and the forced calm in his tone.
I could almostseehim plotting what exactly he’d do once he had Thaddeus in his grasp. Could almostseethe dark fantasies playing out in his imagination. Could detect the little flickers of sadistic promise in the depths of his eyes.
Dax had repeatedly warned me about the violent side of his nature. Intellectually, I’d known it existed. But it was only now that I got a real glimpse of it. He didn’t look like he wanted to punch someone, he looked like he wanted to bludgeon them to death. Not that I believed he would, just that a mere beating wouldn’t cut it for him in this case.
Really, I doubted he’d have settled on a simple beating even if it hadn’t been my car that Thaddeus barreled into tonight. Twice in the past Dax had told him to pull his shit together or deal with the repercussions. The shit had ignored those warnings, tempted fate, and nowhe was fucked.
I chugged down my whiskey and then winced as pain lanced through my chest. I rubbed it. “Hurts.”
“That’ll be thanks to the seatbelt,” said Dax, still sounding unnaturally composed, as he took the glass from me.
“Yup. I’m gonna be hurting like hell tomorrow.” Whiplash was a bitch. “I hope the same can be said for Thaddeus.” The asshole would deserve it.
“I spoke to his father on the phone,” Dax told me, setting the tumbler on the table. “The man is a mess. Angry at himself for being so lenient with his son all his life. Angry at Thaddeus for causing injury to another person. Angry at his wife for refusing to accept that their son has a drinking problem. But he’s also torn up because he knows I’m going to make Thaddeus pay for this.”
“Did he ask you to take it easy on Thaddeus?”
“Yes. As if I’d ever agree to that.” Dax’s flinty gaze roved over my face with a predatory focus. “He could have killed you.” His voice was low. Rough. Irate.
The dark promise of retribution that was buried beneath his words made a little chill dance over my nape.
“Not that the piece of shit will care about that.” He cricked his neck. “He’ll be sorry he crashed his car into yours, but only because of who you are to me. He won’t want to face the consequences.” Pausing, Dax rolled back his tense shoulders. “But he will.”
Hating to see him so steeped in anger, I patted the seat beside me. “Come sit here,” I invited, injecting a soothing note to my tone.
One brow imperiously flew up. “You think you have a chance of calming me down?” he asked. No,mocked. “That won’t happen any time soon.”
Well, yeah, I’d sensed that much. I reached out to grab his hand but stilled at the sharp look he gave me.
