Chapter 6
Carla
The trauma bay doors stay closed for hours.
I lose track of how long. I work through every task on my list and then work hard at staying awake.
It doesn’t work because when the doors finally swing open, they wake me. I sit up and rub my eyes.
Sheesh, I’m pooped.
Then I stand, pulling on my jacket, as Robyn walks out. Her scrubs are spotted with blood, and her mask hangs at her throat. She pulls off her cap and her hair tumbles loose around her shoulders. She yawns; her eyes are bloodshot.
I’m at her side before she’s two steps clear of the doors. “How is he?”
She gives me a tired smile. “Alive,” she says. “For now.”
Magma joins us. “That’s good news.” His voice is deep, like maybe he was sleeping too.
I fall in on her other side. We head toward the small office Robyn has been using as a recovery base. She drops into the chair behind the desk and rubs the back of her neck. Magma stays standing. I do too.
“He’s stable,” she says. “I won’t lie to you, it was close. We nearly lost him. He’s in recovery now with Dr. Jenkins watching him.”
“What are we looking at?” Magma asks.
“The next six to twelve hours are going to tell us if he will make it. If we get through tonight without complications, I’ll feel a lot better.
But I’m not promising anything.” She looks up at him.
“I will say this, though. He’s been through hell before.
Some of those injuries we found weren’t from today.
There were old breaks in three places. Two of them set badly, which means they were never seen by a doctor.
He had scars I wouldn’t expect to see on a shifter, considering your accelerated, superior healing.
He’s been through the wringer and more than once. ”
Magma’s mouth pulls into a line. “That’s saying something, since our healing burns off most surface damage.”
“Exactly. For scars to stick on a shifter, the wounds had to be bad. Repeated. Or maybe both. Whoever this male is, he gets into a lot of fights.”
“Do you think he’s a feral?”
“Looks like it to me, but who knows?” She shrugs.
“What do you need from me?” Magma asks.
“We need to keep the perimeter in place until he’s well enough to move.”
“I’m hoping that’ll be as soon as twenty-four hours from now.” Magma lifts his brows, looking hopeful.
Robyn shrugs. “That might be pushing it, but you never know.”
“I may or may not have started a rumor that the shifter you are treating is someone high-profile. That it might even be a Councilor,” Magma says.
Robyn smiles. “That’s a good one.”
“Do you think they’ll buy it?” I ask.
Magma nods. “I think so.”
“Dr. Jenkins is calling Councilor Reed to give her feedback on the health of the Red. I’m going to stay here tonight. I want to be on the floor if anything changes. Ridge should be here any minute with my things. I’m going to get a few hours of sleep.”
“I’m sure you’re finished. Do you need anything else, Doc?” I ask.
“No, thanks. I just need my toothbrush and a warm gurney.” Robyn yawns into her hand. “Can I ask you to keep vigil? You can get a few hours when I’m up.”
“No problem.” I glance at Magma. “Would you like a refill of your coffee?”
“That would be great.” He gives me a quick nod. “The borders officially opened three and a half hours ago. We’re officially no longer at war with Mistveil.”
“Then why is there a half-dead shifter in my OR?” Robyn asks.
“Like I told the Council, we can’t expect everything to do a one-eighty overnight.” Magma sighs.
“Are you expecting more trouble?” Robyn asks.
“I hope I’m wrong, but yes, it’s not all going to be smooth sailing after years of hating one another.”
Robyn looks worried. She is frowning heavily, her mouth a white line.
“I’d better go and rest while I can,” she says.
I head out of the office and down the corridor toward the kitchenette. The hospital is in that strange middle-of-the-night hush.
Once there, I start the next pot. The smell of fresh grounds hits me, and I close my eyes for a second.
I rinse out two mugs and line them up on the counter, and I’m just reaching for the milk when the door at the end of the corridor opens with a soft buzz.
I lean out of the kitchenette to look.
Ridge is at the security checkpoint with a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. The guard at the door radios in, and a second later, they wave him through. He sees me down the hallway and lifts his chin in a small greeting.
I wave him toward Robyn’s office, and he heads that way without breaking stride.
I finish making the coffees. I take a coffee for Magma. As I walk over there, I notice that Robyn’s office door is half open, and I can see them through the gap.
Ridge has the bag on the desk. He’s standing close to Robyn, who is on her feet now.
He’s cupping her face with one hand and saying something I can’t hear.
She’s nodding, and her eyes are closed, and there is the smallest smile on her mouth.
Then he leans in and presses his forehead against hers, and they just stand there for a second.
I feel guilty watching them, but I can’t look away.
I feel a small ache right under my collarbone. Not jealousy. I love Robyn. I’m thrilled she has Ridge. If anyone deserves love and a happy ending, it’s her.
But, at the same time, I want that too. I want someone to drive across town in the middle of the night to bring me a toothbrush. Someone who looks at me like I’m the only thing in the room. Someone who shows up for me.
Maybe one day. Maybe sooner than I think.
Ridge brushes his mouth across Robyn’s. She wraps her arms around him, and they melt into one another. Then, they break the kiss, and he holds her against him.
I force myself to walk away, taking the coffee to where Magma is still working. He doesn’t seem to have an off switch.
The door is open, and he’s standing at the window with his phone to his ear.
“…and the watchtowers, are they manned?” he is saying.
“All of them?” He pauses, listening. “Good. I want eyes on every mile of that border. The frontline might be further back, but I want everyone vigilant, and for the love of god, I want no unnecessary action taken. The borders are open; we can expect visitors.”
I put the mug down on the corner of the desk where he can reach it.
He glances over his shoulder. His eyes meet mine, and his expression eases a fraction. He mouths a thank you. I nod and let myself out, pulling the door shut behind me.
I head for the main entrance. The double doors swish open and I step out into the loading bay.
Flint is there; his eyes turn to me. When he sees me, his whole expression shifts, and he straightens.
“Hey, you,” he says.
“Hi.” I’m trying very hard not to smile too wide. I’m failing. “Long night.”
“And it’s only going to get longer.”
“I’m making coffee. Do you want one?”
“I would love a coffee.”
“Anyone else out here want one? I can do a round.”
“Hang on.” He lifts the radio. “Let me check in. I’ll let you know in a minute. You go back inside. I’ll text if there are more takers.”
“Okay.” I nod.
He gives me a quick smile and lifts the radio to his mouth.
I turn and head back through the doors.
That’s it. That’s all I get?
Then again, he’s at work. We are both at work. This isn’t a date. He doesn’t owe me anything.
I keep telling myself that as I head back to the kitchen, and it mostly works.
I put a couple of clean mugs on the tray, and I’m just reaching for the sugar when my phone vibrates on the counter.
It’s Flint.
Two more coffees, please. Black for both. Thanks.
That’s the whole message. Not even a smiley face?
I stare at the screen for a second, then I put the phone down on the counter and finish making the coffee.
I take the mugs out to the loading bay on a tray. Flint is on the radio again when I push the door open with my hip. He hangs up and comes to me. Two of the other guards drift over from where they’ve been doing perimeter sweeps.
“You’re a lifesaver,” Flint says as he takes a mug. He winks at me. “Thanks, Carla.”
“Don’t mention it.” I keep my voice light.
The other two guards grab their coffees, thank me, and head back to their positions. Flint takes a sip and lets out a small noise of approval, and for a second his eyes hold mine over the rim of the mug. Then his radio crackles and he turns half away to listen.
That’s my cue.
“I’ll be inside if you need anything,” I say.
“Thanks so much. You’re a star.”
A star.
Right.
I go back through the doors.
I take my own mug back to my desk and sit.
I yawn and take a sip of my coffee, looking through Robyn’s emails. Best I get tomorrow’s work out of the way, or I won’t be able to go home.
“Tired?” a deep voice to my right says.
I jump.
Magma is leaning on the side of my desk. I didn’t hear him come up at all.
“You scared me.” I press a hand to my chest. “How does such a big guy like you move so quietly?”
“My apologies.” His mouth tips up at one corner. “It’s all my years of training. When did you last eat?”
“Um.” I have to think about it. “Shit! I think it was lunch, although I only ended up eating half a sandwich in the car. I somehow forgot about food with all the goings-on. That’s not like me at all.” I widen my eyes.
“I’m sending one of my guys for food. I figured the rest of us could probably use something. You want in?”
And just like that, my stomach decides to make itself known. It growls so loudly that we both hear it. There is no hiding it. I press a hand against it, as if that will somehow walk back the sound.
He laughs, and I find myself laughing too.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says.
“That would definitely be a yes.”
“What would you like? There’s a twenty-four-hour burger place up the road. There’s also a pizza place that does late delivery, and a Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks over. Pick your poison.”
“I’ll just have whatever everyone else is having. Honestly, I’m not picky.”
“I’m asking you, Carla. What do you want?”
The way he says it doesn’t allow for an out. I look up at him.
His vivid green eyes are focused entirely on me. I get to pick. Somehow, that makes me feel special, which is really sad considering it’s only takeout.
“I could murder a cheeseburger,” I admit.
He smiles.
“Actually, wait.” I glance at the clock on my screen. “It’s almost three in the morning. That’s more breakfast than dinner. Could I do a bacon-and-egg burger instead? If it isn’t a hassle.” I raise my brows.
“Actually, I think it sounds fantastic. That’s probably what I’ll go for too.” He smiles, and a big dimple appears.
“Would fries be out of the question?” I widen my eyes.
“Fries were a given. Who has a burger without fries?” he asks. “And a double thick shake.”
“Strawberry?” I ask.
“I was thinking chocolate, but strawberry is good too.”
“Then, yes. Please. Thank you. You are the best.”
He smiles wider. “I like a female who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to eat it all.”
“Oh, I am very much not afraid to eat.”
He laughs again. “I’ll go take the rest of the orders and have you fed in no time.”
“Thank you.”
He turns to go.
I watch him walk away. He has an easy, unhurried walk. His suit jacket is off, and his shoulders fill out his shirt, which still looks newly pressed, even at this hour. His hair is quite long, thick and wavy. His trousers fit him very, very well…like a glove. His ass is meaty and—
Oh no.
No, no, no.
He is Flint’s boss.
He is the boss of the man I am supposed to be interested in. The man I drove across town to track down. The man I have spent six months thinking about…on and off.
It feels all kinds of wrong.
I drag my eyes back to my screen.
Except, Flint and I aren’t dating. I hope that will change, but right now, we’re not.
Looking is fine.
There’s nothing wrong with it.
I glance back just in time to finish my assessment of Magma’s ass. Yep, it’s a really fantastic ass. He must work out all the time to have an ass like that.
Magma glances back just before turning the corner into his office. He frowns, and then he’s gone.
Crap!
He totally saw me checking him out.
I bury my head in my hands and groan.