“Pool table or a bed?” I ask Prez.
“Upstairs. Don’t need her bleeding all over the new felt.”
Prez and his old lady follow behind me as I take her upstairs to one of the unclaimed rooms.
She’s still breathing, but hasn’t woken up again.
“You shouldn’t have moved her,” Ashley says.
“Wanted to get her off the beach before someone saw us and accused me or the club of something.”
“Is she wearing a wedding dress?” She wraps her arms around her center. She and Prez haven’t been married for long. I wasn’t sure they’d last this long with her being Shelby’s little sister and all.
“Why don’t you go find her some clean clothes,” Prez tells her. Once she’s out of earshot, he jumps my ass. “She’s not wrong. Should have called it in. She dies here. It falls on our shoulders.”
“She’s not going to die.” I stare at her chest, watching it rise and fall with every breath she takes, hoping each one won’t be her last.
“Did she have a phone or anything?”
“I didn’t see anything.”
He nods. “Right. I’ll get the guys to do a search. Someone’s got to be looking for a missing bride.”
Or they are hoping she got pulled out with the tide. I keep the sinister thought to myself in case she can hear us.
Prez barks orders and Combat shows up to check the woman out. He isn’t a doctor, but has plenty of experience from his tour of duty. Doc retired on us, but to be fair, the old bastard is older than dirt and would probably do more damage than good these days with his shaky hands and poor eyesight.
“Everyone clear out,” Combat barks.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He rolls his eyes but starts examining the mysterious beauty. He’s all business, checking her vitals. “Blood pressure is good. She’s a little dehydrated, but some fluids will help. Her head wound looks worse than it is. She’s lost some blood, but I suspect not enough for concern. I’ll clean the cut and have Ashley help me get her changed. She could have a concussion, but I think she’s just exhausted.”
I step out into the hallway. Ashley and Combat cut her out of that dress and get into something clean and dry.
“What are you doing?” a voice sounds alarmed.
“Calm your tits,” I overhear Combat.
“You’re safe,” Ashley tries to soothe her.
I enter the room. “No one is going to hurt you. I found you on the beach. Do you remember anything?”
The woman’s brows knit together as she stares at me, wearing a bleak expression. “I don’t know.”
“Do you know your name?”
“I…I’m not sure.”
“We should take her to the hospital,” Ashley suggests once more.
“No,” the woman shouts, panic filling her voice.
Combat looks at me. “It’s your call.”
“We should let her get some rest. Maybe some food.”
“I’m not hungry.”
