Read Online Connecting Strangers (Discovering Emily) by Rachel Carrington - Free Book Online Page B

it?”
    Now I get annoyed, and I reach for the door handle of the truck. It pisses me off that he is so insistent, like it hasn’t even occurred to him that this might be something too personal to share with him. “Maybe I should just go. We can do this another night.” I’m sure my tone tells him otherwise.
    He takes hold of my wrist. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong with your leg, Emily? Are you protecting someone?”
    The question draws a laugh out of me, but it’s bitter. As if Mark needs anyone to protect him. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
    The fingers around my wrist go gentle, and he starts stroking my skin with the pad of his thumb. “How can I? You’ve been hurt. I want to make sure you’re okay. And even though I don’t understand why, I need to make sure.”
    His words melt me, and before I can think about the many reasons why I shouldn’t, I raise my shirt to just above the top bandage and slowly peel it back. Then I move to the second one. And the third. As the blistered skin finally comes into view, Adam’s curse is so furious and loud, I’m surprised Francine doesn’t come running out of the house.
    “Who did this to you? Your boyfriend? Is this why you left him?” He snags my wrist as I try to cover it again. “MM. Are those his initials? What’s the bastard’s name, Emily?”
    “You have no jurisdiction in his county.”
    “I don’t give a shit about jurisdiction.”
    “I know you don’t, but you can’t arrest him.”
    “Someone will. That son-of-a-bitch is going to jail, Emily I promise you.” He raises his hand and strokes my cheek. I hear each labored breath he takes as he tries to rein in his temper. Then he draws me close and kisses my cheek “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
    “The hospital?” I sit up straighter and lower my skirt. “What are you talking about?”
    “That wound’s infected, badly unless I miss my guess. You need to be on an antibiotic before it gets any worse, and since no other places are open, the hospital is it.”
    “I don’t have to go tonight.” The last thing I want to do is spend the evening in the emergency room. “I can see a doctor tomorrow. The emergency room isn’t for cuts and scrapes.”
    Adam shifts the truck into reverse. “That’s isn’t just a scrape, Emily.” The fury is back in his voice. “And, no, you can’t wait. You’ve waited long enough as it is.” As though sensing his anger was taking its toll on me, he softens and covers my hand with one of his. “I’m sorry.”
    I keep my gaze trained on his fingers. “There’s no need to apologize. I’m sure you’re used to dealing with stuff like this.”
    As he rolls the truck out onto the road, he glances at me. “Stuff like what?”
    I can’t say the words aloud. It sickens to me even think about associating my name with domestic violence. But that’s exactly what this boils down to. I place one hand over my stomach in a useless attempt to quell the nausea that has taken up permanent residence in my stomach.
    “Hey,” Adam prods me. “I don’t lump everyone or everything into the same category. And, no, I’m not used to dealing with stuff like this. Men in this area don’t treat their women like…” he breaks off, but I finish his sentence for him.
    “Cattle?”
    He winces, telling me I accurately pinpointed the word. “Tell me this is why you left him.”
    “I left him. The reasons don’t really matter.” I look out the window, though it’s already too dark for me to see much of anything except the brief flashes as we pass the streetlights.
    “His ass needs to be in jail.” His words drag my gaze back to his profile. Though his eyes are on the road, I know his entire focus isn’t there.
    “Well, you can’t go after him.”
    “I don’t even know his name,” he reminds me.
    “I doubt that will stop you.”
    He smiles and takes hold of my hand again. “And I bet you thought you didn’t know me.”
    “It’s