by Avery Gale
He and Jamie flanked the gurney as it was rolled down the long hall. They would make sure at least one of them rode in the ambulance with her. When Jamie had pointed to his blood-covered clothing he was shocked to see his clothes were covered in Bree’s blood, and he opted to clean up then follow in his truck.
He’d taken a quick shower and then just as he was getting ready to close the passenger’s door, Colt stepped up and handed him a small holster and two clips. Christ, he’d been so focused on getting Bree to the hospital, he’d forgotten his first objective should have been her safety. As if his former team leader had read his thoughts, Colt looked at him with a level of compassion that Ethan hadn’t expected. “She’ll be okay and so will you and Creed. Don’t worry about forgetting this, let that thought go and be vigilant from now on.” Ethan knew his doubt had reflected in his expression when Colt added, “Hey, man, it’s difficult to remember your original objective was to drain the swamp when you’re up to your ass in alligators.” When he’d smiled, Colt nodded once and then closed the door.
An hour later when he found himself surrounded by the friends that had become his second family, Ethan thought back on Colt’s words and he realized that was a perfect example of why Colt Matthews had been an incredibly successful team leader. Hell, their Division Commander had an unofficial “waiting list” of guys wanting on Colt’s team. The man’s ability to bring out the best in his team was legendary and today he’d recognized Ethan was dancing on the edge and had gently tugged him back to safety.
There wasn’t any question about whether or not Bree would be alright, but friends gathered in the waiting room just because that’s what friends do. Ethan didn’t know whether or not Bree would be thrilled or overwhelmed by their kindness. There wasn’t any doubt in his mind Jamie had been right when he’d said once that Climax, Colorado, was second only to the bayou when it came to feelings of kinship. When he entered the crowded room he moved toward Jamie and saw his best friend try to give him a reassuring smile. “She’s going to be fine. They are just stitching her up and then we’ll be able to get her out of here.”
Ethan hadn’t even realized how worried he’d been until he’d heard Jamie’s reassuring words. Feeling like he’d let out a huge breath filled with apprehension he still felt like the other shoe was about to drop and that was a feeling no well-trained soldier ever ignored. Looking around the room he noted that there were only a few people he didn’t recognize and only one who seemed totally out of place. A man who appeared to be in his early-to-mid fifties was leaning against the wall close to the door. There was something familiar about the man, but his hat was pulled so low in the front that Ethan wasn’t able to get a good look at his face. Just as Ethan started toward the stranger Doc Woods stormed into the room.
“Damn, you guys are an embarrassment to Doms everywhere. Can’t you take better care of your women? I’m getting mighty tired of patching them back up because you yo-yos were playing Tiddlywinks instead of being SEALS. Hell, it’s no wonder this country is in such a sorry state.” The old doctor might have really sounded like a pain in the ass, but his wink toward the women was a dead giveaway that he’d been joking. When Doc continued his voice had switched to the seasoned professional that he was. “Now, we’ve given that pretty lady enough happy meds that I don’t want to rely on her for this information. Do any of you know if she is allergic to anything? I’m particularly interested in allergies to antibiotics, penicillin, or sulfa drugs to be specific.” It must have been obvious from the blank stares he was receiving no one in the room knew and Ethan watched the old doctor turn to leave the room, shaking his head and muttering words he was sure were best left unheard.
When Doc reached the door the stranger reached out and grasped his arm. “She is very allergic to penicillin. Don’t even touch her with it.” At that point all hell broke loose in the waiting room, but Doc had hustled the elderly man out into the hall before anyone had gotten to him. When Dylan Marshall stepped into the doorway blocking Ethan and Jamie’s exit, Ethan wanted to growl out loud at his friend to move his ass.
“What the fuck is this about? Hell, you’re going to wake up my wife and son and they aren’t even on this floor.” He looked over at his young deputy and snapped, “Update me.” The young man gave the sheriff a short but accurate account of things, but by the time he’d finished and Ethan and Jamie could get around the mammoth man Doc and the stranger had already disappeared.
Chapter 25
Ethan had threatened and Jamie had tried to charm every nurse in sight but still hadn’t been able to get any information about Bree. Nobody was talking. Finally Zach Lamont had stepped forward and after a few words with the head nurse he led them both through a maze of rooms until they were standing in the doorway of Bree’s room. Both men were struck speechless as they watched as the stranger held their woman in his arms, stroking her hair and speaking softly to her as she sobbed in his arms.
Ethan could count on one hand the number of times he’d been totally speechless. Hell, he was a Jantz, he’d been taught to be ready for anything from the time he’d been in diapers. His family was as close to royalty as you could get in Texas and it had been the pressure of that life that had led him to seek the anonymity of military service. He had always believed he’d be forced to buckle under and return home at some point. Duty would call and there would be no way to avoid it, but he damned well planned to delay it as long as possible.
But no amount of social or military training had prepared him for the sound of Bree’s brokenhearted sobs. Nor had anything readied him for a way to hold his tongue. “Who are you and what have you done to her?”
The man’s expression was filled with anguish, but he didn’t move from where he sat. “I am John Gillette, I am Sab—I mean, Bree’s father. And may I ask who you are and why you are in my daughter’s room?”
Ethan couldn’t believe it. This man was her father? Why was Bree crying and if he was happy to see her, why the look of desolation? “Well, Mr. Gillette, Bree is a very special woman in our lives. I’m not going to lie to you, we’ll be doing everything in our power to keep her here with us—just want to make that clear right up front. I’m Ethan Jantz and that fella over there with the steam coming out of his ears because you are touching our woman is Jamie Creed.”
The mention of their names seemed to bring Bree back to the moment, she looked up through tears. “Jamie? Ethan? Oh God, finally!” When she started to scramble from the bed both he and Jamie hurried to her side. He saw her looking back and forth between her father and them and he knew she wouldn’t miss the tension that seemed to be thick enough to cut with a knife. “Please, it’s important to me that you three get along. You are the most important people in the world to me, please. I’ve already lost my dad once and I can’t bear it again. And…well, he’s just told me that my mom lost her life trying to keep Hiram from shooting me and—” Her words were cut off by more sobs.
Doc Woods stormed into the room and he was a man clearly on a mission. “If you three are going to upset my patient I’m going to unleash Katarina on you. Don’t think I won’t, she is in the waiting room and primed for a confrontation. Judging from the fact she seems very reluctant to sit down I’m fairly certain Alex and Zach are involved. Of course their shit-eating grins are clues as well.”
* * * *
Jamie wanted to hug the elderly doctor because his words had done exactly as he was sure the old fart had intended them to. The smile that broke through Bree’s grief was about the sweetest thing he’d ever seen. She giggled when Doc waggled his eyebrows at her and Jamie decided at that moment he was now the president of Doc’s fan club.
“Well, now that’s a much more pleasant expression, my dear. Let me get these jokers out of here and you and I are going to have a brief chat before we release you.” With that he opened the door and shooed the men out into the hall. Turning back to her he said, “Now, I understand that you have had one hell of a day and that you still have some challe
nges to get off your plate before you are really free to make a commitment. But I want you to give some serious consideration to making Climax your home.” The man had obviously seen her startled expression and smiled kindly at her. “Dear, you need to realize this is a small town and this hospital is underwritten by the Lamont family. I had a nice long chat with one of my dearest friends yesterday and Catherine assures me that your medical license will be back in place in a matter of days if not a couple of weeks. She also told me that she holds you in the highest regard. I have to tell you, as recommendations go, they don’t get any better than that in my opinion.”
Bree was stunned. Oh, she was flattered, too, no doubt about that, but even she realized that she’d had too many meds to make any decisions. And that was without even considering the fact she’d just lost her mom, her father was most certainly going to spend a lot of time dealing with the legal system, and she really wasn’t sure where she stood with Jamie and Ethan yet. Sighing to herself, she just nodded her head and quietly said, “I promise I’ll think it over. To be honest, I love it here, but there are a lot of things that I need to work through before I can really make a decision. Can I let you know later?”
“Honey, I’ve been handling things here alone for years so a few more weeks isn’t going to break me. But, as you may or may not know, Rissa is my granddaughter and I’d rather not deliver her baby because it just doesn’t seem right. Not to mention, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be able to make an unemotional decision. God, I love that girl.” The wistful expression on his face warmed her heart and in that moment she knew there wasn’t another place she’d rather work. She knew she and Doc Woods were going to become fast friends.
Chapter 26
After checking in on Mia and baby Nathanial, Katarina Lamont had stormed into the waiting room and there was no question in anyone’s mind the diminutive sub was in anything but a submissive state of mind. She was pissed and wasn’t making much of an effort to conceal it. “How is she? When is she being released? What time did Doc get here? Is he still with her? Ethan, who is that man I saw you and Jamie talking to in the hall? Where is Jenna? Isn’t she here? What’s taking them so long? Geez, doesn’t anyone in here see me? Am I invisible or something? Damn and double damn this is really turning out to be a pissy day.”
“Katarina, language.” Alex’s tone held a stern warning that for once his wife seemed to be listening to. When she had winced Alex had stepped forward and spoken quietly in her ear and Ethan watched as the tiny woman settled immediately and then leaned in to Alex’s chest. Alex hugged her before moving her back so he could answer her questions. “Bree is fine, she is going to be dismissed soon and we’ll have her back at ShadowDance within the hour. Doc was here waiting for her when the ambulance brought her in and yes he is still with her. Ethan will answer for himself. But as for Jenna and Colt, they are still at home. It seems Jenna isn’t feeling well. You wouldn’t know anything about that would you?” At his raised eyebrow Kat turned crimson.
Zach leaned forward and said, “Kitten? Now is not a good time for you to be holding back from us, the ice you’re on is still mighty thin.” Ethan had always loved watching Zach Lamont work his magic with submissives. While Alex was known to take the straight path with subs, Zach was a master of charming them into submission. He spent enough time at the mansion to known that Alex’s personality mirrored their mother’s “run to the roar” worldview. But Zach was much more like their father. Daniel Lamont was a brilliant businessman and his business skills were still eclipsed by his people skills. Ethan had actually met Daniel before he’d met his sons. He’d been in his father’s office in Dallas one afternoon before leaving for BUDS training. When Daniel had left they’d been introduced and the elder Lamont had given him a business card with a quickly scribbled note in Latin and said to show it to his sons if they happened to meet.
Of course he’d spent enough time in boarding school to have learned Latin so the note had been easy to read and Ethan remembered laughing out loud when he’d read it. “A man of integrity, deal well with him but never his father who is an ass.” He still carried the card in his wallet all these years later. As it happened he had met the Lamont brothers on a mission several years later and they had all enjoyed a laugh about the card. And even though they’d all laughed, the influence that card had on Alex and Zach had been unmistakable.
Kat’s stuttering brought Ethan back to the moment and he smiled as he watched her try to figure out a way to avoid the question. Zach leaned against the wall and just watched her intently. When Ethan glanced at Alex he saw that the man was struggling to not laugh at his wife’s obvious unease. Zach finally broke the silence by reminding her that lying by omission was a punishable offense just like deception or attempting to leave the mountain without letting someone know her plans. That had obviously been all the incentive she’d needed because she finally dropped her chin and whispered, “But I promised not to tell. Please don’t make me break my promise.”
Ethan had been relieved when Zach wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Kitten, we already know that Jenna is pregnant. But I have to tell you, both Alex and I have the utmost respect for your loyalty. And as long as it is used appropriately, we’ll never demand you break a confidence. But rest assured, if it is ever a question of someone’s safety, you better sing like a canary, understood?” When Kat nodded, Zach simply said, “Good enough. Now, I believe you had a question for Ethan.”
Smiling at the tiny woman, Ethan explained what he had learned and thanked her for her friendship with Bree. Jamie had joined them and leaned down then and spoke directly to Kat. “Sweetness, if you could see your way to help us convince Bree to stay in Climax after all this is resolved, we’d surely be indebted to you. Hell, we might even be persuaded to sponsor one of those weekend shopping expeditions you are always trying to find an escort for.” When he winked at her Ethan wanted to roll his eyes at his friend’s corny line. When she blushed and ducked her head like a smitten schoolgirl he groaned aloud and he heard laughter fill the room.
Doc Woods walked in before Kat had responded, but Ethan was sure Jamie’s words had already met their mark. Doc looked at both him and Jamie and said, “That wicked witch we call a head nurse is helping your sweet woman into some clothes and then she’s free to go. I’m gonna tell you straight up, I’m trying to talk her into staying after all this blows over and I’d appreciate it if you two wouldn’t muck it up for me.” Then he turned to Kat and said, “My dear, you look radiant. Are these two treating you right? If not, you just let me know and I’m sure I could make time to have a chat with their mama.”
Alex stepped forward and shook Doc’s hand. “Don’t be putting thoughts in her head that are just going to get her in more trouble, Doc. Since you’ve recognized the problem with Nurse Ratched, I’ll leave you to it. Personally, I think her communication skills are deplorable. Now, let’s get these two headed back to Bree and the rest of us will clear out.” Turning back to look down at Kat, his expression softened and Ethan knew both Alex and Zach would be showing her just how much they valued her submission. “Come, my love, Zach and I have plans for you.” When she started to speak, he stilled her with a hand and the continued, “Yes, love, I know you want to set things up for Bree’s return and we plan to help you with that, but then, you are all ours.”
Had Ethan not been standing so close to her, he wouldn’t have heard Zach’s softly whispered words, “Look around you, kitten, every Dom in the room is watching. Alex’s thinly veiled promise to fuck you seven ways to Sunday has every one of them sporting wood and anxiously anticipating getting their own sub naked.” Kat’s soft gasp was enough to make Ethan want to kick Zach’s ass. How the hell was he supposed to walk down the hall past Bree’s father with a hard-on the size of Texas? Fucker did it on purpose, too, count on it.
Chapter 27
Bree was struggling to get the shirt over her head and her shoulder was throbbing like a bitch. Why didn’t I just let
that wicked woman help me? Crap on a cracker—what was her boggle anyway? She has to be the crabbiest woman I’ve ever met. Deciding she didn’t have any choice but to call for help, Bree was thrilled when Rissa stepped through the curtain surrounding the small treatment room. Rissa rushed to her side and snickered. “Having trouble there, girlfriend? Need a hand?”
“Oh, Rissa, you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I really didn’t want to have to call that nurse back. God, that woman is beyond wicked.” Bree was relieved to have gotten her arms untangled and threaded through the sleeves of the baggy scrubs she’d been given. Standing up and seeing herself in the mirror caused her to groan. “Shit! I look like something the cat dragged in…no, I look like something the cat would refuse to be seen dragging home.”
“Sit down and I’ll work you over while we talk because those men of yours are sure to storm this place soon.”
“How did you get in here? Oh Lord, are you okay? You aren’t having problems with your pregnancy from all this are you?” Bree knew her panic was evident in her voice but she didn’t care.
“God Lord Almighty, girl, what’s wrong with you? I’m in fine shape…hell, round’s a shape isn’t it?” They both laughed and then Rissa leaned closer and said, “I just wanted to let you know I have a house you can use if you decide to stay in Climax. I’d be thrilled to have you live in it. It belonged to my Granny and well, you see, it’s a long story but the short version is that Mitch bought it in my name when I was forced to let it go a while back. And I love the place too much to really part with it. But truthfully, the condo that Mitch and Bryant had when we got married is much nicer and larger, so we’ll be staying there. Now that I’ve spit out so much info you’re likely thinking I’m Queen Quacks A-Lot, I just want you to know I’d sure love to have you stick around. You’re funny and smart and those two men of yours are crazy about you. Oh and I’d sure love to have another doc around in case this baby decides to make a surprise appearance and I don’t have time to get to my obstetrician. And Lord, I don’t want Doc Woods looking at my hoo-ha now that I’ve found out he’s my granddad. It’s just wrong, ya know what I mean?”