Twisted Hate: An Enemies with Benefits Romance

Why is no one using the stairs, dammit?
A scream of frustration trapped in my chest. Of all the days for me to take
the stairs, which I never did, I had to choose today.
I should’ve lied and gone along with Max’s plan until I could get help,
but my oxygen supply ran scarce, and I couldn’t think properly.
Besides, what if he hurt Josh? What if—
“You stupid, fucking whore.” Max pressed his forearm against my throat
until I gasped for air. I clawed at his hold, but he was too strong. “This is all
your fault. You ruined my life. I asked you for one favor, Jules. One favor in
exchange for seven years, and you couldn’t even do that.” His harsh breaths
clouded my face in a haze of alcohol.
Drunk and desperate. The most dangerous combination.
“Maybe I should take my payment another way,” he said, his voice so
nasty it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Max reached
between my legs. “See if your pussy is still tight enough to make me come.”
Dots danced before my vision. My limbs were growing heavier, my

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struggles for breath weaker, so I did the only thing I could do—I kneed him
in the balls with every ounce of strength I had left.
His howl of pain ripped through the stairwell. He released me and
doubled over.
I allowed myself one second to bask in the sweet air flowing through my
lungs again before I stumbled toward the exit, but I only made it two steps
before a hand shoved against my back. I didn’t even get a chance to scream
before I plummeted down the stairs. My head slammed against something
cold and hard, and I caught only the briefest glimpse of the stairwell door
opening before everything went dark.

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49

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JOSH
“Y
OU
FORGOT
TO
ASK
ABOUT
THEIR
ALLERGIES
,” I 
SNAPPED
. “H
OW
AM
I
supposed to treat a patient properly if I don’t have all the relevant
information? This is the ER, Lucy. We can’t afford any kind of fuckups.”
Lucy shrank back from my harsh tone.
I usually had a great working relationship with the nurses, but I was too
irritated by the sting of antiseptic in the air, the clicks of the keyboard at the
nurses’ station, the squeak of shoes against the linoleum floors...basically
everything. 
I ignored the heat of Clara’s glare from several feet away. It wasn’t my
fault if people were incompetent. 
“I’m sorry,” Lucy said, her face pale. “I’ll make sure to remember next
time.”
“Good.” I turned on my heel and left, not bothering to say goodbye.
“Don’t stress about it,” I heard Clara say behind me. “It was your first
mistake since you started working here. You’ve been doing a great job.”
She caught up with me a minute later, her irritation as sharp as the one
running through my veins. “Doctor, can I speak with you? Alone.”
“I’m busy.” 
“You can make time.” Clara yanked me into the nearest side hallway.
Doctors and nurses rushed past us, too caught up in their own work to pay us
much attention. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Her eyes bore into mine, equal parts concerned and annoyed.
“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m doing my job. Or I would be, if someone
wasn’t holding me up.” I leveled her with a pointed stare.
“Does your job include alienating every person in the ER? If so, you’re

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the Employee of the Month,” Clara said coolly. “I don’t know what’s wrong,
but you’ve been acting like a boor for the past week. So here’s my advice,
both as a nurse and your friend. Cut that shit out, or you’ll ruin everything
you’ve worked for the past three years. No one likes an asshole doctor.” She
jabbed her finger at my chest. “Next patient. Room four. We don’t have time
for your moodiness right now, so I suggest you set whatever the fuck is
bothering you aside and stop making it harder on everyone else around you.
You want to do your job? Then do your job.”
She stalked off and disappeared around the corner.
I stood there for several stunned seconds before I released a sharp exhale.
Clara was right. I’d been acting like a grade-A ass. What happened last
week had messed me up, and I’d been taking it out on everyone around me.
My jaw flexed when I remembered my breakup with Jules, but I didn’t
have time to dwell on that right now. 
I had a job to do, and I’d already wasted valuable time.
I checked the patient’s information in the hospital’s online system before
entering the room. She was female, aged twenty-four, named…
My skin chilled right as the words sharpened onscreen.
Jules Ambrose.