Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
The all black, leather get-up paired with his dark, brooding good looks, made him resemble an avenging angel, hovering, waiting for his charge’s fate.
“Is he okay?” I barreled toward him, turning my face to study his.
His eyes were blank.
“He’s okay,” Wolf soothed, smoothing his hand down my hair in a calming gesture.
I swallowed, choking back the tears that were threatening.
“What happened?” I swallowed, a tear breaking through my wall and tearing apart my composure.
“He was shot,” he said slowly. “Twice in the leg.”
I took a shaky breath.
“What else is wrong? If there’s nothing else wrong with him, I should be able to see him,” I demanded.
My years of nursing experience told me that something more was going on here
“One of the shots he took to the thigh clipped his femoral artery,” Wolf explained, but quickly held up his hands when I cried out. “It was just a small nick, barely noticeable now that it’s clotted, and they’re thinking that they won’t even have to do anything for it. Just pressure and time.”
I nodded for him to continue.
“He was also shot in the back of the calf,” he explained.
I nodded.
“But he’s got some burns to his neck from where a falling ember got him on the way out of the house,” Wolf pointed out a couple of spots on his own neck, so I would know where in correlation they were on his body.
“So, what are they thinking?” I asked, eyes moving to the side when Core and Mig finally showed.
They didn’t know where they were going, and I’d left Core when he stopped at the lady at the front desk to ask her where to go.
I could also see that he wasn’t very happy with me, although I could care less at this point in time.
“They’re thinking he needs to stay overnight. Nothing’s broken in the legs, the bullets were through and through so it should heal up right as rain,” Wolf murmured. “The real concern right now are the burns on the scar tissue he already has there.”
My stomach knotted again.
Burns were terrible.
In fact, I would know, wouldn’t I?
“How did he get burns?” I asked, voice ravaged.
“The house where he was searching for the fugitive he was apprehending was unintentionally set on fire by the homeowner when he discovered his truck being impounded,” Wolf turned back to me. “He’s been asking for you, but I just wanted to give you a head’s up before you saw him. He’s more hurt than he’s letting on.”
I nodded.
“What room?” I asked.
“Fourth one on the right. Code 1102 for the door to get in,” he gave me as I started to leave.
“You’re not coming?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“One person at a time, according to the nurse. Once the nurse goes over it with you, ask him if he wants anything to eat or drink. We’ll be here,” he winked.
I smiled, although it didn’t hit my eyes.
Once I squared my shoulders, I punched the numbers in on the keypad outside the ER’s doors, and pushed through the heavy doors.
I skipped going to the nurse’s station, even though I knew nearly everyone there.
I couldn’t let them see me like this.
Hell, I couldn’t let Casten see me like this. He’d freak out.
The moment I walked into his room, saw him on the bed, eyes to the door obviously waiting for me, my worry about appearing calm for his sake vanished.
“I’m okay,” he lied.
I smiled a trembling smile.
“Okay,” I sniffled. “You scared me.”
He smiled sadly.
“Scared myself,” he agreed. “You’re not wearing any pants.”
I looked down at my outfit.
I was wearing pants…or leggings, anyway. Casten was one of those people who thought they shouldn’t be worn outside of the house.
I’d actually complied with his request that I not wear anything that outrageous out of the house seeing as they were in varying shades of neon colors, except for this one time.
I hadn’t thought about anything beyond getting to him when I’d gotten the news that he was hurt. What I was wearing never entered my mind—I could’ve run out the house naked and not noticed.
The shirt I was wearing was one of his, a dark brown t-shirt that said ‘Welcome to the Gun Show.’
My heart skipped a beat as I dropped down onto the corner of his bed, making it bounce.
He closed his eyes on a grunt.
“Oh, God. I’m sorry,” I whispered, standing up.
He shook his head and pulled me down to his bed once again, and this time I was careful not to jostle his leg,
“Tasha,” he started.
My stomach dropped at the sound of his voice. He sounded sick, and I knew I wasn’t going to like what he had to say next.
“I think you and I need some time apart. I need time to recover…then find whoever is doing this to you,” he said.
His voice sounded like he’d inhaled a lot of smoke, making it sound dark and scratchy instead of the smooth richness I was used to.