Ryker’s gravelly voice is rougher than it was only half an hour ago. “I need Doc up here right now. We’ve got a problem.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Doc
The sixth flooris utterly silent as the elevator doors slide open. Raelynn sweeps her gaze up and down the hall. “Clear. Stay on my six.” Tapping her ear, she adds, “Ry, we’re comin’ in.”
“Oh my God.” Natasha swallows a sob. A vase of flowers lies shattered on the kitchen floor. One of the end tables is upended, and blood stains the carpet in long streaks.
“Doc, over here.” Ryker is on one knee in front of the couch, and it only takes me another two steps to understand why. Bella lies on the pretty floral cushions, a large lump swelling on her forehead and a bloody towel pressed to her shoulder.
“Gladys?” Natasha asks, her voice so shaky, I’d give anything to sweep her into my arms and carry her out of there. But I can’t. I have a patient who needs me.
“They…took her.” Those three words seem to take everything Bella has left, because her head lolls to the side and all the tension leaves her body.
Fuck. “Out of my way,” I snap. Ryker moves with a speed a man his size shouldn’t have, and I take his place.“She’s breathing. Rapid heart rate. Clammy. Someone get me a blanket.”
I’m vaguely aware of Raelynn trying to comfort Natasha. Of Ryker, West, and Graham talking about security cameras. Of someone draping a soft, gray blanket over Bella’s legs.
Normal pupil dilation. Normal breathing sounds. I remove the towel and cut her green blouse down the center. The moment I get my first good look at the wound, she opens her eyes and screams.
“Bella! It’s Doc!” Taking her arms, I try to hold her down, but she fights like a hellion and catches me just below my bruised ribs.
Ryker catches her, steps from the door. “Stop. We’re here to help.”
Bella tries to claw at his face, probably too panicked to hear a word. Ryker grabs her wrists and pins them over her head. “Calm thefuckdown, Bella!”
“Let me go! I don’t knowanything! I just want my aunt back, please!” She starts to sob, and Natasha ducks between her and Ryker.
“Bella, look at me, sweetheart. It’s Nat. You’re safe.”
From her tone, Natasha doesn’t believe that any more than I do. But the familiar voice seems to do the trick. Bella sags in Ryker’s hold. He releases her, and Natasha wraps her arm around Bella’s waist to keep her upright.
“No. Get away from me!” The young woman shoves at Natasha. “This isyourfault. They took Aunt Gladys because ofyou.“
Tears brim in Natasha’s eyes. Her entire body starts to tremble. She’s about five seconds away from losing it completely, but she’s trying to be strong for Bella.
“Come on now, sugar. Let’s get you back to the couch.” Raelynn takes Bella’s arm. “Doc needs to take a look at yourshoulder.” She nods at Graham, who wraps his hand around Natasha’s arm and leads her into the kitchen.
Fucking hell. I need to comfort her. I told her everything would be fine. That no one would go after Gladys. She’ll never trust me again after this. Gladys could already be dead. Or…worse.
Raelynn helps Bella sit back down, and I tear my gaze from the kitchen. Assess the patient. Keep her alive. Everything else…I have to put away.
With half of Hidden Agenda in the room—and armed—we’re safe for at least a short time. Graham is one of the most understanding men I’ve ever met. If anyone can keep Natasha calm until I’m done, it’s him.
Lowering myself down onto the coffee table, I meet Bella’s red-rimmed eyes. “I need you to take off your shirt. West and Ryker will turn their backs, okay?”
Bella tightens her fingers on the two halves of her blouse and looks around slowly. Shit. I don’t think she had any idea how many people were in her apartment until just now. But after a moment, she drops her hand.
I ease the bloody material from her shoulders. The stab wound is deep, but based on its location, the knife didn’t hit anything vital. She was lucky. I dig in my bag for the vial of morphine. As I lift my gaze, I suck in a sharp breath.
Her torso is covered in bruises. They beat her up before they stabbed her.
“Doc, please…”
A long-ago memory steals my breath. Then another. This one so much worse. My mother’s broken body lying on the living room floor. Not a single inch of her unmarked. My father standing over her with a bottle in his hand.
“Doc?” Raelynn touches my shoulder, jerking me back to the present. “You okay?”
