A worried expression crossed his face, then he hesitantly tossed the keys to my Maserati and took off.

“Your eyes are red,” Colin said while standing, using his jeans to clean his hands. “You been crying or something?”

“I don’t cry,” I grunted, mildly offended. “Does your mom have a car?”

“No. She sold it when we moved here.”

“You know what floor she works on? What entrance does she use at work?”

Why was he looking at me as if I’d spoken in a foreign language?

“Well?”

“Maybe.” He closed one eye. “Whyyyy?”

No point in keeping the truth from him now. He saw what I could do when threatened, and he was about to learn another side of me. “Because you’ve endangered your mother, which leaves me two choices—go into the hospital and escort her out now,” I began while pointing to my messenger bag, “or hack the security cameras and watch her while we sit parked outside the entrance to ensure no one bothers her while she’s at work.”

His tan skin, which he more than likely inherited from me, lost some of its color. “No, um, don’t go in there. But can you really hack the cameras to keep watch over her?” At my nod, his eyes tightened with curiosity. “Why do you care so much about us?”

I picked up the bag, slinging the strap over my shoulder. “No more questions for now, and in exchange, I’ll leave you alone for the next few hours.”

He rolled his eyes, but at least he agreed. “Deal.”

13. Juliette

Chapter 13

Juliette

While removing my phone from my purse, I waved goodbye to security on my way to the exit.

I checked my texts, and a weird tinge of disappointment filled my stomach when there was nothing from Constantine. But why would he text in the middle of the night while I was at work? Just because I’d thought about the man every hour and every moment between seeing patients didn’t mean he’d thought about me.

I decided to text my brother instead of messaging the man I’d have lost sleep over had I had the opportunity to get in a bed last night.

Me: Are you around later today? Something important to tell you.

Easton: I can make time. Call whenever you need to. Everything okay?

The automatic doors parted for me, and a gentle breeze hit my face, drawing my attention up and across the street to the man casually leaning against a gray car, his arms crossed over his chest.

Constantine? Shock carried me forward. I was at a loss for words. So much so that I nearly stepped into oncoming traffic.

Had Constantine not shouted my name, throwing his arm out, I would’ve been hit by a bus.

I jumped backward onto the sidewalk just in time, dropping my phone and purse on the sidewalk.