Page 12 of Keeping Knight

“Ruby.” Worry roughens Micah’s voice as he rushes into the room. He hurries to my side, ignoring the doctor completely. “Are you alright? Is your throat getting worse?” Then he turns to shoot an accusing look at the doctor. “Have you checked for new swelling? What about her O2 levels?”

Annoyance flickers in the doctor’s eyes. “The nurse checked”—he picks up the clipboard and glances at it—“half an hour ago. The swelling was stable. O2 levels were good.”

“Half an hour ago?” Micah draws up to his full height, which has to be well over six feet. At least, that’s what I’ve guessed, considering I’m five-three, and the top of my head barely clears his shoulder. “A lot can happen in half an hour. And she’s clearly in pain. Have you given her any painkillers? Not opioids," he amends quickly. “But something to make her more comfortable.”

The doctor blinks at him. “And you are?” he asks.

“Ruby’s friend,” Micah retorts. “One who wants to make sure she’s getting the best care possible.” He frowns. “Maybe we should call in a specialist. An ENT might be helpful.”

“Micah.” The rasp of my voice is still startling. “I’m okay. Really. I don’t need to see another doctor. We were just talking about getting me released.”

“Released? Already?” Micah looks back at the doctor, clearly displeased. “With the swelling, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“As I was just telling Miss Ashe,” the doctor says, “she can be released if she has someone to stay with her. Otherwise, we’ll need to keep her overnight.”

“Maybe that would be a good idea,” Micah starts.

“No.” It comes out with more force than intended, tearing at my raw and aching throat. “No,” I repeat more quietly. “I don’t want to stay here. If I can leave, I’d rather do that.”

Micah gives me a long look. “We’ll keep you safe here, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He jerks his in the direction of the hallway. “I’m here, and Rogue and Jester⁠—”

“Rogue? Jester?” Did I suffer oxygen loss, and I’m hallucinating an alternate reality based on the memoir I’ve been editing?

A small smile tugs at Micah’s lips. “Sorry. Rogue is Nico. Jester is Jaxon. You met Nico at your apartment, and Jaxon got here about an hour ago for backup. Rogue and Jester are their nicknames from back when we served.”

“Oh.” I’ve been curious about what Micah did in the Army, but I haven’t felt like it’s my place to ask. And now is definitely not the time to bring it up. “I appreciate that. Offering to stay here, I mean. But the hospital…” Emotion brings a lump to my throat. “It brings back bad memories. If I don’t have to stay here...”

“Are you going to stay with her?” the doctor asks Micah.

I wouldn’t have thought it possible to be embarrassed right now. But, apparently, it is. Cheeks heating, I say, “Oh, no. That’s okay. I’ll find someone...”

But who? My stepmother, Sylvia, who lives out in Suffern? I can only imagine how that would go. We’d learned to tolerate each other during the five years she was married to my dad, but without him as a buffer, our relationship could best be described as strained. If I asked, she’d let me stay with her, but I really don’t want to.

Kylie’s a live-in nanny, so she’s out. Jordan would be a good option, but she’s in London for the next six weeks on a work trip. And I can’t exactly hop on a plane to fly out to Chicago right now. There are some people I’m friendly with through my job, but working remotely eighty percent of the time means we’re not close enough to ask any of them for such a big favor.

But, I realize, the doctor doesn’t know where I’m going from here. I can tell him yes, I have a person to stay with, and I can find a room at a hotel instead. As for the possibility of my throat swelling shut during the night? I guess I won’t sleep, so I can call 911 if it starts to happen.

“Who?” Micah asks. A moment later, his cheeks turn a ruddy pink, which, I have to say, putting it aside from this whole messed-up situation, might be one of the most attractive things I’ve ever seen. I can’t explain why, but there’s just something about a big, muscly man blushing that gets me.

“Sorry,” he adds, frowning in apology. “That’s none of my business. But—” His lips thin. “Is it someone with adequate security? We still don’t know who came after you, Ruby. Or if they’ll come back.”

A shudder grabs hold of me, and I wrap my arms around myself instinctively. “I’m sure it’ll be okay.” Glancing at the doctor, I lie, “I have someone to stay with. So I’ll be fine to leave.”

The doctor stares at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I wonder if he’s going to press me on it. Ask for a name. An address.

But then his pager goes off, catching his attention. He glances at the pager and grimaces. “I need to go,” he says. “Sounds like you’re all set. I’ll have a nurse come in with the discharge papers shortly.”

And before I can respond, he hurries from the room, leaving me and Micah alone.

“Well,” I start, “I need to make some calls.” Glad that Micah had thought to bring my phone with us, I pluck it from the little table beside the bed. Glancing down, I’m reminded of the hospital gown I’m still wearing, partly covered by a thin blue blanket. “I wonder where the nurse put my clothes.”

I don’t really want to put on the clothes I was wearing when I was attacked. I’d rather burn them, honestly. But between a flimsy hospital gown and those, I don’t have much of a choice.

“The closet,” Micah says. “Your clothes are in there. But, Ruby.”

“What?” I tap my phone to wake it and click on the browser. I’d like to get the hotel room figured out before I’m discharged, so I can go straight there.

Micah’s expression turns even more somber than it already was. “I’m just not sure staying with one of your friends is a great idea. If your attacker comes back, is there going to be enough protection?”