Chapter 20 : Flashbacks in the ER

Cruz’s POV

At once, Haven is stiff as a board. I watch the joy and light in her eyes completely melt away into nothing but sheer panic as she hears someone, a woman, shouting on the other side of the door. It is abundantly clear that whatever is happening is horrendous and that Haven is terrified.

Her hands suddenly tremble as shoves her keys into the door and starts shouting through the wood.

“Mom? Mom! What’s going on?” Her voice is shaking as she struggles against the door. Evidently, it is stuck and she is practically fighting with it to get into her apartment. It is clear that it is unlocked, but the door itself is jammed.

“Here,” I say and, without thinking, gently push her to the side and use my shoulder to try to pound through the door. I have seen it in movies countless times, but actually ramming my shoulder into the wall is a lot harder than I anticipated. It also sends a sharp pang through my shoulder that makes it throb.