46. Soren
“ W e should call an ambulance,” Vonny says as we examine Doc’s wound.
“No,” Cristian replies above us. “He’d hate that.”
“Murry is on his way?” I look up at Dima, who nods in confirmation.
“So is someone named Kail.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, even though I feel anything but relieved. “Let’s get him to the surgery room.”
“Sory,” Vonny tries to say, but I give him a look, and whatever he sees on my face has him grimacing and agreeing.
Tennant and Cristian help us get Doc up and into the room reserved for emergency surgeries. My heart is pounding, and every movement has me worried that we’re doing more harm than good, but we can’t very well leave him in the middle of the hall.
Once we get him on the examination table, Vonny starts pulling at his clothes. I help, and when Tennant appears with a pair of scissors in hand, the process goes much quicker and smoother.
I don’t like the gray look of his pallor, and quickly gather everything I need to get IVs started. My hands shake, and my fingers are already blood-stained. Vonny stops me before I can move to the sink to scrub in. His fingers dig into my arm and he forces me to look at him.
“You should go wait with Dima for the doctor,” he tells me.
I shake my head. “I know where everything is; I can compartmentalize?—”
His grip tightens. “No, Sory. It’s not a choice. I’ve got this. You can’t be in here.”
“Donovan…”
“James needs you,” Cristian smoothly cuts in. “Doc wouldn’t want you to experience this.”
I go to protest, but he says, “It’s not a choice, Soren, it’s an order.”
Snapping my mouth closed, I clench my jaw and give him a stiff nod. Vonny escorts me to the door and gives me a hard hug. “I’ll take care of him, Sory. I promise.”
I nod and cling to my best friend for a moment before leaving the room. James is still in the hall, Dima and Joel watching over him.
“Everything okay?” Dima asks.
I swallow and manage a brief nod. “Yeah. I just… Yeah. It’s fine, for now.”
“Come on.” Joel gets up and helps his brother to stand. “Let’s go somewhere more comfortable.” He ushers both James and I down into Doc’s office. I don’t want to be so far from the surgery room, unable to get a glimpse in and see what’s happening, but I also know that’s exactly why I was kicked out.
I’m more of a liability than anything right now. James collapses on the sofa, and as I watch tears fall from the bodyguard’s eyes, my heart begins to crack.
Without hesitation, I sit next to him and pull him into me. It should be awkward, with how much bigger he is than me, but it’s not. We fit together as easily as Doc and I do, and it’s not a hardship to comfort him.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper, pressing a kiss against his hair. “He’s going to be fine. He’s not allowed to leave us.”
James and I cling to one another, both letting my words bring us comfort, even though we’re distinctly aware it doesn’t work like that. We have nothing if we don’t have hope, and clinging to that belief is all I can do right now. After all, my boy may be bratty as all hell, but he’s a good boy who listens to his Daddy in the end…