ELITE Damnit (Guardian ELITE Book 6)

Chapter 4

Alex walkedinto Kane’s private hospital room with Quin on one side and Damnit on the other still wearing his service vest. Red curls splayed in every direction on the far side of Kane’s bed next to his good shoulder. The remainder of a small feminine frame sat leaning forward in an uncomfortable-looking hospital chair.

“She’s been with him since he came out of surgery.”

Both men whipped their heads around at the sound of the quiet female voice behind them.

“He didn’t get out of surgery until a few hours ago,” she said just above a whisper. “For once, somebody in the ER made the right decision and sent him directly to our floor. We’re the experts at treating diabetics. We had to stabilize his sugar levels before it was safe to operate. His sugar levels were more life-threatening than his gunshot wound.”

She stepped around the two men and glanced down at Damnit. “He really is a service dog, right? Please tell me he’s not your pet. So many people today get those vests and fake papers just so they can take the darn dog everywhere with them.” She glanced at both armed men then smiled. “He’s the real deal. Security would never have let you past the front door armed without some kind of badge.”

Alex wasn’t about to tell her that Guardian Security had their own gold badges that every employee carried in a leather folio just like every alphabet agency, with identification and carry permit on the other side.

She glanced at Kane before returning her gaze to them. “Is he one of yours?”

“Yes.” Both men answered at the same time.

“How’s he doing?” Alex asked in low tones.

The woman on the far side of the bed lifted her head, then jumped to her feet. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I must’ve fallen asleep.” She ran all ten fingers through her curly locks and tied them back at the nape of her neck while moving around the bed to them. “Hello,” she said to the men, then turned her attention to the woman. “Please. Tell me. How’s he doing?”

“Give me a minute and I’ll let you all know.” The nurse strode to the machines, carefully checking each, making notes on her tablet.

The petite redhead’s gaze went to the Guardian logo on their polo shirts. “Were you there last night? Were you the ones who called the police? Do you work with Kane?” She fired off the questions so quickly neither man could answer.

Alex gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile as he held out his hand. “I’m Alex Wolf, managing partner of Guardian Security.”

She extended her dirty hand then quickly pulled it back. With a sheepish grin, she explained, “I fell last night trying to get to Kane through the fighting men. Then I came with him in the ambulance.” She turned her palms upward and stared at the gnashed skin. “One medic did what he could with gauze and sterilized water but then Kane started to crash.” Her gaze flew back to the man in the bed as though to reassure herself he was still alive. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just step into his bathroom and wash up.”

Alex carefully took her hand in his. “You can take care of that in a minute. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, first?”

Her gaze never left where their hands were joined. “Oh, forgive me. I’m Saje Reece.” Her eyes drifted to the bed where Kane lay motionless. “This is all my fault.” Her voice broke on the last word. “Kane wouldn’t have gone to the tent city if it weren’t for me.” She wiped the tear away from the corner of her eye.

Alex and Quin exchanged a glance. “Saje, please, go ahead and take care of those hands. You can tell us all about it when you come back out.”

“Thank you, Mr. Wolf.” She looked down her dirty blouse and slacks all the way to her dusty ankle boots. “I’m a mess.” She circled the bed and grabbed a purse bigger than a duffel bag that Alex and Kat would take for a weekend trip.

The cute freckles across her nose and dotting her cheeks made her look like a teenager, but Alex put her age closer to twenty-five. He’d guess her to be about five-foot-four inches and couldn’t weigh one hundred twenty-five pounds soaking wet.

“Hold up a minute, Saje. This way I can tell everybody at the same time.” The nurse turned and gave them a friendly smile. “I’m Emma, by the way.” She pointed to her name on the whiteboard next to RN. “I’m on day shift the next few days so if you’re around, you can ask me his status. The LPN and CNA don’t have access to that information.”

She lifted the sheet at the bottom of the bed and squeezed Kane’s foot. They watched the pink color return. “Big guy, here, is one of our infrequent flyers. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen him, but there for a while, he was a regular customer. I thought after we got the new pump stabilized that we wouldn’t be seeing him again…ever. Technology is great, when it works. I’ve checked all over the hospital from the emergency room to the operating room and no one seems to have a clue what happened to his pump.”

“One of the gang kids probably stole it while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I tried to shoo them away, but they checked every pocket before they scattered.” Saje looked up at Alex and Quin. “Those little shits were fast…and mean. They were punching and kicking Kane while robbing him.”

“If they ever figure out what it is, they might be able to get a couple hundred dollars for it. Kane was wearing the newest glucose pump on the market.” Emma grinned sardonically. “It was so new, we had to get the tech from the company to come here and teach us, and him, how to use the darn thing.”

“So, how is he doing?” Alex had a lot to do during his visit to Dallas and needed the nurse to refocus.

“Considering they dug a bullet out of his bicep six hours ago, and he nearly crashed twice in the ambulance—adrenaline and diabetes don’t get along well—I think he’s doing great. The good news is that it missed bones and arteries.” Her smile was genuine. “He’s going to be here for a few days while we stabilize his system. Diabetes makes him more susceptible to blood infections. We’re also going to have to get him set up with a new pump. Long-term, he’s looking at a lot of physical therapy. That bullet ripped through some impressive muscles that I’m sure he’s going to want to get back as soon as he can.”

Damnit whined.

Alex petted the big dog. He wasn’t sure what was wrong with Damnit. He wasn’t acting as though he needed to go outside and relieve himself. Alex was beginning to learn the meaning of the different noises and mannerisms the dog made but he hadn’t heard that particular whine before. A few strokes of his head and a scratch between his ears seemed to calm the dog.

Emma checked Kane’s IV line. “For someone with type I, he certainly has a lot of tattoos. I’m surprised. He’s more susceptible to blood infections common with tattoos.” She traced the frog tracks. “I always thought these were a little unusual but I’m sure they have meaning to Kane.”

Quin walked to Emma and rolled his forearm over, showing his similar frog prints. “Kane and I were both Navy SEALs. His team caught an unknown virus while in…on a mission. It attacked his pancreas. He was medically discharged.”

Kane twitched and Damnit left Alex’s side to sit next to the bed and stare at Kane’s face.

One of the machines let out a long steady bleat.

“Is he waking up?” Saje said hopefully.

The heart rate monitor beeped faster.

“No. I’m sorry, I need all of you to leave the room,” Emma ordered as she hit a button. “Code red?—”

Alex herded everyone out the door to the elevators, dodging orderlies and nurses as they speed-walked into Kane’s room pushing a crash cart.

“I don’t believe any of us want to leave the hospital right now. Could I convince you to join us, Saje, for a cup of coffee?” He glanced at her disheveled dirty clothes. “You never got a chance to wash your hands. We might be able to get you a set of scrubs?—”

“Thanks for the offer but I have a change of clothes.” Saje pointed to the public restrooms across from the elevators. “I’m just going to pop in here and clean up a little. I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.” She glanced back toward Kane’s room. “I don’t want to leave.”

Alex slid Quin a glance. “Neither do we. We’ll wait for you here. Take your time.”