Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
“I’ll get you some help and a shower chair. But before everything, let’s get you some painkillers that might take the edge off,” she suggested.
Ivy would have agreed to anything if it helped with the throbbing, but she wasn’t going to nod ever again. “Thank you.”
When the nurse bustled out of the room, Ivy turned her head slowly to look at Steele. “You saved me,” she repeated.
“You saved yourself. That was smart to make noise so I could find you.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better. It won’t work. There was nothing I could do,” she admitted with tears instantly coursing down her face as the helplessness she’d felt overwhelmed her.
Without a word, Steele stood to scoop her up in his arms. Mindful of all the wires and tubing attached to her, he settled onto the bed with Ivy on his lap. She could feel the rough fabric of his jeans under her bare bottom where the gown’s edges had parted. He rocked her slightly and placed a slightly damp teddy bear into her arms.
“The bear’s going to need a better bath, too,” he commented, as if her tears didn’t bother him at all. “I tried to clean him up with paper towels at the sink.”
Wrapped in his brawny arms, Ivy didn’t feel at all vulnerable. Who would mess with this man? She laid her aching head on his chest and never wanted to move.
“Can I stay with you for a while? You know, when I get out of here?” When he stopped rocking, she added quickly, “Just for a while. I won’t be any trouble.”
“Do you think they’re coming back?” he questioned.
“They told me I was working for them now.”
“How?”
“I work at a bank. They wanted me to help them into the bank after hours. I couldn’t do it.”
He was silent for what seemed like forever. Finally, he said, “I don’t like this, Little girl. They came back to check the dumpster after the bar closed and everyone cleared out. Talon said they searched the dumpster for a while and made a gigantic mess, tossing things out as they looked for you.”
“They weren’t going to let me get crunched?”
“It appears that they wanted to scare the crap out of you,” Steele suggested.
“They did that.”
“They endangered you and tortured you. That doesn’t happen in Shadowridge. Talon called the cops, but they didn’t get there until after the three fled. The cameras in the back of The Hangout might help identify them.”
Suddenly, her mind went foggy. She couldn’t process anything else. “Steele, I’m having trouble thinking.”
“Close your eyes, Ivy. I’ll protect you.”
“Sir, you’re not supposed to be on the bed,” the nurse blustered as she returned with two tablets.
“She’s scared. I’m here.”
The nurse scanned his face and body, taking in the leather cut with the Shadowridge Guardians MC’s logo, his tattoos, and take-no-prisoners expression. “You’d be a good person to have on my side if I were in trouble.”
“He saved me,” Ivy mumbled to the nurse for the third time.
“Here, Ivy. Can you take these for me?” The nurse helped her get them into her mouth and drink some ice water to wash them down.
“I’m glad… Steele was there to help you,” Annie commented, reading his name from his cut.
“Save… Not help,” Ivy corrected her stubbornly as she closed her eyes to block out the light.
“Got it. Saved,” the nurse agreed quietly before returning to her usual brisk tone. “Now, we’ll let that medicine take the edge off. With a head injury, the doctor won’t give you anything narcotic. I’ll get an aide to help you get clean and rustle up a shower chair.”
When the room fell quiet again, Ivy whispered, “Is she gone?”
“Just us two chickens here, Little girl.”
“You’ve never been chicken,” she answered firmly.
“I don’t know. I think I lost a year off my life when I cut open that sack to find you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Never be sorry for the evil that others do, Ivy.” His tone was firm and brooked no argument.
She patted his thick bicep to both reassure herself and acknowledge the truth of his statement. Ivy could feel his heart beat under her cheek. Time passed as she lay protected in his arms. Ivy was almost asleep when someone new entered the room.
“Ms. Jenkins, I’m Dr. Edwards.”
Ivy peeked up at the man in the white coat and knew instantly he’d seen just about everything. The sight of the huge biker holding her in his arms didn’t faze him. “Hi.”
“I’d like to go over the results of the tests we ran when you came into the emergency department last night. Is it okay to speak freely in front of your companion?”
“Yes. This is Steele. He saved me,” Ivy informed him.
“I see. A good man to know,” Dr. Edwards acknowledged before referring to the electronic pad in front of him.