Chapter 8

I grunt as Clara rounds the corner and runs right into me. She looks panicked, and I notice the way her hair looks disheveled.

Shit. I knew it.

Gripping her by the shoulders, I lower my face into her view, trying to get her to focus on me.

"Clara! Whoa, whoa. It's Luke."

Her eyes go wide before she calms slightly. Her hands come to my forearms, and her thin fingers dig in.

"Luke?" She shakes her head. "Oh my God!"

Clara crushes herself against me in a hug. But she pulls away too soon, looking over her shoulder, her eyes frantic.

I follow the trail of her gaze toward the back of the building. "Are they here?"

When she snaps her attention back to me, my chest squeezes at the obvious fear in Clara's expression.

"Yes," she says in a hushed whisper. "I don't know how this is happening. It's that guy from the hospital."

I grind my molars, quickly moving Clara away from the building and toward the busier area in front of the antique store.

Cars were still passing randomly by here. The Cobras wouldn't want to risk being seen.

I take the good doc by the shoulders again, putting myself front and center before those green eyes of hers. "It's okay. Did you call the police?"

"I got through on the phone in my kitchen for a few seconds. The guy grabbed my cell. I—wait. How are you here?"

Confusion knits Clara's brow, and she shakes her head.

A small amount of guilt creeps up my spine, and I close my eyes before admitting the truth.

"I followed you."

When I look back up, Clara gapes at me, her brows hitting her hairline as her stare widens again.

She takes a step back, and I have to remind myself I have no right to her touch—as much as I want it.

"You what?"

Straightening up to my full height, I sigh.

"I knew they would try something. Just be glad my instincts were right. They won't come out here. They don't want witnesses or another person to deal with, for that matter."

"You followed me." Clara's head jostles as she tries to contain the emotions clearly building inside her. "You followed me. From your apartment. When I specifically said, don't follow me."

Her frustration boils over, and I let her have a bit of space as Clara starts to pace in a small circle. Her hands go to her hips as she walks, and I can see a slight tremble.

"Dammit! Why is this happening? What even is my life right now?! I'm supposed to be enjoying a rare evening off, for fuck's sake!"

She's still in her scrubs, and it's not exactly warm outside. That knowledge makes me want to offer my coat, but I know she won't take it.

"We did everything we could for that patient." She groans, stopping in front of me. "Who the hell are these guys? Why are they out for blood?"

With a sigh, I look around the corner, checking for any sign of them. But I think they've heard us talking at this point and fucked off to avoid getting caught.

Which is, of course, too bad. Some jail time is exactly what the Cobras all need.

"I told you." Memories of trying to get Clara to take this seriously not even an hour ago make my temper flare. "They're bad news. The Crimson Cobras are an international drug ring. Scary as fuck, and they're wanted in nearly every major country on the planet."

Clara presses closer, anger making her gestures wild and aggressive.

"You neglected to mention that fucking part! Christ, if I'd have known they were that bad?—"

"What? You would have decided to listen to me? I did try to talk to you about this. Remember?"

I cock my head at her, not even sure how we got to arguing this fast. Wasn't she just hugging me?

She scoffs. "I remember you trying to get in my pants."

"Whoa, now. Hold up, sweetheart. I don't recall you shutting things down all that fast. It took kissing me to wake you up, apparently."

We're both standing off against each other at this point, practically a deadlock—and in the distance, I can hear sirens.

"Sweetheart!"Clara is fuming, but I can't help but be glad she's not scared anymore. "You can't just…"

Her words trail off as two squad cars speed up to the curb. As she hurries over, I take the opportunity to call Cameron.

Good old lawyer buddy needs to hear about this.

The phone rings a handful of times before he answers. "Hey, Luke. What's up?"

"Hey, Cam." I sigh, raking a hand through my hair. "I don't know if you chatted with Dom, but I've got some news."

There's a pause, and I hear shuffling on the other end. Cam is likely moving somewhere more private, aka avoiding his sister.

As I'm waiting, two officers run by me into the shop, and I hear one calling for a bus on his radio.

Bus? Fuck, that means ambulance. Oh, dammit. The owner?

"I did talk to him a bit." Cam's voice cuts through my speculations. "He mentioned something about the doctor who was treating you?"

Nodding despite the fact that I'm on the phone, I turn and look at Clara as I answer him.

"Yeah, well, I had a hunch and followed her back to her place after the PT. The Cobras were waiting here for her. You might want to swing by yourself."

"Jesus." Cam's voice is exhausted, and I know he's been pulling all-nighters like a freshman in college. "Yeah, I'm coming. Text me the address."

"You got it."

I hang up, immediately sending Cam the location so he can head over.

Once that's done, I walk up to Clara where she's discussing things with the cops.

"He was already in the shop. I…oh God, please let Mr. Chen be okay."

The officer puts a hand to Clara's bicep in a forced display of sympathy. "It's all right, ma'am. Please continue."

Exhaling a shuddering breath, Clara did her best to steady herself.

"I had my phone out, and I was ready to call because I thought Lee was hurt or had a heart attack or something. The guy, the one from the hospital where I work, knocked it out of my hands when he snuck up behind me."

My blood is boiling as I hear Clara describe all this. I want that fucker's head on a spike for doing this to her.

"I recognized him, and he threatened me. Said I was going to pay for what I did to his friend. When he grabbed my shirt?—"

"He grabbed you?" I couldn't stop the question from flying out of my mouth, and both Clara and the cop glanced over at me.

My doc stared for a moment, then nodded and continued.

"When he grabbed me, I shoved us into a pedestal with an antique typewriter on it. The thing weighs a ton, so I thought it would slow him down."

"That's some quick thinking, doc." I smirk without thinking.

Clara rolls her eyes as she finishes the story.

"I was able to get away. Another guy tried to grab me by the hair, but I pulled free." Her hand goes to the back of her head. "I ran up the stairs and called 911 on the landline in the kitchen. They followed me up, but I was able to slash at the guy with a knife. Then I took off for the street and ran into him."

The cop looks over at me, and I nod with my brows raised. "Sup."

Officer Jones, by the name tag, doesn't seem to appreciate my tone and squints at me.

You've been told you have a problem with authority, and you know what, Luke, you do.

"Mister…?" He waits for me to fill in the blank.

"Luke Shaw." I smile, folding my arms over my chest.

"Mr. Shaw, what brought you here to Ms. Stewart's apartment?"

Looking over at Clara, I answer the officer without breaking eye contact with her.

"I had a feeling the Cobras would make good on their threat from the hospital. And look at that. I was right. That's why I've been insisting the lovely Doctor Stewart should come back home with me."

I finally look at Officer Jones again. "When she's done answering your questions, of course."

Clara pulls me away from where she's been speaking with the officer, and I follow along, meeting her glare as we come face-to-face.

"Are you kidding me right now? I'm not coming to stay with you."

"You're clearly not safe here, Clara. The Cobras know where you live. Face it, I'm your best option." I wouldn't stop the smirk I deliver even if I could. "So, what's it going to be?"