One thing he knew for sure, he was staying at the hospital. No way was he going to leave Marie without any sort of protection.
Arrangements would need to be made in terms of where Marie was going to live, because they now knew her address.
So many logistics were running through his mind. Things he needed to attend to, and he wished it wasn’t five-fifteen in the fucking morning.
The lights of the hospital werejust ahead, and Isaac counted down every second until they were in the parking lot.
“I’ve got a staff pass now, we can park in the secure employee parking lot,” Marie said, and held out a plastic card for him.
Isaac followed the signage and breathed a sigh of relief when he was able to turn the engine off. Considering it was a busy hospital, there had been no other cars following them in.
“I’ll walk you to the ER. Stay here.” Isaac didn’t wait for an answer, he knew after what they’d gone through to get here Marie wouldn’t argue with him. He closed his door and looked around, the area was well lit, but that didn’t mean someone wasn’t lurking in the shadows. In between the cars.
“Thank you.” Marie smiled up at him and took the hand he held out. He hauled her close, and she sagged against him. He held her tight, needing the hug as much as she did.
“I’m not leaving you today.”
Marie leaned back, smiling softly at him. “I didn’t think you would, and I’m glad you’re not.”
“Let’s get you inside.” Keeping his arm around her, they walked the short distance from the parking lot to the entrance of the ER in silence. He remained alert for anything out of the ordinary, but everything was clear.
The scent of bleach, sweat, and the sour smell ofvomit hit them when they walked in, and Isaac swallowed down the bile rising in his throat; he was not good when anyone threw up. Blood and gore from a gunshot wound he could deal with, someone tossing their cookies had him running in the opposite direction.
The waiting area wasn’t full of people, so he hoped that was a good sign for the rest of Marie’s day.
“I don’t know how you do it.” His stomach was churning, and he tried not to breathe through his nose.
Marie laughed, obviously seeing his distress. “You get used to it, but what’s setting you off?”
For a second he was going to brush off her question. Not let her know about his aversion, but he knew she wouldn’t judge him. “Throw up.”
She nodded. “Yeah it’s not the best for sure. But you get used to it.”
“Not something I plan on getting used to,” he grumbled and shoved his hand in his pocket, his fingers connecting with the plastic bag he’d put in there earlier.
How had he forgotten he’d done that? He’d planned to hand Marie the earrings he’d gotten from Alliez the previous day before they left her apartment. Considering what had happened to them on their commute to the hospital, he wasn’t sure if he wasgoing to be successful in getting her to wear them. Then again, maybe she would.
“I guess it’s lucky that I’m the medical professional and you’re not. Although,” she canted her head to the side and looked at him quizzically. “You seem okay with blood, because you certainly didn’t look queasy when you were helping me in San Carlion.”
“I’m fine with that, there’s just something about someone losing the contents of their stomach that gets to me.”
“You’re not the only one.” She stepped back and fiddled with the strap of her bag. “I need to go.”
She said the words, but her body language was shouting that it was the last thing she wanted to do. Isaac was running out of time, if he wanted her to have the earrings, he needed to do something about it now. Not to mention they were in a vulnerable position standing near the doors where anyone could come in and ambush them, regardless of the security guards that were posted outside.
He pulled the bag from his pocket, emptying the contents into his palm. The lights hit the stones, and he marveled at how Cass was able to get a transmitter inserted into them. “Will you wear these for me?” he held them out for Marie to see.
“Earrings? You’re giving me diamond earrings?” There was no mistaking the surprise in her voice. Theylooked expensive, and Isaac didn’t question the cost or how they came about. All he knew was there was a variety of jewelry items to choose from at Alliez headquarters.
Part of him wished that he was giving them to her under different circumstances. That they were a token of how much he cared for her. And they were in a way. He did care for Marie. He was attracted to her and wanted to get to know her better. From her responses to his kisses the previous evening, it was clear she was attracted to him. There was still so much he needed to tell her. Not all of it good, and once he told her, he couldn’t take it back. There were things he’d done that could make her change her mind about him.
But that predicament was for another time. What he needed now was to explain the earrings and their purpose.
He led her over to a corner of the waiting room, aware of the staff behind the counter watching, speculation rife amongst them. “I got them from the office,” he lowered his voice so he was practically whispering in her ear. “They have a tracker in them. Will you wear them…for me.”
Marie clutched her bag a little tighter. “A tracker? What for?”
Isaac cursed himself for not remembering to give them to her earlier, when he had the time to go intothe whys and wherefores in more detail. “To keep you safe. After what happened two days ago, if something bad should happen, we have the ability to find you.”
