Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
They had this brief reprieve for now but would have to get off the mountain soon. She needed to check back in with Doc May as well as the troopers, and he needed to cut off the head of whoever wanted to hurt her.
But they had a few minutes. So he leaned down and kissed her again. Harder this time. He had only so much gentle in him. By the quickening of her breath, she was just fine with that.
Hopefully she understood how far he’d go to keep her safe now. There were no limits.
None.
Christian stood near the sink in the small examination room, arms crossed, boots planted, watching Amka sit on the paper-lined table in jeans and a thick white sweater. They’d stopped by her place for clothing on the way in, since the forensic team from Anchorage had cleared the scene. They’d actually done a good job cleaning up after themselves.
Amka swung one foot, a healthy flush on her face. He’d put that there. He tried not to smile.
Doc May clicked through her tablet with one hand and aimed a pulse ox at Amka’s finger with the other. Her pink scrubs were wrinkled, her blonde hair shoved into a bun that had started to slide sideways. “You’re stable. Blood pressure’s a little low, but not dangerous. No signs of delayed shock. No coughing, so your lungs stayed clear. That’s good.”
“I’m feeling fine,” Amka said.
May smiled. “Still had to check. Headaches?”
“Only when Christian won’t stop watching me.”
Christian didn’t blink. “Get used to it.”
That flush went full-on crimson red in her cheeks, and he watched, fascinated.
May snorted without looking up from her screen. “Don’t make me kick you out of here, Christian.”
Christian gave Amka a look.
She looked back like she was weighing how hard she could kick him with one boot. “May, how’s Nixi?” she asked.
“Still out, last I checked.” May glanced at the clock on the wall. “She woke up briefly around four, so I gave her more fluids and pain meds. Nixi was resting easy when I walked by a few moments ago.”
The front door slammed open.
Heavy boots. Fast steps. Heading their way.
Christian turned toward the hallway just as Damian appeared in the doorway. No perfectly pressed slacks. No Armani suit jacket. Just jeans worn at the knees, T-shirt stretched and inside out at the collar. Hair a mess. No fancy watch or matching belt. Just wild eyes and too much urgency for a guy who normally tied his shoes with military precision.
Christian stared at him, stunned. His brother looked unhinged.
“Where is she?” Damian barked.
Christian stepped out into the hallway, putting himself between Damian and the exam room. “Who?”
“Nixi. Where is she?”
Christian didn’t ask more. “This way.” He just turned and walked, Damian fast behind him to the last door on the left. He pushed it open.
The bed was empty. Blankets had been shoved to the side on the bed and the IV unplugged. A hospital bracelet, torn off not cut, sat on the tray.
No Nixi.
Christian’s gut dropped. He looked around the room fast. The bathroom door lay open, and the window appeared mostly shut. “May said she was here this morning.”
“She’s supposed to be here,” Damian snapped. His voice cracked around the edges now. “Where the hell is she?”
Footsteps pinged behind them.
Doc May came in. “Amka ran down to the restroom. I had to give her a tetanus shot and she hates needles.” May’s eyes went wide, and her tablet nearly slipped from her hand. “What? No. Nixi was here sleeping. Her arm is broken, she can’t—” Her voice cut out. She strode to the bed, looked at the unplugged equipment, then the bracelet on the tray. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
Christian turned to her. “She walk out or was she taken?”
“She shouldn’t be walking at all due to her condition. She has a fractured radius, and there are two layers of gauze covering her burns. Additionally, the IV medications are still metabolizing in her system. If she got up and left, I’ll eat my stethoscope,” May said.
Damian’s jaw snapped shut. “Oh, you don’t know her. I’d bet my life that brat ignored the pain and walked right out of here.”
Christian looked at Damian, whose green eyes burned a deep fire. “Who is she?”
“Stella,” Damian said, his teeth audibly grinding.
“Your ex-wife?” Christian had never been so shocked in his entire life.
Damian’s chin lifted with a look most people would run from. “We didn’t exactly get divorced.”
What the fuck?
Chapter 35
Amka stepped out of the restroom and paused, adjusting to the cooler air in the hallway. The hospital lights were too bright, but her headache had dulled to something manageable. It had settled into a soft throb behind her temples. Man, she hated needles. Why did she have to have another tetanus shot, anyway? She rolled her shoulders, and the soreness in her body made itself known. A deep, even ache stretched across her thighs and down her back, earned the good way.