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She wondered if she’d live just as she blacked out and floated away in a sea of nothingness

TWENTY-NINE

DASH stared broodingly out his officeand replayed the ’s events over and over Had he overreacted? Part of him said yeah The other part, the practical, unery And certainly he had no right to lash out at her like that, to hurt her so badly

But daht of his entire life, the culhtmare Maybe it had always been an impossibility Perhaps Joss wasn’t ready--would never be ready--to let go

So where did that leave hio he would have vowed that he would be satisfied with any part of her That he would wait, be patient for her to come around and hope that eventually she would be in a place where she could give hiive her

But when she’d told hi after, he’d been seized by a fatalistic sensation that she would never truly be his His hopes had been crushed in that one instant, and he’d reacted much like a wounded animal Hell, he ounded The kind of wound one never recovered from

His office door burst open and he turned, irritated over the interruption To his surprise Tate strode inside, his expression angry

"What the hell did you do to Joss?" Tate de"

"What the fk is that supposed to mean? Chessy is worried out of her mind Where is Joss? What happened between the two of you?"

Dash’s brow furrowed in confusion "What are you talking about? Why are you asking me where she is?"

"Because apparently you were the last person who saw her," Tate said through gritted teeth "She called Chessy in hysterics over two hours ago She was upset and crying but she wouldn’t tell Chessy rong She asked Chessy if she could come over, that she needed her, and that she would be there in half an hour She didn’t show and Chessy can’t get an answer on her cell number, her home nu your ass out of your cave since you aren’t answering your cell either"

Dash paled, dread gripping his insides "I don’t knohere she is She was athis eyes "Or at least she was in my bed, but she would have left"

"And ould she have left?" Tate growled

"That’s none of your fking business," Dash said icily

"The hell it’s not! Chessy is hoet her to stay her ass at ho to find her myself Joss is not the hysterical or irresponsible type, so if she was that upset and she’s rew larger in Dash’s throat Panic slid down his spine,his to her," Dash "

"You left her that upset?" Tate asked in a disgusted voice

Dash closed his eyes "I was pretty pissed"

"I’ive a fk about isherself sick over Joss and whether Joss herself is all right I take it you haven’t heard froo to hell But I’ and he snatched it up "Chessy?" he said "Is she okay? Did you hear fro pause and then Tate paled Dash rushed to where Tate stood, trying to hear Chessy’s voice, but Tate held it too close to his ear for Dash to tell anything

"Goddaht over Don’t you dare leave the house One accident is enough I don’t want you driving when you’re this upset"

Dash’s knees buckled and he had to grab his desk to keep fro up and then fixed Dash with a cold stare

"The hospital just called Chessy Apparently they saw she was the last call on Joss’s cell and they called her Joss has been in a car accident It appears to be serious They wouldn’t comment on her condition over the phone, but they asked that Chessy or her closest faet to the hospital as quickly as possible"

"I’," Dash bit out "What hospital? I can be there before you go ho in his eyes Then he blew out his breath "Her rabbed his keys and ran out the door to the bank of elevators Kylie called out as he passed her office, but he didn’t stop He didn’t have time to explain, even if Kylie should know Chessy would call her later For now, his only purpose was to get to Joss and pray he wasn’t too late

THIRTY

WHEN Dash strode into the eency room, he immediately demanded to know Joss’s condition and if he could see her A police officer was standing close to the reception desk, and when he heard Dash say Joss’s name, he motioned for Dash

Frustrated by the delay, he stepped aside with the cop

"Do you kno she is?" Dash asked bluntly "Did you work the scene? What the hell happened?"

The police officer sighed "Can I ask the nature of your relationship to Mrs Breckenridge?"

"I’m her fiancé," he lied "She lives withbefore this apparently happened I left for work and now this" At least that ? Under duress? Stressed?" He paused a moment "Do you have any reason to believe that she’s suicidal?"