Wintertime Bad Boy: A Christmas Suspense Romance (Alphas Unboxed Book 3) Read online

  Jean stands there, pale-faced, stammering something to them. Her eyes lift on hearing my footsteps and a flash of relief moves over her face. “Nurse Alex.”

  Both men look over their shoulders and I see the impatience in their eyes. I also see something else that makes me pause for a second. One of them bears an uncanny resemblance to the man who is living in my home.

  Family.

  But why…?

  However, now is not the time for questions.

  I glance at the wall clock.

  Five minutes.

  Pasting on a professional smile, I approach them. “Are you looking for a patient?”

  The taller man looks irritated. “We want to see Braden Fox.”

  “Are you relatives?” I ask, my tone deliberately bored.

  The two men exchange a look. “No, but—”

  I raise a brow. “This is a hospital, not a hotel. Visiting hours are from eight to three.”

  “Now, see here.” One of the men steps forward, his tone harsh. It’s an attempt to intimidate me but I’m not impressed.

  If he thought I would step back, he’s clearly proven wrong when I just tilt my head. “Yes?”

  “Do you know who we are?”

  I smile, insultingly polite. “I know you are not Braden Fox’s relatives and hence you cannot see him outside of visiting hours.”

  “I am Jeremiah Knight,” the taller man says, coldly.

  “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

  Jeremiah blinks before his gaze turns wintery. “The Knight Family controls half the businesses in this city. It would be in your best interest to oblige us. Or we can make things very difficult for you, Nurse Alex.”

  My eyes flicker to the wall clock.

  Three minutes left.

  “It doesn’t matter who you are. I can’t have you running rampant in this hospital. There are rules and Mr. Fox is a patient here.”

  Jeremiah’s pocket buzzes and he withdraws his cellphone from it. A cold look of satisfaction enters his eyes and he glances at the man next to him. “Room one-oh-five. Let’s go.”

  My limbs freeze before I dart in front of him, frowning. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

  He gives me a chilling look and looks over his shoulder. I follow his gaze and it’s then that I see the men standing along the wall, in dark suits and heavy looks.

  Bodyguards.

  They move forward in tandem and one of them grasps me by the arm roughly and shoves me aside.

  “Call security,” I order Kate, who hurriedly moves towardthe phone, only to be stopped by one of the men. The other two night nurses look frightened and huddle together.

  “Just who do you think you are?” I growl, glowering at Jeremiah. “You can’t just—”

  “Bring her,” Jeremiah orders the man next to me and I’m grabbed by my upper arm in such a tight fist that I’m pretty sure my blood flow has stopped. I kick the man and he scowls, looking furious. His other fist moves and comes into contact with my stomach and the blinding pain makes me double over.

  “Nurse Alex!” come cries of terror from around me.

  I’m wheezing for breath, trying to think past the pain, when I’m grabbed by the chin, my head lifted, and I’m forced to look up into Jeremiah’s eyes. He has a cruel face, arrogance and entitlement etched into each line. “I’d watch myself, Nurse Alex. You don’t want to cross the Knight Family.”

  Being around Damien for these past few days, it has stirred up the old Alex, the one who had been buried under layers of grief and depression. It is her who lifts her chin and scoffs. “Bite me, rich boy.”

  I see the fury that lights up the man’s eyes but what terrifies me is the flicker of interest in them.

  If I thought that Damien was a dangerous man, and Carson a barely leashed wolf, this man is a monster. With some people, you can just tell. And I know that I would never want to be alone with him.

  “Let’s go, Jeremiah. You can play with her later,” the shorter man says, impatiently. His words make me uneasy.

  I pull my chin from Jeremiah’s grasp. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Bring her.” Jeremiah gives me a cold smirk and next thing I know, I’m dragged along by the arm.

  I count the seconds in my head and there’s a growing panic in the pit of my stomach. Nobody brings along so many guards just to visit somebody at the hospital. Are they planning to take Braden out of this place?

  This sick feeling intensifies and I really hope that whatever Damien has planned, works. I kind of like Braden.

  We reach the room and Jeremiah nods to two of the men behind us. “Be ready.”

  To my horror, they take out two guns and nod.

  “What are you doing?” I cry out. “Mr. Fox is in critical condition! You can’t—”

  The man holding me shakes me, violently, and I have no choice but to stop.

  With everyone in position, the shorter man throws open the door and everybody enters at once, guns bared.

  The room’s empty.

  I blink and then my lips twitch in relief.

  “Well, look at that.” My tone is mocking. “Guess you were too late.”

  Oh, dear God. Shut up!

  But I’m angry at the way I’m being manhandled, the way the young night nurses have been bullied, and I don’t want to hide my smugness at what is clearly a loss for this man.

  “Where is he?” Jeremiah steps toward me threateningly.

  I raise a brow and yank my hand from the bodyguard’s grip. Fixing my uniform, I give him a level look. “How should I know? I walked in, in front of you.”

  “You little bit—” His hand raises and I squeeze my eyes shut, anticipating the blow.

  But nothing comes.

  I open my eyes and see a broad back in front of me, clad in white.

  “That’s enough.”

  Dr. Greer?

  Chapter 7

  Dr. Greer sounds furious.

  “Are you hurt, Alex?” he asks over his shoulder to me.

  I shake my head. “Just a little roughed up.”

  His shoulders tense at that and this time he’s talking to Jeremiah. “You’ve got some nerve, Jeremiah.”

  Dr. Greer knows this man?

  “Get out of the way, Harris.” Jeremiah doesn’t sound very happy. “This is a family matter.”

  There is a long pause before I see Dr. Greer stiffen before curling his fist as if he’s about to do something that he knows he will regret, but he’s going to do it, anyway. “Exactly. It is a family matter. So, keep your hands off her.”

  I blink.

  What?

  There’s an underlying tension in his words, a hint that I can’t exactly place. It’s almost like Dr. Greer is implying that he and I are—I frown, confused. We’re not related.

  Suddenly I trace the mole on his nape, something stirring in my subconscious, a memory that is blurred.

  “She knows where that bastard went. So, step out of the way, Harris.”

  “She’s a nurse here and she doesn’t know anything. The only thing she is guilty of is being overprotective where the patients are concerned. Don’t make me get involved in this, Jeremiah. Your father won’t be pleased.”

  Is Dr. Greer threatening to tattle on this grown man to his parents?

  Yet, the threat seems to be effective.

  Jeremiah steps back, his jaw tight, and then he meets my gaze. There is a sadistic glint in his eyes that makes me shiver. “I’ll be seeing you, Nurse.”

  I force myself to not display any of the fear that is gripping me by the throat and I just narrow my eyes at him. I’m not stupid enough to open my mouth and taunt him even if I really want to.

  Dr. Greer is tense as he watches them all leave. It’s only once they’re gone and the corridor is empty that he turns around and looks at me. His eyes run over me as if assessing for any damage.

  “One of them just punched me in the stomach,” I try to reassure him. “I’m okay.”

  “Let me check. I need to be sure.” He looks frazzled and despite the fact that I’m the one who was hurt, I feel the need to calm him down.

  “I’m really okay,” I try to tell him but I’m being guided into the room, the door closing behind us.

  “Show me where he hit you.”

  I purse my lips, before unbuttoning my shirt enough to let him see. It’s a darkening bruise, edging on blue, and I see a cold rage enter Dr. Greer’s eyes. I hastily close the buttons. “It’ll be fine. Thanks for the rescue.”

  “Damien called me.” He sticks his hands in his pockets, as if he doesn’t quite know what to do with them. “Alex, you can’t get involved with him.”

  “I’m not involved,” I reply to him.

  He glares at me. “Don’t lie to me. I see the way you look at him. It’s not safe. He’s not safe. People around him tend to get hurt or worse.”

  I frown. “Look, I appreciate that you’re trying to look out for me but I can take care of myself.”

  “Kick him out of your house.”

  “You don’t get a say in that,” I hiss, feeling annoyed by how bossy he’s being.

  He gives me a frustrated look as if he doesn’t quite know what to say or how to say it, and I knit my brows together. “Dr. Greer, you’ve been behaving very oddly over this past week. Is there something I should know?”

  There is that same miserable expression on his face as if he’s on the verge of saying something, but knows that he can’t.

  “Not yet,” he mumbles and I get the feeling that it is not meant for my ears. Then he looks up at me. “Jeremiah will be keeping an eye on you from now on. I’ll drive you home today.”

  I open my mouth to protest but I don’t feel very safe, not with the way that guy looked at me.
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  “Okay, thank you.” I pause. “Do you—Do you know where Braden went?”

  Dr. Greer scoffs. “All of Damien’s friends are a bunch of ruffians. Who knows where that slippery bastard ran off to?”

  This is the first time I’ve heard the good doctor curse like that and a giggle escapes me. “You know you’re also one of his friends, right?”

  He glares at me and I chuckle.

  We leave the room shortly after and I go to check on Jen and the other two nurses who look relieved to see me alive. My stomach is hurting from the bruise and I apply a cold compress to it during my break.

  It’s mid morning when I see a familiar face—not someone I was expecting to see.

  Matt is standing by the nurses station, looking awkward and out of place. He has a paper bag in his hand and he looks a little nervous despite that same stoic expression on his face.

  “Mr. Sawyer,” I call out to him in greeting and he straightens up on seeing me.

  “I—You can call me Matt.”

  His words are stammered out and I suddenly find him unbearably cute and I smile. “All right, Matt.”

  He fidgets with the bag in his hand before holding it out, and blurting, “This is for you.”

  I blink. “For me?”

  I take the paper bag and peek inside. There are different muffins in there and all of them look freshly baked. “I—These look really nice. Thank you. But—”

  “I bake sometimes and ah, I had extra.” He’s looking everywhere but at me.

  These are a gift.

  From someone who is clearly not experienced with giving gifts.

  “I—Thank you. These look delicious,” I smile. Despite his sharp tongue, he can be a sweetheart.

  “How’s your arm?”

  He blushes and immediately touches it. “It’s okay. Better.”

  “Good.”

  I hesitate for a second, before lowering my voice. “Is Braden okay?”

  Matt’s eyes widen and then he gives a brief nod. “He has a doctor looking after him. Carson got him out. Um.” He fiddles with a button on his cuff. “I work nearby so I can come by sometimes—I mean—” The poor kid doesn’t seem to know what to say. “I’m sorry I was so mean to you.”

  “It’s okay.” I smile, wanting to put him at ease, my heart melting.

  He takes a step back. “I, ah, l’ll see you around.”

  “Take care, Matt.”

  His cheeks flare red. “Yeah. You too.”

  “Thank you for these, again.” I gesture toward the bag.

  He flees.

  My lips are curved into a smile as I watch him run off.

  It’s been a strange day and as I enter my building at the end of it, I make my way toward my apartment, wondering what Damien is cooking. It bothers me that I got assaulted because of him today and yet, I’m more relieved that his friend got away safely. I don’t understand why I’m being this way. Any normal person would be in hysterics but I’m revved up.

  I pause in front of my apartment door.

  Losing my father, falling into debt, I’ve been so lost for so long and it’s Damien who has unwittingly dragged me out of this pit of misery and self-pity that I’ve been crawling deeper and deeper into, and forced me into bizarre situations. I’m not an adrenaline junkie but my life has been stirred enough for me to jolt awake.

  It’s been a little less than a week and I feel more like myself than I have in weeks. My lips curl involuntarily. Despite this strange relationship with this man who is staying in my apartment, this sizzling chemistry that I refuse to give in to, I have a lot to be thankful for to him.

  I enter the apartment. “Damien, I’m back.”

  It takes me a minute to notice that the lights are all off.

  It takes me another minute to notice how deathly silent the apartment is.

  It’s only when I’ve checked each room and determined that they’re empty, that I realize that there is no one there.

  Damien has left.

  Feeling a little dazed and more disappointed than I had thought possible, I sit on the sofa, heavily, a flicker of hope in my heart.

  The seven days aren’t up so he should be back soon.

  Right?

  Damien doesn’t come back.

  A week passes.

  And my apartment has never seemed more unwelcome.

  The man stayed for four days and in those four days he left such a strong mark on me, and my home, that I’m beginning to feel listless. Rumors about me and Dr. Greer are taking off as well so with most of the nurses giving me a cold shoulder, aside from a handful that I’m on good terms with, work is becoming increasingly difficult.

  The money transfer into my account is taking a while as well since it’s a massive amount. I’m starting to get a bit worried there because I need to make the next payment for the debt in three days.

  I have Sunday off so I wake up late and stare at the ceiling.

  “Get up,” I tell myself loudly. “Whatever you think you felt for Damien was akin to a small crush. Don’t be such a brat.”

  Loud banging on my door drags me out of my half-hearted pep talk and I wrap the sheet around myself and walk over to the front door, peering out of the peephole.

  Blinking, I open the door.

  “Jen.”

  My friend is standing there, her cheeks flushed, a small plastic Christmas tree in her arms, and a box of decorations. She gives me a cheerful smile. “You’re still alive, huh? Move aside.”

  She elbows me until I give her room and marches in.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, trailing after her.

  She dumps everything in the middle of the living room and then turns to look at me, her eyes sharp. “You’ve been roaming around at work like a heartsick fool.”

  I immediately look offended. “Not true!”

  “Oh, shut up, Alex. Either tell me who the guy is, because it’s not Dr. Greer, I know that much, or my ass stays parked here.”

  I tuck my tongue in my cheek. “Do you have food? Because if so, then you being here is not exactly a hardship.”

  I narrowly avoid being hit by a cushion that comes sailing in my direction. “Fine. Fine. Stop throwing around my things.”

  She looks around as if seeing the room for the first time. “When did you get such fancy furniture, babe?”

  I scratch my head, nervously. “Uh, promise not to get mad?”

  Jen just gives me a bland look.

  “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”

  I watch Jen pace around the room, her face red, and I munch on the sandwich I found in her bag while she had been ranting. It’s a delicious spinach and tandoori chicken thing with melted cheese and lettuce and tomatoes.

  I nod, obligingly, as she continues. “What if he killed you in your sleep? Or worse.”

  I chew slowly, picking at the cucumber I just found. “I had mace under my pillow and a knife.”

  “Alex.” Jen pauses in front of me, looking stressed out. “This is not a joke.”

  I study her. “I never said it was.” I sigh. “Look, Jen, I needed the money, and he’s gone now, isn’t he? And I’m fine.”

  Jen narrows her eyes as she runs her eyes over me, her lips pressed tight as if she’s just realized something. “You’re moping.”

  I immediately avert my eyes without thinking, and if that’s not a sure sign of guilt, I don’t know what is.

  “I’m not moping,” I mutter. “I’m just—I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

  Jen isn’t buying it and she shoves herself into my personal space, glaring at me. “Don’t tell me you went and fell in love with him?”

  I push her face away, growling. “Don’t be ridiculous!”

  ‘Think of me, mon chéri.’

  My heart quivers for a moment and I steady it, refusing to let myself be sucked in. “Look, I have way too many problems to take care of. Falling in love isn’t a priority for me.” When Jen gives me a disbelieving look, I continue. “I only knew the guy for four days and even then I only saw him in the evenings. Where would I possibly find the time to fall in love with him? Don’t be silly.”

  I stand up and move over to the box she’s brought, wanting to look anywhere but at her, as my heartbeat quickens for some reason, the way it always does when I think of Damien.

  “So, um,” I clear my throat. “Why’d you bring all of this?”