She nearly let out a laugh. Jane literally had nowhere else to go. She had a small storage unit in Nebraska, but the state just north of Kansas had never really been home. When she was in between assignments, she simply rented a long-term hotel room until the next one began. It had been a long time since she’d pondered how isolating her existence had become. She’d thrown herself into her work and overtime, the connections she’d had faded away.
“Here, I have some scrubs.” The nurse returned with a bundle of light blue material in her hands. “At least get comfortable while you wait. I know you came in on a MEDEVAC flight, and you don’t seem to have much with you.”
“Thank you.” Although the gesture might seem small to some, the offer of kindness reminded her of how lucky she’d been. Lucky to escape her captors. To be rescued by Sully. Ransom had lied, saying she was his fiancée so she could board the flight with him, and she was grateful for that too. She couldn’t imagine not knowing what had happened to the man who’d literally given her breath to fill her lungs. “Do you think I can borrow your phone?”
“Yes, you can use the one right here. Once you’re done with your call, I’ll show you where you can take a shower and change.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you,” she said again.
The nurse ushered her behind the desk and gestured to the phone. “I can’t leave, but I’ll move over here to give you a bit of privacy.” Before Jane could respond, the woman rolled her chair to the other side of the desk, putting some space in between them. She blew out a breath and reached for the receiver. Shedialed the number she’d memorized on the flight. Everything seemed to stand still as the first ring reverberated in her ear, then the second.
“Hello?” The man’s voice was gruff and wary.
She angled her body away from the kind nurse, not that it would give her any additional privacy. “Is this Red?”
“It depends on who’s asking.” The growled words nearly had her fumbling the corded phone.
“My name is Jane Laurier. Sully told me to call you.”
“Shit. What’s happened?” Instantly the man’s demeanor morphed from suspicious stranger to concerned friend.
“He was shot. He’s undergoing surgery in Maryland.” Her shoulders sagged a bit, relieved for the shift in Red’s tone.
“How bad?” There was shuffling over the receiver, then a female voice in the background.
“The bullet penetrated his calf and became infected. The last update I received was that bullet fragments and dead tissue from the infection were still being debrided.”
“And are you all right?”
“Me?” Her head jerked back, sure she’d heard him wrong.
“Yes. If Sully told you to call me, my guess is you met on the mission or shortly after.”
“I’m fine because of Sully. He rescued me, among others.” She wasn’t sure why, but tears stung her eyes, making the desk in front of her blurry.
“Okay, Jane. Do you have a place to stay until we can fly out?” Again, she detected another voice and although she couldn’t decipher what was being said, she could tell it was feminine. She thought back to what Sully had said about the woman they’d rescued before he’d been sent out on a mission with the Virginia team. Thalia. That was the woman’s name.
“I’m not leaving the hospital,” she told Red. “Someone needs to be here when Sully wakes up.”
“How can I get in touch with you?” Red asked. “Is this your number?”
She hadn’t thought beyond getting Sully to the hospital, but it struck her that she had absolutely nothing. “No. I’m on the hospital’s phone. My cell phone was lost, along with my identification, wallet, everything.”
“Give me your address and the floor you’re waiting on. I’m going to DoorDash you some things to hold you over. I can book a hotel room near the hospital. Sully will have my balls if I don’t make sure you rest and take care of yourself.”
She bristled. “You don’t need to do that, and like I said, I’m not leaving the hospital, so the room would be wasted.”
A sigh was audible on the other end of the call. “I need to stay in touch with you. Sully is like a brother. Once you get the delivery, text me from the new phone I’m sending.”
“Okay,” she said cautiously, hating that she was putting Sully’s friend in a position where he felt he needed to look out for her.
“Okay, then.” Relief was evident in his tone. “And Jane?”
“Yeah?” A tear spilled over her cheek, and she didn’t bother to brush it away.
“Thanks for watching out for the big guy.”
Her throat constricted to the point of pain, and all she could do was nod, not that Red could see her, and hang up the phone. She sat there for a moment, processing the call. All it took for Red to offer her help was the mention that Sully had told her to call. The man hadn’t questioned her identity or the circumstances that led her to Sully, and still he’d immediately jumped into action. A pang of envy struck her. What must it be like to have friends like that? Ones who would immediately pull through for you without hesitation. She hadn’t experienced that, not even from her immediate family. Despite her yearning forthat type of care and support, she couldn’t help but be thrilled that Sully had people like that to rally around him.
