“Always, but you’ve been off work sick this week, don’t overdo it.If you hit a wall, go home and rest.That’s an order.”She narrows her eyes at me.“You are pale.”
I turn and hope she hasn’t spotted the red line on my neck.“I’ll be fine, but thanks, I appreciate it.”The truth is, I have barely slept despite my bone-aching exhaustion.I’d had a dream about Reaper, woken thinking he was with me, and then been unable to get back to sleep.Work is the best thing for me until his memory fades.
But will it?I have no idea.
Reaper might be a scarred soul who believes himself to be unworthy of love, but that doesn’t stop me wanting him.No matter what the cost.
I bury myself in some paperwork, sipping a coffee, and then check a few images for a junior colleague.The medic covering me is efficient and capable and I’m glad for the admin time.
Just after midday, a commotion kicks off in the emergency room.Shouts and curses in a deep voice and then the sound of something being flung with force.
I rush to help, along with Todd.Two tall youths are kicking off.Clearly high on something, they are both bloodied and bruised and their pupils blown wide.
“Hey, hey, calm down,” I say, holding up my hands.“What’s the problem?”
“Her!”The one with red frizzy hair says.His movements are jerky and frantic.“We’ve been waiting fucking hours to be seen.Shewon’t let us in to talk to a doctor.”He picks up a chair and flings it at the automatic doors.Luckily it bounces and doesn’t strike anyone.
“I’m a doctor,” I say.“Why don’t you come with me?We’ll get you seen.”
“See, I fucking told you,” his friend says.“You got to get a bit crazy in here if you want any help from these motherfuckers.”
“That’s not true,” I say, eyeing the receptionist who is on the phone, to Security I hope.“We operate a triage system, we see the sickest first, and as you are on your feet, breathing, not bleeding out, it takes us a while to get to you.”
“And that’s not fucking on.”Redhead dashes up to me, his eyes flashing manically, and his fist clenched.“We have as much right as anyone else.”
I back up.My heart squeezing as fear holds me hostage.I’ve had a man come at me like this before and he saw it through by beating me black-and-blue.
“It’s bitches like you who need to learn your place.”Redhead yells in my face.
“Yeah, fucking whore,” his friend shouts also looming over me.
They are both at me.They’ve clearly already been in a fight and their adrenaline is pumping, their fury taken hold.There is no reasoning with them.
I hold my breath, praying for security.I’m backed into a corner and they are tall and crazed.Redhead snarls, the corners of his mouth full of spit.“Someone has to pay for this shitshow.”
Then suddenly a big dark figure looms behind them, a head taller, huge bulky shoulders, leathers, and ink.
The two high youths stop abruptly.Their gripped clothing is yanked.Both fall to the floor in a tangle of limbs and cries of surprise.
Reaper.
He looks me up and down as though checking for injuries, then presses the sole of one of his boots onto the throat of the guy nearest him.“You okay?”he asks me as the youth grips Reaper’s calf and chokes.
I nod and a juddering breath leaves my chest.
Redhead goes to sit up.Reaper delivers a swift brutal punch to his ribs.It’s on target, and Redhead drops to the floor clutching his side and groaning.His eyes are screwed up tight and he draws up his knees.
“Who are these twats?”Reaper looks down at the guy he’s holding captive.His cheeks are bright red and his tongue hanging out.
“A couple of cokeheads,” I say.“Kicking off.”
“And don’t you have damn security here?”He sends his dark gaze around the department’s waiting room.“I would have thought that was pretty fucking essential.”
Everyone is wide-eyed and staring at the big badass biker who seemed to come out of thin air and save the day.Todd picks up the chair that was thrown.Rights it.
“Yes,” I say, “we do have security.”
As I speak they rush in.Two uniformed security guards who are frequent visitors to the ER.
