CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“It’s broken, isn’t it?” said Khloe.

“I’m afraid so, honey,” winced Gabi. “He did quite a number for just having squeezed it. You won’t need surgery, but we will have to set it and put a temporary cast on it.”

“That means I can’t work,” she said in a shaky voice.

“You’re internal medicine, Khloe. You can still work, but you won’t need to. We’ll cover for you for the next few weeks. Just take it easy and heal. We’re not worried about you working, honey.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I just got here, and I’m already taking leave.”

“You’re taking leave because a psycho tried to kidnap you,” said Ajei. “Believe me, we all understand. You just get well.”

“Thank you,” she said with some relief.

“By the way, did Jonas say anything when he got you to the boat?” asked Ajei without making eye contact.

“What? Oh, no. Well, yes. He said I shouldn’t have done something so stupid as dancing with a man I didn’t know.”

“What the hell did he mean by that?” growled Gabi. “You were available to dance, and someone asked you. You had no clue who that man was. That little shit needs to learn some manners.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” said Khloe. “I think I misunderstood everything. I thought we were getting to know one another, but I’m obviously not very good with men.”

“It’s not you, honey, it’s them,” said Gabi. “I swear to God that Zulu has his head up his ass sometimes. I hint at things, even say things, or write them down, and he still doesn’t get it. Some days, I think I could walk by him stark naked, and he wouldn’t know what I was saying.”

“Oh, I damn sure would know what you were saying,” frowned Zulu at the door. Khloe laughed at the big man with the mean face. She knew how incredibly sweet and kind he was, but that face made her laugh.

“Hi, babe,” grinned Gabi. “What’s up?”

“I’m just checking on the little one there.”

“She’s going to be fine,” said Ajei. “Broken hand, but she’ll be good.”

Zulu moved inside the doorway, and a dozen men were standing outside staring at Khloe. She just looked at them, confused by their expression. Then, they jostled around and pushed someone to the doorway.

“Jonas,” she whispered.

“Hi.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” said Gabi. “Ajei, let’s go, honey.”

“But I want to stay,” she pouted.

“Now,” grinned Gabi.

The silence in the room was deafening. Jonas didn’t move from the doorway as he stared at her, then noticed the hand.

“Are you in pain?” he asked.

“Some. I’ll live.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

“You didn’t know. I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, about what I said. I’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were at fault for this. No one knew he was there.”

“Thank you for saying that. Do you want to sit with me for a while?” she asked, filled with hope.

“I-I don’t think I can, Khloe.”

“Jonas, what did I do wrong? I thought we were friends. I thought we were getting to know one another, and then you deserted me on the dance floor. Since then, you’ve avoided me like the plague. Please tell me if I’ve done something.”

He moved two steps forward and stopped again, shaking his head.

“It’s not you. You’ve done nothing wrong, Khloe. I just need to figure out some things on my own, and, well, then we can talk.”

Khloe stared at him a moment, then looked down at her hand again. Maybe this wasn’t the right place for her.

“I may or may not be here when you get ready, Jonas. This might not be the job for me after all. I love these people and all they’ve done for me, but that doesn’t mean I have to stay where I’m not wanted.”

“Khloe,” he started.

“I’m tired, Jonas. I’m tired and hurting. Can you close the door when you leave?” She turned her head toward the wall, hoping to hide the tears from him. It didn’t work. He saw them, he heard her sniffles, and it gutted him. He was causing her pain. Pain that she didn’t deserve, that wasn’t her fault.

Turning, he headed toward the door and began to close it. Seeing the glares of a dozen angry men, he stepped back, shut the door, and turned to her.

“I don’t think so.”