Star-Crossed(99)

“Go,” Alaine said quickly. “I got things here.”

“Clay, I’m heading over to Mercy,” Jules said and then leaned down, whispering into the receiver, “And you tell my brother we’re gonna have it out when I get hold of him.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna pass on that,” Clay said dismissively. “He really ain’t okay today. It’s like he’s lost all his good sense.”

Jules couldn’t deal with Wyatt’s mental breakdown. She felt breathless with fear.

If Clay called an ambulance, it had to be pretty damn bad. Clay’s judgment on a serious injury was completely skewed. She’d seen guys mosey out of the Cellar with broken arms and noses like it was no big deal and just drive themselves to the hospital. For an ambulance to show up at the Cellar, someone had to be almost dying.

“Call me if anything changes,” Jules said and then hung up the phone. She gave Jack a look of apology. “I’m sorry.”

“’S okay.” Jack grinned. “You dating the Gladiator?” Jules rolled her eyes as she stood. “Jack—”

“Sam told Bobby he was driving by the office yesterday and saw you two having words.” Jack’s smile grew broader. “He said Wellings was darn near naked.” Jules put her purse on her shoulder. “I have to go.” 256



“Watch out for them city boys,” Jack said warningly. “They’ll take all ya got and leave ya high and dry.”

“Alaine can go over your finances,” Jules went on, deciding to ignore the rest.

“Nah, I’ll just come back.”

“She’s two semesters away from her law degree. She’s a registered paralegal. I assure you—”

“Shoot, this office is the talk of Garnet,” Jack said with a laugh. “I sure ain’t gonna complain ’bout coming back and seeing what happens tomorrow.” Jules didn’t have time to play the gossip game. She turned to leave, squeezing Alaine’s hand as she walked past. “Thanks, darlin’.”

“No problem,” Alaine said with a sympathetic smile. “Call me and lemme know how he is.”

Jules nodded and walked calmly out of the office. It wasn’t until she got to her car that she let the panic show. She peeled out of the office parking lot, intent on making sure Romeo was okay. Argument or not, it suddenly didn’t seem to matter when she realized he could be seriously hurt—and it was her brother’s fault.



* * * *





With a brother like Wyatt and a best friend like Clay, Jules had been to Mercy General’s emergency room plenty over the years. She was extremely familiar with the large, white building and knew exactly where she was going. She slipped past the automatic doors in a dead run, heels clicking against the tile until she bumped into the front desk.

“I’m here to see Romeo Wellings,” she told the woman behind the counter.

“Tommy should’ve brought him in from Garnet.”

“Are you family?” the receptionist asked.

“No.” Jules frowned as she thought of a better answer. “We’re, um—involved.”

257

“Have a seat.” The woman stood and gave her a smile. “Lemme go back and ask if he’s taking visitors.”

Jules breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“No promises. I know he’s got two family members with him already. One of ’em will have to come back to the waiting room.”

Jules groaned, knowing Romeo’s brothers were likely pissed at her, especially considering Wyatt was the reason she was in this waiting room to begin with. Too nervous to sit, she stood by the desk tapping her foot, wondering what the hell could’ve gotten into Wyatt. He wasn’t exactly a brother to defend her honor. He was loyal, sure, but he knew Jules could take care of herself.

When Nova appeared, Jules ran up to him. “Is he okay?” Rather than respond, Nova grabbed Jules’s arm, pulling her to the corner of the waiting room. If she wasn’t so frantic, she would have been really annoyed. Nova was clearly used to operating in ways that demanded others obey him, and Jules didn’t respond well to that type of authority.

When they were alone, Nova let go of her arm and said, “Look at me.” Jules arched an eyebrow and did just that, looking him dead in the eye. They were the same height if Jules was wearing flats, but Jules’s heels gave her at least an inch on him. Nova wasn’t more than five-eleven, but he was broad and muscular and his presence could be downright intimidating.

“I’m looking,” she said smartly, refusing to be bullied. “Nova, I know you’re mad—”