BIG BRO: I’ve got you. In the car now headed your way.
Hawk tucked his phone away, then leaned down and kissed Lucky on the forehead.
Bryce gave him a look, one that hinted at envy. All the guys, except one, in the crew were single. They all dated. Hawk occasionally scratched that itch, but not since it felt like things between him and Lucky had turned into something meaningful, even if it was long distance. Sorta.
All he knew now was that he wanted them to stop keeping each other at arm’s length and really try to see if what they shared could be even greater than what they’d built the last two years.
He felt close to her, closer than he did to most people. She knew things about him he didn’t even share with his therapist. She was so damn easy to talk to.
Write to?
Whatever.
She couldn’t hear him over the helicopter, so he didn’t bother trying to talk to her. But he hoped she knew he was there. Beside her. Where he’d like to stay.
The second the chopper landed, he squeezed Paloma’s arm, letting her know he appreciated her help.
They unloaded Lucky, still strapped to the backboard, onto the stretcher. Bryce smacked him on the back and yelled, “Call if you need anything!” before climbing back onto the chopper.
Hawk went with the emergency department team, calling out her vitals and injuries. The second they hit the triage room, Hawk breathed a sigh of relief to see Dr. Thad Meyer. “Hawk, you don’t look like you’re on today?”
He didn’t have his usual SAR gear on. “I was out training and found my girl, Lucky. She’s been missing nearly three days. Dehydrated, dumped from a fire road down a twenty to twenty-five foot steep embankment. She hit a lot of rocks, trees, and bushes on her way down. Knee looks bad, so does the cut to her thigh. She came to a stop at the bottom, getting stabbed in the shoulder by a tree root. We cut her loose. Head injuries look bad. I’m guessing she had a concussion that’s gotten better over the last few days. Exposure to the elements left her hypothermic, though we’ve tried to warm her up. I stabilized her best I could in the field, but she needs surgery on that shoulder.”
Dr. Meyer eyed him. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Hawk used his free hand to pull his ball cap off and scratch his head. “She was last seen at the bar. I found her naked and dumped down that ravine. She was able to tell me thatshe thought she’d been drugged. So that makes me think that maybe…” He couldn’t say it. He didn’t want to even think it.
Dr. Meyer started belting out orders for x-rays, fluids, meds, and a bunch of tests he wanted performed, including a rape kit. “Does she have any family we can contact to get background on her and consent?”
Hawk squeezed her hand. “No. Her family was murdered.”
Dr. Meyer winced. “Does she have anyone else?”
“She has me.”
“Are you two…”
“It’s new, but yes. I’m not leaving her. I promised her.”
Dr. Meyer’s eyes turned deadly serious. “You’re going to be a pain in my ass, aren’t you?”
“I won’t break my promise to her.”
Dr. Meyer rubbed his knuckles over Lucky’s sternum, agitating her to wake up. “Lucky, I’m Dr. Meyer. You need surgery and a lot of other help.”
Lucky’s eyes didn’t seem to focus, but when her gaze found Hawk’s, she settled and stared up at him.
Dr. Meyer leaned close to her. “Do you authorize Hawk to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable?”
Hawk saw her hesitate. “I’ll take care of you. Promise.”
Her gaze shifted to the doc. “Yes.” And then her eyes rolled back and she started seizing.
Hawk swore.
Dr. Meyer sprang into action and the next twenty minutes were a blur until they whisked her away from him and up to surgery.
He found Lincoln in the waiting room and sat next to him, pulling out the gloves he’d stuffed in his back pocket. He hung his head and stared at the red stains on them.
