Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“You want me to send a private medic for dehydration?”
“Pretty sure it wasn’t an accident,” I grunted. “Think it was timed to make sure she was inside when the building blew. I want eyes on her who don't have the ability to get around hospital protocols and shit. Not gonna give them another shot at her.”
Blade’s voice sharpened. “Text me your location. I have a guy not far. He’ll bring his rig. Wife’s an ER nurse. I’ll send her to ride with the woman.”
It was the first breath of relief I’d let out since seeing the blast. “Text me when he’s close.”
There was a pause. Then Blade muttered, “Gonna have to let her go with them, Wrecker.”
“Fuck, no,” I snarled.
He sighed impatiently. “Planning on bringing her here on the back of your bike, jackass? Think.”
The bastard was right, and I fucking hated it. I grunted an agreement and hung up. Then I scooped Peyton off the stretcher and held her close, glaring at anyone who looked like they might approach.
Ten minutes later, a blacked-out ambulance roared up the side street. The doc climbed out—a big guy with a calm presence. His wife came around the back with an IV kit already in hand. She gave me a smile as she approached, and I loosened my grip enough to set Peyton softly onto their stretcher. The nurse slid a needle into Peyton’s arm, then patted mine gently.
“You’re doing good,” she murmured, eyes on my girl. “She’s just sleeping now.”
“Don’t want her waking up without me there.”
She smiled kindly, but her eyes held a determined glint. “She needs care that you can’t give her at the moment. I promise, I’ll make sure she knows who carried her out.”
“Don’t care if she knows I rescued her,” I grunted, my eyes still glued to my girl as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance. “Just want her to know I’m here and won’t let anything happen to her.”
The woman cocked her head to the side and gave me a half smile. “She’s lucky to have you. Honestly, I doubt she’ll wake up before we get there.”
I nodded once, jaw locked.
They got her situated in the back, and I climbed on my bike, white-knuckled and wired the whole fucking ride.
When we pulled into the compound, the sun had climbed higher. We were having an unusually warm spring, so it baked the small lot between the clubhouse and the clinic. Gravel crunched under my boots as I stalked to the ambulance and opened the back.
“Hand her to me.”
The nurse didn’t argue, just removed the IV, then nodded. I lifted Peyton against my chest again, one arm around her shoulders—careful not to jostle her injured side much—the other cradling her knees, and carried her straight through the side door of the clinic.
Blade was waiting.
He gestured to an exam room, and I stalked straight into it, turning to face him, keeping Peyton right where she was.
“Gonna have to set her down, Wrecker.”
My eyes narrowed with warning, but he just ignored me and pointed at the exam table, one corner of his mouth twitching.
With a frustrated sigh, I got her on a bed, and he went to work. He replaced the first IV, checked her pupils and wounds, and did a whole lot of other poking and prodding that made me want to rip off his balls. Thank fuck she wasn’t awake because if she’d given any indication that she was in pain, Blade’s old lady, Elise, wouldn’t be havin’ any more kids.
“Like the EMT said, she’s okay,” he finally confirmed. “Little banged up. But nothing serious.”
“Good, I’ll take her to my room.” I moved in to pick her up, but Blade stepped into my path.
“She needs a few more hours of fluids, man. And I still need to monitor for a head injury.”
“You said she was fine!” I yelled.
Blade rolled his eyes and started cleaning his tools. “She is. The cut and swelling on her forehead aren’t in a place that usually causes a concussion, but I just want to be sure.”
My teeth clenched, but I didn’t argue. I knew it wouldn’t do me any good.
Blade grinned, shaking his head. “Never thought I’d see the day. Wrecker, losing control over a pair of violet eyes. Didn’t have that on my bingo card.”
“I haven’t lost my fucking control,” I snapped.
“Maybe not,” he said, voice low, still grinning. “But you’re claimed. Just haven’t figured out which one of you did the claiming.”
I didn’t reply.
Just turned back to the bed, grabbed a chair, and dropped onto it.
I watched her breathe.
Listened to the monitor tick.
And told myself I’d never let anything happen to her again.
No matter who I had to tear apart to keep that promise.
4
PEYTON
Iwoke to the sharp scent of antiseptic and something tugging at my arm. My lashes fluttered open under the glare of bright fluorescent lights, and for a second, I had no idea where I was. The drop ceiling above me didn’t provide any clues. All I knew for sure was that my mouth felt dry and my shoulder ached.