Wanting More (Mitchell Family #5)(36)
Author: Jennifer Foor

A little later my phone vibrated and woke me up. I hoped it was Amy but it ended up being that bitch Heather instead. Because of her, my sister was lying in a hospital bleeding to death. Because of her, two little children may not ever meet their mother. I filled with rage as I stared at the text message and thought about what I wanted to say. I never wanted someone to die until I met Rick, but Heather was the worst kind of evil. She didn’t care who she hurt. She needed to pay for what she’d done and I was the only person to make it happen.

I sent a message that I went home for a couple days and put my phone back in my pocket. When I got back to town, this shit was going to end and I would be the one walking out with what I needed. I had to fix things for my sister. After all of this, she needed to be happy about something.

For the next two days it was still touch and go for Miranda. Once we got through the first night, we all got hopeful that she was going to pull through. I can’t even explain the way I felt when we heard the doctor telling us the news. I thought my mother was going to pass out. I spent most of my time with the family and tried to keep my mind off of not hearing from Amy. I’d left her several messages and even tried to call her at the salon. I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t heard from her. It made me even more upset when I overheard Ty’s mom telling my mom that she had called Miranda’s boss and let her know what was going on.

Amy knew what I was going through and she hadn’t tried to call me. It made no sense.

Then it came to me.

She didn’t love me and didn’t want to tell me while I was dealing with my sister being in the hospital.

I had been so sure of her feelings for me. I could have sworn that when I told her I loved her, she was going to say it too. She’d even said how she cared about me before. It made no sense at all.

I’d never told a woman those three words. Hell, I’d never felt the things that I felt for Amy. She’d made my cocky ass want to be someone better. I just couldn’t believe she’d just blow me off like that. I couldn’t believe she would hurt me like that.

Seeing my nephews for the first time was pretty cool and at least kept my mind off of my broken heart. They were so small and hooked up to all kinds of little wires. I hated seeing them so tiny and fragile, but they gave me hope, somehow.

By the time my sister got put in a real room, I could only stay for a little while longer. I knew I had to get back to work, but mostly I needed to talk to Amy. Miranda was in good hands and much to my surprise, she wasn’t acting like her and Ty were going to separate. That helped me out considering that I now had a new life mission to take down Heather and save my sister’s marriage.

Before I left the hospital, I ducked in to say my goodbyes. My sister was feeding one of the twins. She and Ty looked exhausted but had been inseparable since her accident. It wasn’t my business to interfere and Ty had told me they were staying together and raising their children for sure, so I stayed off of the subject.

The first thing I did when I got back to town was head to the salon. It was still early and I knew she’d be there. I needed to hold her; to kiss those sweet lips and never let go.

When I walked in, her and the other hairdresser turned in my direction. The look on Amy’s face was indescribable. She was cutting some woman’s hair and froze completely. I sat down in a chair and grabbed a magazine. Amy turned around and told the other girl that I was her next appointment and started back on the woman’s hair. I caught her several times looking my way and she looked distraught. She filled the woman’s hair with rollers and walked in my direction. I lifted my head and smiled at her. "Why haven’t you called me, darlin’?"

"You can’t be here!"

She grabbed my arm and pulled me outside.

"What are you talkin’ about? Is Rick here?"

"No, it doesn’t matter where he is. I can’t see you anymore."

I grabbed her arm and she quickly pulled it away. "I ain’t leavin’ until you start explainin’." I saw tears in her eyes and started to lose my cool. I pulled her around the building so that nobody could see us. When I pulled her into my arms she tried to fight me. "What the hell is goin’ on?"

"He’s working tomorrow. Meet me at the hotel?"

I cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Are you goin’ to explain, because I can’t go another damn day not knowin’ why you’re giving me the silent treatment, especially not after what I said to you."

"I’ll tell you everything." Something was wrong. I could tell from the moment I first looked into those eyes.

"Amy, promise me that you’re okay."

She nodded her head. "I’m fine. I promise."

I kissed the top of her head, but it wasn’t enough. Before she could pull away, I kissed her on the lips. "You better be there tomorrow or I will come find you."

I walked away from her, more pissed than before we ever talked. Something was very wrong and I was going to find out what it was, because I wasn’t about to lose her, not for any damn reason.

Chapter 22

Amy

Conner showing up at the salon scared the living shit out of me. I was sure that Rick had some kind of spy cameras set up or maybe he paid the other girl that worked for me to tell him if I did anything behind his back.

When I went home that night, he said nothing about it though. Since I hadn’t been caught seeing Conner, I knew I had to tell him everything. Even if I had to end things, he deserved to know why. With the thought of breaking his heart steady on my mind, it was hard to be cordial to Rick. I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t thought about offing him while he slept.

For the past week, he had been purposely sleeping in bed next to me at night, but it wasn’t so he could force me to have intercourse with him. It was so that he could watch my every move.

At about midnight, I was awoken to him pulling my hair. I opened my eyes to see him leaning over top of me in our bed. “Now that I have your attention, there’s something we need to discuss.”

Fear washed over me, assuming that he did know about Conner visiting me. I backed away from him as much as I could with him still having a bunch of my hair in his hand. “Rick, let go of me, please.”

He shoved me away, but stayed where he was positioned in the bed. “In a couple of hours I need to leave on my weekly run. If you think for one second you can pull a fast one on me, you better think again. I am just reminding you that if I find out you’re seeing that little prick, you will both be sorry. I hope you warned him about me, because I wasn’t f**king joking.”

I heard his threats loud and clear. “I haven’t called him. I don’t even have his number. His sister almost died and I’m sure he is with his family in Kentucky by now. I’m not doing anything wrong, Rick. Conner is gone and he’s not coming back.”