23. Twenty-Three
TWENTY-THREE
WRENLY
T he next couple of weeks passed in a blur. Between the extra shifts I picked up at work and trying to keep up with school, I barely had time to spend with Theo. And when I did, we were both so exhausted, there were times we fell asleep in each other’s arms, and one of us would be gone by the time the other woke up. He would leave me handwritten notes on the nightstand with quotes from my favorite books like, “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope . . . I have loved none but you.” or tweaked a bit like, “Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same,” . Other times, he would send a text telling me how excited he was to fuck me later. Sometimes, “later” was the same day; other times, it wasn’t for a couple of days. I felt the ache of his absence in my core, a deep longing that consumed my every thought. I daydreamed about his touch during lectures, my mind wandering to the feel of his lips on my skin and his hands exploring every curve of my body. The anticipation of seeing him was maddening.
When he couldn't be around me, he sent one of his Brotherhood buddies, Cavan, to "keep an eye" on me and escort me to and from work. He was also Theo's boxing trainer. He had been friends with Theo since they’d been little boys and was only a few years older than him. He was handsome enough, with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. I could tell his nose had been broken multiple times, and he had a scar that cut his right eyebrow in half. He was friendly in his own way, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was being babysat or spied on. I tried to make small talk with Cavan during our drives, but he always kept the conversations brief and impersonal. It was clear his loyalty was to Theo and I was just an assignment to him. He had a quiet intensity about him, a watchful gaze like Theo that comforted me.
“Can we grab a coffee before you drop me off?” I asked him as I slid into the passenger’s seat.
“Yeah,” he replied as he backed out of my driveway.
Pulling out my phone, I sent Theo a quick text.
Cavan just picked me up. Going to stop at the coffee shop before work. Will I see you in the morning?
I’ll try, but I have to meet with my father once I finish here.
Everything okay?
I hope so. I’ll text you in a bit.
A few seconds later, he sent another text.
What color underwear are you wearing?
Black
Lace?
Your favorite . . .
Fuckkkkkkkk.
My dick is hard . . .
Prove it.
Your wish is my command . . .
Followed by a picture of his very large and very hard bulge fighting for its life in his jeans.
Your turn . . .
As much as I’d love to return the favor, I doubt you’d want me to give a free show to your trainer. Although I have been rather lonely with you working all the time . . . maybe Cavan wants to scratch an itch . . .
I’d meant it as a joke, but it didn’t change the fact that I really needed to be fucked and fucked hard. I craved it like an addict craved their next high. The text bubble appeared and disappeared several times as he typed out his response. I could practically feel his rage emanating through my phone. Finally, a message appeared.
If you want his death on your hands, then I dare you to scratch that itch. If I even catch him looking at you the wrong way, I’ll kill him and then fuck you next to his body. You’re mine.
Your bark is worse than your bite.
My phone suddenly rang, Theo’s name flashing on the screen. I smirked as I answered. “Yes?”
“Don’t think that just because Cavan is my friend, I won’t slit his throat and use his blood as a lubricant while I fuck that sweet ass of yours.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, both from his raw, possessive intensity and the vivid, gruesome imagery. My pulse quickened as I pictured the scene he described, a twisted mix of violence and passion.
“Don’t test me.” His words were clipped. “I don’t share what’s mine.”
“Message received loud and clear,” I whispered, enjoying how his jealousy simmered just below the surface. “I was only teasing.”
“For your sake and the sake of my friend, you’d better be. ”
I glanced over at Cavan. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, but I could have sworn I saw the ghost of a smirk on his lips. Had he heard what Theo had said? The thought made my cheeks burn.
“I have to go, troublemaker,” Theo said abruptly. “I’ll try to see you later.”
“Okay. I lo—” But the line went dead before I could finish.
Sighing, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and stared out my window while Cavan drove me to the hospital. Once inside, I made my way to the locker room, putting my bag in my locker before heading to the nurse’s station to start my shift.
Hours passed in a blur, and by the time my break rolled around, my feet ached and my head throbbed. I found a quiet corner in the cafeteria and pulled out my phone, hoping to see a message from Theo.
Nothing.
Disappointment settled heavily in my chest. I tried to push away the nagging worry and remind myself that Theo had committed to certain obligations long before he’d met me. He had responsibilities to his father and The Brotherhood, and I might never be able to understand that. But still, a part of me longed for his reassurance, for some sign that I was more than an afterthought amidst the chaos of his life.
Sighing, I picked at the bland cafeteria food. My appetite had been absent the past week, likely because of lack of sleep and Theo’s absence. I tried forcing myself to eat a few bites but felt nauseous. Throwing my food into the trash, I headed back to the floor. A wave of dizziness washed over me as I approached the nurse’s station. I gripped the wall for support, taking deep breaths until the room stopped spinning. One of the other nurses, Maya, noticed my distress and rushed over.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, just a little lightheaded. I’ll be fine.”
She frowned, obvious dissatisfaction in her expression. “Why don’t you take a few minutes and drink some water before you head back onto the floor.”
I followed her advice and sat down, sipping from my bottle of water. The cool liquid helped settle my stomach a bit. “Thanks, Maya,” I said with a weak smile. “I think the extra shifts and no sleep is catching up to me.”
She studied me closely. “You’ve been looking pale and tired lately. Are you sure everything is alright? You know you can talk to me if something is going on.”
I hesitated, torn between the desire to confide in someone and the need to keep the tumultuous details of my life with Theo private. Maya had always been kind to me, a maternal figure amidst the chaos of the hospital. But this thing with Theo and The Collectors wasn’t something I could bring anyone else into.
“I’m fine, really,” I assured her. “Just been working a lot and not getting enough rest.”
She didn’t look entirely convinced but nodded nonetheless. “Alright, but promise me you’ll take it easy and let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks again.” I gave her hand a grateful squeeze before heading toward the ambulance bay, where a commotion had begun.
Several nurses were lifting a dark-haired woman onto a stretcher and wheeling her into the trauma bay. I hurried over to help, my own discomfort temporarily forgotten. She was young, maybe in her early twenties, with long dark hair. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I had seen her before. Her face was ghostly pale, her breathing shallow and rapid. Blood covered her stomach from what looked to be a gunshot wound. We transferred her to the hospital bed and cut away her bloodstained shirt to assess the damage. The bullet had torn through her abdomen, and she was losing blood fast.
“What do we have?” Dr. Patel asked as he hurried in.
“One of the EMTs found her collapsed outside the ambulance bay. “She’s got a gunshot wound to the abdomen, with what appears to be a potential exit wound through her lower back,” the charge nurse replied. “I think it hit her spleen. We need to do a FAST exam to see if there is uncontrolled hemorrhaging in her abdomen.”
I helped cut away her bloody clothing and revealed the angry gunshot wound. Dr. Patel examined it quickly, his brow furrowed. “Get two units of O negative, and page the OR. She’s going to need surgery, stat. ”
I started an IV and worked to pack her wound. As we rushed her toward the OR, her heart rate plummeted.
The trauma team swarmed around her, calling out vitals and hanging units of blood. “She’s crashing!” someone shouted.
The monitor showed asystole. She was flat-lining. I jumped on the gurney, starting chest compressions as the team wheeled her into the elevator. Time slowed as I pumped her chest, desperately trying to revive her failing heart. With each compression, I silently pleaded for her to fight. The elevator doors opened, and we rushed down the hallway to the OR.
“How long has she been down?” the surgeon asked.
“About two minutes,” I replied, not breaking the rhythm of my compressions.
As the anesthesiologist prepared to intubate her, the surgeon and his team scrubbed in. I continued to perform chest compressions until they were ready to take over. Suddenly, a low beep echoed through the room. I glanced at the monitor and saw a faint but present pulse on its display.
“Good work, Wrenly,” Dr. Patel said as he helped me off the bed.
I stepped back, my arms aching and my heart pounding. As the door swung shut behind me, I caught a final glimpse of the woman’s pale face, her dark hair fanned out around her. I went to the OR locker room, showered, and scrubbed her blood from my skin. I put on a pair of fresh scrubs and headed to the nurse’s station to see if there were any updates.
Everly, the charge nurse for the OR, waved me over. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of exhaustion and adrenaline. “I feel like I know her from somewhere.”
She frowned. “The gunshot victim? Do you think she’s been a patient of yours?”
“No, it’s not that. I can’t put my finger on it.” I rubbed my temples, willing the memory to surface.
“Well, don’t worry about it now. You’ve done everything you can for her,” Everly said gently.
I nodded as I leaned against the wall for support. The adrenaline was wearing off, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. “What are you doing?”
“She had a phone in her pocket, and there’s an emergency contact on the medical information screen, so I’m calling to see if they can tell me who she is.”
“Any news on her?” I asked.
“She had a splenic hemorrhage, but Dr. Pearson is a surgical god, and he is in the process of repairing it. The last update said the surgery is almost complete, and then she will be on her way to the PACU.”
“Wow. That’s great news.” I smiled and sat next to Everly to chart while she punched in a number on the phone.
“Uhm, hi. This is Everly from Riverview General Hospital. I’m a nurse caring for a female patient named Haven Benson, and you were her emergency contact on her cell phone. Can I ask who I am speaking to?” She was silent for a few seconds. “Unfortunately, Ms. Benson is currently in surgery to repair a splenic hemorrhage caused by a gunshot wound. I was actually calling to gain some clarification, hopefully.”
Silence, then she continued.
“Yes, sir. Ms. Benson was found near the ambulance bay of our emergency department, and the police are hoping to talk to someone who might know how she got shot.”
More silence.
“She was found unconscious and was unable to provide any details. Can you tell me your relationship to Ms. Benson so I can update her chart?” Everly clicked into the woman’s chart. Haven Benson. “Are you still there, Mr. Montgomery?”
Montgomery? I know I’ve heard that name somewhere.
“Thank you for providing that information. Is this a good contact number for updates on her condition?” A pause. “As long as the surgery goes well, you can come to the PACU on the fifth floor, where she will be monitored until she is stable. It looks like her recovery room will be 5022.”
She typed Kai Montgomery into the contact section of Haven’s chart with a phone number .
“Yes, off Fifth and Jones.”
Kai Montgomery was in The Brotherhood with Theo. I stepped away from the desk and immediately grabbed my phone, dialing Theo’s number frantically. His phone rang several times before going to voicemail. Frustrated, I hung up and tried again. Voicemail.
I spoke quietly, not wanting Everly to overhear. “Hey, Theo. There’s a girl named Haven at the hospital who came in with a gunshot wound. Her contact was Kai Montgomery. I think that’s the same Kai you’ve told me about. Call me back, okay?”
Hours crept by with no answer from Theo. I texted him several times, growing more anxious with each unanswered message. Everly called to let me know that Haven was out of surgery and doing well in recovery. When my shift finally ended, I grabbed my bag and headed upstairs to check on Haven.