The Rebel Returns. Michelle Douglas

him. It wasn’t so long ago he’d been the patient. Even though it had been a different hospital, the memory had him on edge. He didn’t want to be here—not at all.

      But he’d promised Cleo he’d stay. He wouldn’t break his promise to her. It was the least he could do for her. He tried sitting but that lasted all of thirty seconds. He paced the length of the room. Back and forth. He wasn’t the only one wearing a concerned expression. The waiting area was filled with young and old people all waiting for word on a loved one.

      “Excuse me, Mr. Monroe.”

      He turned to find a police officer. “Yes.”

      “I’m here about the incident at the Glamour. Did you see anything?”

      The police were involved. This wasn’t good. “No, I didn’t. I was inside and heard about the commotion by the pool. I went to investigate and that’s when I found Cleo. Do you know what happened?”

      “I’m still piecing things together. We have a report of a man getting into a scuffle with Ms. Sinclair and your name was mentioned.”

      “Have you talked with her?”

      “Not yet. That’s where I’m headed next.”

      Dread dug at Jax as he wondered if it had anything to do with his mysterious calls. “There’s something you should know.”

      The officer turned his keen, observant eyes on him and listened intently as Jax revealed how he was a key witness in a federal money-laundering case. He also mentioned the strange phone calls that had started in New York.

      The officer asked a few more questions, jotted out some notes and gave Jax his contact information. “If you think of anything at all that might be helpful, let me know.”

      “I will.” And he meant it. He wasn’t going to take unnecessary chances with the woman he...he...cared about.

      Whether he liked it or not, she was definitely getting to him. She was making him feel things that he didn’t have any right to feel. The only way to stop this growing attraction was to follow through with his plan to leave Vegas. He eyed up the exit. But he couldn’t break his promise to her. He’d wait until he saw her and was certain she was going to be fine.

      Almost a half hour later, a nurse stood at the security door that led into the examination area. “Mr. Monroe, you can come back now.”

      When he came to a stop next to Cleo’s bed, he was stunned by what he saw. A white bandage was wrapped around her forehead. Her face was nearly as pale as the sheet. And her injured leg was elevated. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but it wasn’t her looking weak and helpless.

      She studied him. “Do I really look that bad?”

      He’d obviously let his poker face slip again. Still, the sight of her lying there injured had shaken him more than he’d anticipated. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to find you all bandaged up.”

      “Jax, there’s something I need to tell you—”

      “And how’s the patient?” A male voice came from behind him.

      Jax turned to find a doctor in a white lab coat standing at the opening in the curtains surrounding the bed. He glanced back at Cleo. “We’ll talk later. I’ll just wait outside.”

      “It’s okay.” She grabbed his hand. “You can stay for this.”

      The doctor cleared his throat. “Ms. Sinclair has a mild concussion. We’re still not certain about the extent of damage to her leg. I’m waiting on the films. However, I want to keep her in the hospital under observation. She was unconscious for a bit and I want to make sure there aren’t any complications. But she’s insisting that she’s going home.”

      Jax turned to her. “You need to listen to the doctor. He knows what he’s talking about.”

      “I’m not staying.” A stubborn glint reflected in her eyes. “I can’t sleep in hospitals. Besides, I feel fine now.”

      “She can go home as long as she isn’t alone,” the doctor said while looking directly at Jax. “Can you stay with her?”

      “I don’t need him.” The sincerity in her pointed words poked at Jax. “I can take care of myself.”

      The doctor’s brow drew together. “I’m sure you can in most cases, but you’ve got a serious bump on your head and you need to stay off your leg as much as possible. So either you stay here and let the nurses look after you or you can go home with...”

      “Jax. Jax Monroe. And I’ll see that she’s taken care of.”

      Cleo worried her bottom lip. And in that hospital gown, she looked like a child again. All he wanted to do was take care of her any way possible...even if it meant getting closer to her instead of beating a trail into the sunset. That would have to wait for another day.

      Cleo’s worried gaze turned to him. “Are you sure about this?”

      “I wouldn’t have said it otherwise.”

      The doctor’s gaze swung between the two of them, deciding if he could trust them. “Now that it’s settled, I’ll go check on things. If you wait in the lobby, we’ll call you when she’s ready to go.”

      Jax didn’t mind a few minutes to himself to pull his scattered thoughts together. He started for the doorway when Cleo grabbed his hand.

      “I need to talk to you. I just remembered something.”

      “Don’t worry. We’ll have plenty of time for that later.”

      “But this is important.” Her distressed tone caught his attention.

      He wondered if this had something to do with the police poking around. “I’m listening.”

      “There’s a man after you.”

      “What?”

      As though recalling her fingers were still gripping his hand, she let go and made a point of straightening her white sheet. “When I went back to the bungalow a man approached me. He wanted to know how to find you.”

      “And he attacked you?”

      “Not really. When I tried to get away from him, he followed me. He grabbed my arm and put a hand over my mouth. He said he had a message for you.”

      Alarm arrowed through Jax’s chest. “What is it?”

      Cleo’s gaze lowered. “I don’t know. I bit his finger before he could relay the message. He let go of me and the rest is kind of a blur.”

      His gut was telling him trouble had followed him from New York. And Cleo had ended up paying the price. Guilt beat at his chest.

      “Don’t worry. He won’t bother you anymore.”

      “How do you know? Who is this man? What does he want?”

      Jax held up his hand, halting the flow of questions. “I don’t know him, but I promise you won’t have to deal with him again. Remember from here on out I’m in charge of your safety. Doctor’s orders.”

      She started to sit up. “Jax, I need to know what’s going on.”

      “Calm down.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, pressing her back against the pillow. “When I learn something I’ll tell you. Now I have a couple of phone calls to make.”

      Jax hated the thought that he’d dragged Cleo into his problems. He had no proof that this mystery man was tied into the money-laundering case, but he’d be willing to bet his fortune that he was right. His priority now had to be keeping Cleo safe. And since that hired thug knew her name, her face and where she worked, it wouldn’t take long for him to track her down at home, either.

      Just then the doctor returned. “We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

      That was