Whispers in the Dark - Maya Banks [135]
Sam made a grab for his arm. “You can wait a few more minutes to get your discharge paperwork. You’ll need the prescriptions and you’re going to take the meds or I’ll shove them down your throat. Shea needs you.”
“Yeah, I might have been a little hasty on that get the hell out of here,” Nathan gritted out.
“Let them give you the goddamn injection,” Sam snapped. “You’ve got to remain calm and pain free or Shea’s going to pick up on that and start taking it for you.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Look, let’s just get out of here. Van can give me an injection. I won’t argue. I’ll do exactly what he tells me, I swear, but let’s get the fuck out of here. I want to get back to Shea.”
They were interrupted by the nurse walking back in. She handed Nathan a clipboard and pointed to the places she wanted him to sign and then she handed him the prescriptions. She didn’t act particularly friendly and she beat a hasty retreat, but then Nathan supposed she likely thought they were some kind of criminals.
At least Resnick had kept the local cops out of the picture. The asshole did have his uses.
“Let’s go,” Sam said. “And you better take it easy. They’re waiting at the airport. The jet just touched down a few minutes ago, so as soon as we get there, we’re on our way home.”
Surely there wasn’t a better word in the world. Despite Sam’s order to take it easy, Nathan walked as fast as he could down the corridor and out the emergency exit to the parking lot, where one of the SUVs was parked.
Garrett was leaning against the hood, and when he saw Sam and Nathan heading toward him, he shoved off and opened the passenger door so Nathan could get in.
“Any word on Shea?” Nathan asked when Garrett climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Bleeding has nearly stopped. Wound is still open but seems to be closing at a slow rate.”
“But how is she?” Nathan asked anxiously.
Garrett sighed. “Same, man. No change.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“She’ll be better when you’re there,” Sam said.
Nathan hoped to hell his brother was right. What Shea had gone through was unimaginable. It hurt him to know just how much she’d endured. He’d never get over the fact that he’d promised to protect her and yet he’d been powerless to prevent her from being taken from him.
It seemed like an eternity before they roared up to the private airfield where the jet was waiting. Nathan opened his door before the SUV came to a complete stop and was already out and hurrying across the hot concrete to the plane.
Outside the plane, Steele, Cole, P.J., Dolphin, Renshaw and Baker stood guard. They may have looked relaxed, like they were waiting for someone, but Nathan saw that each was focused on an outlying area, watchful for any potential threat.
He mounted the few steps into the plane, and when he stuck his head in, he saw Donovan in the cockpit along with Ethan. He glanced to the right to see Swanny sprawled in one of the seats.
Swanny sat forward and motioned back to the sitting area. “Joe’s back with Shea.”
Nathan pushed down the aisle past the seats and into the lounge area, where there was a sofa, a table and two other armchairs. Joe was sitting on the couch, Shea cradled against his chest.
Her shirt was pulled up just over the wound on her side, and Nathan sucked in his breath at the shock of seeing his wound on her flesh.
Joe looked up and their gazes met. Joe’s lips tightened and he silently shook his head. His heart about to split wide open, Nathan went forward and gently took Shea from Joe and then crossed to one of the armchairs to sit.
A moment later, Sam and Garrett walked back, and Joe spoke in low tones to them, giving them his report. Nathan tuned them out, his concentration solely on the woman in his arms.
He smoothed his fingers over the lines of her forehead, wanting to ease the strain. He touched the softness of her cheek, traced the delicate line of her jaw.
She was so much a part of him. As much as breathing, eating or sleeping. She was there in every thought, every part of