Chapter 10 #2
Luca wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to change that much. He didn’t need to, right? But it just might be that the man he should become was exactly the kind of person who could love Kira well. The way she deserved.
“She wants me to go to the foundation gala with her. Do some snooping around in the Rousseaus’ nonprofit to see what we can find out about the syndicate. If there’s any connection.”
Hammer grinned. “That’s how it starts. You team up working on something one minute, and the next, you realize you already fell in love with her and it’s too late to do anything about it.”
“As long as she falls in love with me at the same time, I’m not sure I’m going to want to do anything about it.”
“Good.” Hammer laughed. “Then you just have to make sure she falls in love with you.”
Luca wasn’t entirely sure he had that skill to draw on. But he could certainly give her the chance to know him, and he wanted to see the look on her face when she saw him in his nicest suit.
“Just trust.” Hammer slapped his shoulder. “God will take care of the rest.”
Hammer would say that, wouldn’t he? Rowan Wallace had everything he’d ever wanted.
The idea of Luca and Kira going through anything like what Sierra and Hammer had been through terrified him to his core.
But whatever happened next, his friend was right.
He needed to leave it in God’s hands.
Kira scanned the patient’s lab results. “This isn’t good.
” She looked at the nurse behind the counter.
She didn’t work much with Barbara, but the older woman worked out so she could stay strong and outpace most of the younger nurses.
She was also the kind of Christian who couldn’t help but counsel the people around her.
The wisdom just seemed to pour out of her.
Over the course of her shift so far, Kira had told Barbara nearly everything about today—minus the syndicate parts.
Kira focused on the numbers in front of her. “Up the dosage and check on him in an hour.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Barbara tapped the raised counter between them. “Sounds like God is doing something in your life.”
Kira smiled. “Nothing has changed for me in years. Right now it feels like everything is different, and I’m still spinning from everything that’s happened in such a short period of time.”
Barbara nodded. “That’s when you need to cling to Him harder. It’s why we go through things like this. So we can draw near to that firm foundation.”
“It’s not a storm or a trial though.”
“It’s still good practice.” Barbara patted her arm. “For when it will be later and you need Him most.”
It had been more than twelve hours since that man had accosted her and she’d had that sweet moment with Luca, and she was still thinking about it all. The promise, the threat, all of it mixed up in her mind. But she knew she wanted to spend more time with Luca.
Not just at the gala. She wanted to get to know him for real.
She’d tried to nap this afternoon, but it hadn’t happened. She was going to feel it in the hours after midnight, that was for sure. She needed some caffeine.
The doors at the end of the hall banged open. Kira handed over the tablet and headed for the paramedics and their patient, two corrections officers following the gurney. Sure enough, the patient had on an orange jumpsuit and was handcuffed to the rail.
Kira’s heart quickened, pushing away the edges of fatigue. She grabbed a pair of protective gloves and pulled them on.
“Stab wound—left side,” one of the medics shouted, his voice steady but strained. Not Mack. This was one of the older paramedics. “Severe laceration, possible punctured lung. BP’s dropping.”
Her attention caught on the inmate’s face, his dark eyes on her for a second.
Alden Jenkins.
Thank You that it wasn’t Mack who responded. As an EMT, he’d have had to recuse himself if he knew the patient personally. None of them could work on someone they knew. It was far too dangerous.
Kira’s training kicked in. “Bay two. Get him on the monitor.”
Alden lay there, pale and gasping for breath. Blood soaked the bandage wrapped around his midsection, a dark, ominous red that contrasted sharply with his ashen skin and the orange jumpsuit.
“Sir, can you hear me?” Kira leaned closer, trying to capture his attention.
His eyes fluttered open, revealing a flicker of stronger awareness, but it quickly faded.
She could see the fear lurking behind his pain, a primal instinct begging for survival.
“We’re going to help you. Just hang in there. ”
Jenkins didn’t respond.
She grabbed the edge of the sheet. “Ready?”
The medics, the nurse, and even one of the corrections officers mirrored her movements. “Go.”
They transferred the patient to the hospital bed, and the medics wheeled out the gurney.
Kira caught a glimpse of the corrections officers as her gaze darted from them to the monitors.
His heart rate is plummeting. One of the corrections officers was a burly man with a tattoo snaking down his forearm below the dark blue of his uniform shirt.
He stood with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the room.
The other officer, younger and visibly shaken, stood behind the nurse and watched the inmate with a mix of concern and detachment.
“What happened?” Kira started working on the bandage.
“Alden Jenkins,” the tattooed officer replied, his tone clipped.
“The former mayor. Conspiracy to commit murder, fraud and other charges I can’t recall right now.
I’m surprised you don’t know who he is. Figured everyone did.
” He sniffed. “The judge deemed him a flight risk, so he’s with us awaiting trial. ”
Kira didn’t need him or anyone else here to know of her personal connection. Not that she’d ever met Jenkins. “Okay, so what happened?”
“He got stabbed.”
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his tone and focused on the task at hand. “Let’s prep him for surgery. We need to stabilize him fast before we send him upstairs.” She looked at the nurse. “Call the OR. Tell them to get ready.”
The nurse rushed out of the bay. Kira worked with precision, her fingers moving deftly as she inserted an IV line. Her mind calculated the next steps even as chaos swirled around her and the patient moaned.
He was barely conscious now, his eyes fluttering open.
Hammer. Rowan. Was he across the other side of the hospital with no idea his stepfather was here? She wanted him to be the one to tell Mack that Jenkins was here. She should contact Luca and have him pass on the information. He’d know the best way to break the news.
She touched Alden’s shoulder and spoke, whether he could hear her or not. “Mr. Jenkins, we’re going to take you to surgery. I need you to fight.” Despite what he’d done, she believed that.
After all, everyone deserved a second chance. That meant he had to be around to accept it.
The younger corrections officer stepped forward, what remained of his bravado cracking. “Is he going to make it?”
Kira met his gaze, searching for the right words.
Barbara rushed back in. “We’re doing everything we can, but he’s in critical condition. We need to move quickly.”
The officer nodded, the weight of his job pressing down on him.
Barbara said, “They’re ready upstairs.”
Kira took a deep breath and motioned for the team to roll Jenkins to the elevator.
As they wheeled him away, she knew this was more than just another trauma case.
There was a story behind the blood. A life intertwined with choices that had led him here.
And for the first time in a long while, she knew the people affected by the pain.
The ones who would have to navigate the aftermath of what had happened.
The younger corrections officer glanced at her, and the elevator doors slid closed.
She whirled around and rushed to the locker room, digging her cell phone out and sending a text to Luca to come to the hospital if he wasn’t here, and find her in the emergency department so she could tell him something important.
She didn’t want to tell him that Jenkins might not make it over text, but she needed him to come urgently.
He sent a text back almost immediately.
Luca
On my way.
She slipped the phone into the pocket of her lab coat and headed back to the nurses’ station.
Barbara handed over the tablet. “I still need to take care of the kid in seven. The guy with the broken leg is back from X-ray. The orthopedic surgeon on call took a look, and he’s on his way down for the consult.”
“Thanks.” Kira pushed out a breath.
“There’s another ambulance incoming. They called in.” Barbara’s features tensed. “Their patient is coding.”
The doors opened at the end of the hall, and two paramedics wheeled in the gurney. A younger medic was over the patient, performing CPR in that steady but rapid rhythm. Destiny Rousseau rushed in the doors after them, tears streaming down her face.
Kira turned to Barbara. “Call Izabella out of two.”
“Yes, Doctor.” She raced off to fetch the other nurse.
“Bay five!” She rushed to hold the curtain back, and the EMTs pushed the gurney into the room.
“Do I get off?” The young EMT in training didn’t stop chest compressions.
Kira said, “Keep doing what you’re doing. Tell me if you need to switch out.”
One of the two EMTs who’d been pushing the bed moved to the head and held the Ambu bag over the patient’s mouth.
It was Ralph Rousseau, back even though he’d been discharged just days ago. The EMT ran down the patient’s information and what they’d done for him to try and restart his heart.
She hooked him up as she listened and scanned the monitor. The flat line stared back at her, a cruel reminder that life could end in a moment and there might be nothing she could do about it. “No pulse,” she murmured, glancing at the nurse beside her. “Grab the paddles.”
“Right here, Doctor.”
“Hook up an IV. Give me one milligram of epinephrine.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Kira patted the arm of the EMT doing chest compressions. “Hop down. Everyone clear.”
She could almost hear the clock ticking, counting down the seconds they had left. The nurse moved quickly, attaching the defibrillator pads to the patient’s chest.
“Ready when you are.” The nurse moved into position beside Kira.
“Clear!” Kira shouted.
The EMTs stepped back. The jolt from the machine was powerful, a surge of hope that came when Ralph’s chest lifted off the bed and dropped back down. Kira watched the monitor, waiting for a sign of life. Come on.
In the corner of the bay, Destiny cried quiet tears. The EMT closest to her put an arm around her shoulders.
The line remained flat.
“Again,” Kira said, her voice unwavering. “One more time.”
The nurse nodded, quickly resetting the machine. “Clear!”
Another shock coursed through the man’s body, and Kira felt a flicker of desperation. She took up compressions, counting in sync with the nurse, pushing harder. Willing life back into his chest.
“Come on,” she whispered, her breath quickening. “You can do this.”
After what felt like an eternity, she paused to look at the monitor and check for a pulse. Nothing. She exchanged a glance with the nurse, who looked equally determined.
“Third time’s the charm,” Kira said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “Let’s go.”
“Clear!”
The shock hit, and this time, a jagged blip appeared on the monitor. Kira held her breath as the line started to rise, a fluttering heartbeat where before, there hadn’t been one. Thank You.
“Pulse!” The nurse smiled, her eyes wide with relief.
“Good work.” Kira felt a wave of triumph wash over her. “Keep monitoring him so we can ensure he’s going to remain stable.” She blew out a breath and removed the gloves she had pulled on. The battle was far from over, but they had won this round.
The EMTs pushed their gurney from the bay, and Kira crossed to Destiny. “Back so soon?”
The other woman whimpered and rushed into Kira’s offered hug.
“It’s safe to say he has a fighting chance.”
Destiny put her hands to her cheeks. “Why is someone doing this to him? Why can’t they leave us alone?”
“What do you mean?” Kira shook her head.
Sure, Jenkins—currently in surgery—had told Luca that Ralph was head of the Shadow Syndicate, but that didn’t explain why someone wanted him dead. It was more likely the reason Jenkins had been targeted. For telling Luca anything at all.
Ralph had more of a motive to see Jenkins dead than the other way around. This only made sense if someone was trying to get rid of both of them.
Fatigue washed over Kira like a wave. It would retreat shortly, but until then, she couldn’t let it drag her under. She had patients counting on her to be alert and do her job to the best of her ability.
“Someone tried to kill him again, I just know it.” Destiny gasped. “It’s because they didn’t succeed the first time!”
Kira held the woman’s hands. “I’m going to call the police. Can you tell them everything? They’re the ones who can find out who is doing this and stop—”
Destiny rushed to her husband’s bedside. “Ralph!”
His eyes fluttered.
“If he wakes up, it may only be for a minute,” Kira said. “He needs to rest as much as possible.” She looked at the nurse. “Let’s take blood for a full panel. Find out what’s going on.”
“Yes, Doctor.” The nurse left the room for the supplies she’d need to do that.
“Destiny, will you speak to the police?”
The other woman didn’t look at her. “As if it will do any good.”
“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
“Fine. Call them.”
Kira frowned. She spotted Luca at the edge of her peripheral vision and told Destiny, “I’ll be back to check on Ralph shortly.” She passed the nurse on her way out and walked toward Luca. The words got stuck in her throat.
He looked at Ralph, then back at her. “What did you need to tell me?”
“Someone tried to kill Jenkins. He’s in surgery upstairs.” She blew out a breath. “It doesn’t look good.”
Luca tugged her toward him and kissed her forehead. “I’ll call Mack.”