She yawned and headed to her room. Jasper watched her go. Then, without turning on the light, he sank back into the chair. Jasper crossed one leg over the other and closed his eyes.
Damn it.
Nina wouldn't leave his head. It was bad. And far too dangerous. But it seemed it was already too late.
CHAPTER 37
Jasper hurried down the hospital corridor, scrolling through lab results on his tablet. He was almost at the staff elevator when noise erupted from the ER—shouting, hurried commands.
“Careful! On three—one, two, three!”
Jasper turned.
A gurney. Blood. Medics running alongside it.
He would’ve kept walking—until he looked closer at the patient.
She was unconscious. Her face was battered, blood streaked along her temple.
Jasper froze.
That wasn’t possible.
Why was Nina here?
“Stop!”He roared the word, lunging forward and grabbing one of the orderlies by the shoulder.“What happened to her?!”
Daniel stared at him, stunned.
“Car accident. The ambulance brought her in five minutes ago.She’s critical. We suspect internal bleeding.She’s unconscious—we’re taking her straight to surgery.”
Jasper’s heart slammed up into his throat. His body went numb, but his mind sharpened, cold and clear.
“OR Three. Move!” he barked.“Where’s Dr. Moore?”
“He’s still in the surgical wing.”
“Run. Get him. He drops everything.You’re responsible for her, understood?” The fury in his voice surprised even him.
Jasper ran alongside the gurney.
“Nina…” he breathed, barely audible.“Hang on. Don’t you dare give up now.”
They burst into pre-op. Jasper couldn’t take his eyes off her—blood on her face, swollen lips, closed eyes.
“You’re going to be okay,” he murmured, forcing himself to breathe.“I promise.”
He stood by the glass doors as the team prepped her for surgery. His fingers cramped, his jaw locked tight.
“Dr. Garth?” an assistant approached.“Your surgery starts in ten minutes. Anesthesia is ready.”
Jasper turned his head.
“Cancel it,” he said hoarsely.“Tell them it’s an emergency.”
“But—”
“I can’t do it,” he confessed flatly.“A surgeon needs a clear head. And mine isn’t.”
