“Oh God,” Tasha’s mom said aloud as she covered her face with her hands. Tasha moved closer and hugged her mother.
“That’s expensive, isn’t it, Doctor?” her mom asked.
“Mom, don’t worry about that. None of that matters, only getting you better does.”
“You can’t keep working the hours you do. It’s not fair.”
“Mom, please.”
“Is there any other option? How much will something like this cost?” her mom asked.
“There isn’t another option. Without this surgery, I’m afraid your chances of surviving are not good.”
“Mom, please. Just stop it. You’re having the surgery. Doctor, how long before we can schedule the procedure?”
“There are some things to do first, some pretesting and of course you’ll have to see the financial department to work out insurance and payment options.”
“Don’t worry about it. Are you the best surgeon for this particular type of surgery?” Dash asked. He’d had enough of the pompous surgeon and his ability to play with this woman’s life.
“Dash,” Tasha reprimanded. He didn’t even look at her, he held the doctor’s gaze.
“I can assure you that I am the best at this type of surgery.”
“Then don’t worry about the payment. I’ve got it covered. You just be sure to take care of Carry Ann and get her well. If you don’t, then next time you and I talk, it won’t end well for you.”
The doctor nodded his head and walked out of the room.
“Dash, you’re not paying for this,” Tasha began to say.
“No, Dash, it’s too much,” Carry Ann said and then took a deep breath and released it. The woman looked exhausted.
“Mom, don’t worry about this. I’ll handle everything. You need to rest. Just close your eyes and rest,” Tasha said, and her mom complied. Tasha leaned down and kissed her mother’s hand as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Dash watched her, and he knew this was one of the best strategic moves he had ever done before. He owned Tasha now. There was no way she would push him away or resist his control. Not when he just saved her mother’s life.
* * * *
Tasha kissed her mom good-bye as the nurse came in to check on her. She didn’t say a word to Dash. What could she say? A thank-you? An “I’ll do whatever you want even though I despise you in every way”? Her head was pounding and just as she felt like she would pass out, Dash pulled her against his side, wrapped an arm around her waist, and assisted her outside of the building. A moment later, as people passed by hardly noticing them, Dash sat her down on a bench.
“Take it easy. Everything will be okay.”
This man is some psycho criminal, isn’t he? Just last night he ordered a beating on Melanie and then he put a beating in on my ribs. I can’t even think straight. I’ve never even had a man to count on, to love me, take care of me. I’ve been alone and dealing with all this shit for far too long. What do I do?
“Talk to me. Let me know what you’re thinking.”
She looked up toward his face. He had placed the sunglasses on to block the sun. He looked so in charge and mysterious. The man had two personalities and was confusing the shit out of her.
“Tell me.”
“Are you for real? Is this what you do? You get into people’s lives and make them owe you things beyond the monetary? Why do you do it? What is it that you want? I don’t have money. I don’t have a great life. Hell, I don’t even have a goddamn thing to offer you. Why are you here and why did you meet my mom and say that you’ll pay her medical bills?”
He smiled softly as he pulled her closer. She hadn’t realized that she was practically yelling her last few words. She saw his expression and knew she was in for it.
“I said I would take care of you, didn’t I?”
She swallowed hard. “I can’t accept this from you, Dash. I can’t let you pay for this. It’s not your problem. I don’t know you and I don’t want to owe you that money back.”
He pulled her up off the bench and started directing her along with him to the parking lot. “Dash. Dash, what are you doing? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
As soon as they got to her car, she noticed his car was parked nearby. He turned her around and pressed her body against the vehicle.
He cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes.
“You are mine. You accepted your place last night at the club.” He covered her mouth and kissed her deeply. He explored her mouth as he used one hand to grip her hair and head and the other hand to press his palm against her ribs. She gasped but he kept kissing her, devouring her pain-stricken moans until he cupped her breast and squeezed it hard.
“Tasha?”
She pulled from his mouth at the sound of the familiar voice. Dash looked pissed off, and Catalina gave Dash the once-over and then smiled.
“Who is this?” she asked.
Dash pulled Tasha against his chest and eyed over Catalina.
“Catalina, what’s going on? How is everything going?”
“Not as good as it is for you. Hi, I’m Catalina, do you have a friend?” she asked, and Dash chuckled. He took Catalina’s hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed it as he held her gaze. “Catalina, such a lovely name.”
Catalina blushed and shyly lowered her eyes. Tasha tried stepping away from Dash but he reached out and snagged her back against his side.
“The name is Dash McGuire. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Tasha has spoken very highly of you. You’re a nurse here at the hospital, correct? The ER, I believe she told me.”
Dash winked and Tasha felt her heart race. The son of a bitch had checked her out thoroughly, and even her friends. He knew that Catalina was a nurse here. Now she would need to worry about Catalina, too.
“Yes, that’s right. But, I’m afraid that Tasha hasn’t mentioned you at all.”
“Really? Hmmm, I guess she’ll need a little reprimanding tonight, huh, Tasha?” he asked as he stared on into her eyes and glared at her. His dark eyes and dangerous expression warned her to behave and to concede to his authority. Everything this man did was a strategic action, a ploy to manipulate her and control her as if he had a noose around her neck and was pulling slowly.
“Stop that, Dash. You’ll scare Catalina off. He’s just joking. We’ve only just started seeing one another.”
“But it feels like we’ve been together for a very long time.” He pulled her into an embrace.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Dash. I hope to see you around and maybe at the Station. That’s where we all hang out. I’m sure the others will love to meet you.”
“Sounds interesting.” Dash ran the palm of his hand over Tasha’s ass cheek and squeezed. Tasha gripped his forearms, the move causing instant pain in her ribs.
“Well, I’d better get to work. I’ll call you later, Tasha. To catch up.” She winked and walked away. Tasha felt her breathing grow rapid.
“Sweet girl. Very pretty actually, I’m certain that Ink or Carlo would love her.”
“No, please don’t do that.”
He raised one eyebrow up at her. “No? You think she wouldn’t be a good listener? Do you think she might need a firm hand?” he asked, squeezing her backside.
“Please, Dash, my ribs hurt.”
“Good. That’s a little reminder about lying to me. Now, tell me about the doctor? He likes you. I could tell, and his attitude needed an adjustment.”
The realization hit her pretty damn hard. Dash did what he did because he was exerting his power, his control over her and making it obvious that Tasha belonged to him. He wasn’t paying for the medical bills to win over Tasha, and maybe even not to own her so Tasha had to pay him back and stay with him. He probably did it because he was a conceited, selfish, pompous man. He was showing his power not only over the doctor, the situation, and Tasha’s life, but also over Tasha herself. It was exactly like Melanie stated. He’ll never give up. He would show up everywhere she went and learn everything about her so that she had no choice but to give in. Was she giving in? Was she going to let this man take her soul?
“I see you’re not answering me, which suggests that there was something between you and the doctor.”
“No, Dash. There wasn’t anything. He’s been very nice and friendly. He’s helped me through this process with my mom’s medical problems and nothing more.”
“Good. Keep it that way. You’re mine. Now, I have some time before I need to head to a meeting. How about lunch?”
“I was heading to the mall to shop.”
“Good. I’ll help you. You could use some sexier outfits to wear for the club.”
“Dash, I can’t hang out at the club. I have work and my mom to visit plus my friends to see.”
“You have what I tell you. We’ll discuss it over lunch, and finalize it over dinner.”
“I wanted to come back here and have dinner with my mom and discuss the surgery.”
“The doctor will discuss it with her. She knows my plans for us this evening. I told her all about them.” He caressed her cheek and then leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips.