I blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s a long story. I’ll explain when I get there.”
“Okay. Just be careful. The pariahs are everywhere.”
“Noted. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Before hanging up, she told me the room number and I said my goodbyes.
We always called the paparazzi, the pariahs. It didn’t surprise me they were hanging around the hospital. Some of them were really nice, but most couldn’t wait to catch you with your pants down so they could screw you in the ass. Anything to get a headline.
Opening the bedroom door, I took one last look around before heading downstairs. I froze on the steps when the front door slammed shut and a voice I’d never heard before echoed throughout the house. My heart stopped and I sucked in a breath. Had the creeper found me already?
As soon as Robert laughed, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was then I realized how afraid I’d become. Whoever broke into my house was after me. What if he was never caught? I’d never feel safe again.
Turning the corner, I spotted Robert in the kitchen with another man. He was tall, closer to my age, with blond hair and the muscular build of a fighter. His blue gaze met mine and he acknowledged me with a smile. He cleared his throat and Robert turned around to address me.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Do you want the truth, or a polite lie?”
He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a no.” Motioning toward his friend, he said, “Hadley, I’d like you to meet Logan Chandler. He’s a good friend of mine and the one who’ll be escorting you to the great state of Wyoming.”
I held out my hand. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”
He shook my hand and winked. “Likewise.”
“Are you going to be ready to leave for the airport in an hour?” Robert asked.
Susan handed me a cup of coffee and patted my shoulder before leaving the room. I set my bag down and took a giant gulp; it burned going down, but my body was numb. “Actually, on the way there, I need to stop by the hospital to see Nick.”
Robert sighed. “That’s not possible.”
My head jerked up and I glared at him. “Why not?”
“Because you need to stay hidden. The hospital is swarming with every fucking news station and gossip rag in the city; all waiting for you to show up.” He stepped back and leaned against the bar with his arms crossed, trying his best to look intimidating in his Minions pajama pants—it wasn’t working. He had a point, sure, but I couldn’t let him stand in my way.
I set my cup down. “There has to be something we can do. I’m not leaving town without seeing him.”
Robert and Logan looked at each other, but it was Logan who turned to me and spoke. “There is a way, but you’re probably not going to like it.”
I stood up straight. “I’ll do anything. Let’s go.”
A small smile splayed across his face. “Your wish is my command.”
When Logan said he had a way in, I didn’t realize it was going to be traveling at breakneck speeds through rush hour traffic on a sport bike. Whizzing by vehicles at ninety miles an hour, I screamed a few times and kept my eyes shut. My teeth ached from clenching so hard, but I sucked it up and held on until we got to the hospital.
“You can let me go now, Hadley.” Logan chuckled, pulling off his helmet. When I didn’t let go, he squeezed my hands, still tightly wrapped around his waist. My muscles shook from holding him so hard.
I slowly pried my hands apart and slid off the bike. “Sorry. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before. At least the paparazzi didn’t recognize us when we pulled in. I mean, how could they when we were going at light speed?” I started to unbuckle my helmet but he grabbed my hands, pulling me to him.