Fin smirked. Nikkie Jean would be the kind to laugh in a hurricane at something. “Hurry up!”
“I’m coming. Brrrr. I think the temperature just dropped ten degrees.” Nikkie Jean hurried to Fin’s side. Fin grabbed her bag and checked the locks on her car one more time.
Virat followed her in every morning, but they’d always taken two cars. He checked hers every time. “It would probably make more sense for me to just ride with him, wouldn’t it?”
“Yep. Because it will get out. This is Finley Creek General, remember. Best soap opera in the city.” Nikkie Jean waited until a truck had pulled in and crossed in front of them before stepping out between the cars. Fin was a few steps behind. “Unless you want to keep things hidden for a while? I know keeping eyes off your every move is an attractive reason to keep it secret. I...wouldn’t want everyone around here knowing who I am—was—involved with. Not in the beginning. Not that I’m involved with anyone, or plan on being involved with anyone in the foreseeable future.”
There was a tone in her friend’s voice that made Fin think something was going on with Nikkie Jean. But Nikkie Jean, for all her laughing and joking, played things close. She wouldn’t be spilling her guts until she was ready.
Her foot went down in a puddle. Part of the asphalt had washed away, and Fin almost lurched to the ground. She steadied herself and laughed as she glanced at Nikkie Jean.
There was horror on Nikkie Jean’s face.
Fin turned to look behind her. And screamed.
Chapter 26
He hadn’t seen the Snotty Garlic. Not until he’d past a stack of them on a counter in the gas station two blocks away from the hospital.
Ray forced himself to breathe through his mouth and count backward from forty. Anything to try to calm himself down.
Fin’s face was in the center of the front page. As she looked up at Virat Patel. It was obvious the two had the hots for each other. And why wouldn’t Patel want her? Fin was perfection.
They worked together all day in the hospital, while Ray stayed outside in the damned Texas heat. Hell, for all he knew, Patel had dragged her into one of the numerous alcoves that existed in the hospital and kissed and touched her.
His Fin. His.
Ray knew she had felt the same connection he had. It was always in her blue eyes when she looked at him.
How shy and hesitant she was. How she didn’t like it when people got too close to her, but she’d look for him later at night when she was frightened.
He was her protector. Her hero.
That was the way it should be.
Not some damned doctor who had never really worked for anything in his life. Patel didn’t deserve Fin.
Ray pulled the borrowed truck into the parking lot. He’d had to use a visitor pass since it was a private parking lot and this truck wasn’t registered with the security office yet. Pam, the woman who usually handled the admin tasks for security, was off with a head cold. It hadn’t mattered; Vince had said he’d reimburse him with his next paycheck.
And then he looked up. Through the light rain he saw her.
Fin.
And Dr. Netore.
Dr. Netore was always with Dr. Patel. They were friends. Dr. Patel always walked her to her parking space of the evenings, flirting with her.
She’d probably pushed Fin at Patel. Fin couldn’t go to that charity event by herself. No.
It wasn’t Fin’s fault. It was those other doctors.
Ray’s hands tightened on the wheel.
Even though he knew he was being irrational. Dr. Netore was just a convenient target.
It didn’t matter.
If he didn’t do something with this rage, he was going to explode. Do something completely stupid.
End up back in jail.
Ray’s foot pressed the gas pedal.
Chapter 27
Virat saw the dark SUV pull in. He studied it, ignoring the sounds of the ER behind him. The elevator had dinged, and he’d seen Rafe and Allen out of the corner of his eye. They were coming toward him.
Izzie was buzzing around nearby, snapping at Cage Ralstone and Orin Henedy for some mistake they’d made that had irritated the fierier of the ER nurses.
It was all so normal.
Yet something didn’t feel right.
Virat pushed a bit closer to the window and shifted, trying to keep the two women in view.
“Patel, what are you doing? Drawing fingerprint art on the clean windows?” Rafe asked, irritation clear. “I’m sure we have paper and crayons somewhere.”
Virat had learned a while ago to ignore most of the other man’s surliness. It was just a part of Rafe’s DNA.
Virat held up a hand. “In a minute, Rafe.”
He saw it all before it happened. He yelled as the truck turned down the parking lot, even though they had no hope of hearing him.
And then he ran.
Chapter 28
Fin slammed into the wet concrete, her knee twisting beneath her. Fire shot up her left leg. Her elbow cracked the ground hard enough to make her want to vomit.
People were yelling. She rolled to her back and looked for the truck. It was nowhere to be seen. And then her gaze landed on Nikkie Jean. “Nik!”
Fin pulled herself to her feet and hurried to the other woman.
Nikkie Jean had pushed her out of the way at the very last second.
“Nikkie Jean!”
Fin forced the fear aside and went into physician mode. Impact injuries could be deadly. If the truck had run over Nikkie Jean, there would be crushing injuries, as well.
At first, she thought Nikkie Jean was unconscious, but then Nikkie Jean moved. Blood covered her forehead. Blood was everywhere.
“Did he make impact?” Fin asked. “Nikkie Jean, can you hear me?”
Nikkie Jean’s hazel eyes opened. “I hear you. I jumped. Ten years of gymnastics came...in...handy. Hit my head...on the car there. You ok?”
“Yes. Thanks to you. I just froze. Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Nikkie Jean slumped back to the ground. Fin checked the source of the blood, as people came running.
Hands wrapped around her from behind, and she was pulled out of the way.
And into Virat’s arms.
Chapter 29
Ray was breathing heavily. He zoomed out of the parking lot, hoping no one had gotten a good look at the borrowed truck in the thickening rain. It was overcast. Hard to see. And unless someone had been watching from the windows—which was highly unlikely as they were a bit too far away for that—and it was just a generic-looking blue Ford truck. There were at least a dozen of them in the parking lot at any one time.
He turned into the nearest pay-to-park structure and pulled the hood of his raincoat over his head. He’d shave when he got home tonight, just to be on the safe side.
He shoved the cash he had in his pockets into the parking meter and grabbed the ticket.
And then he ran, right back to the hospital parking lot.
Where a crowd was gathering around Dr. Netore.
Ray ran closer to Tony. “What the hell happened? I just clocked back in and saw everyone running over here.”
“Some bastard almost hit them!” Tony yelled. “Help me keep the crowd back until the TSP gets here!”
Ray did just that, feeling both sick and triumphant at what he had caused.
His Fin would be fine. She had been on her feet, even if that bastard Patel had rushed to her rescue. He felt mildly sorry for Dr. Netore, but she’d be ok, too. Holden-Deane was leaning over her now. They’d fix her. He shouldn’t have done it, but it wasn’t like he’d killed her or anything.
No real harm done. None at all.
Chapter 30
He should have walked them both out. He should never have assumed that because she wasn’t alone, she would be safe.
Rafe and Allen took over caring for Nikkie Jean, who was in and out of consciousness. He suspected she’d done some damage to her shoulder and her neck
, if not the back of her head. He never should have let them go out there alone. Not with someone after Fin.
Fin was on her feet, but she was injured. He scooped her up like he’d done just about every night since the Barratts’. She didn’t protest, just clung to him as he carried her across the parking lot toward the ER. “Virat, he almost killed us.”
He nodded. “I’ll call Dom when I know you’re inside and safe.”
“She pushed me out of the way. I don’t know what happened after that. To her. We have to help her.”
“She struck her head. We’ll get her inside, get her taken care of. She’ll be ok, sweetheart. I promise.” They were moving Nikkie Jean to the ER now. Virat could hear the gurney as it rolled over the pavement. Rafe and Allen were taking control of Nikkie Jean’s care. Izzie walked beside them, holding Nikkie Jean’s hand.
Virat was going to see to the woman in his arms.
He carried her inside. Cherise was working the intake desk. “Virat? What happened?”
She came running over, one hand beckoning toward Jillian and Annie. “Exam rooms A and B quickly.”
“Hit-and-run,” Virat told her quickly. “Nikkie Jean took the worst of it.”
He carried Fin into the exam room.
“I’m ok, Virat. I promise. I just scraped my leg and bruised my elbow. I want to check on Nikkie Jean.” She shot him a wild look. “I need to know she’s ok. She pushed me out of the way. I need to check on her.”
Virat the lover warred with Virat the physician. This time, the physician had to win. “First, out of the ruined clothes and into the gown. I’ll have Annie grab you some scrubs to wear home. I need to see the leg.”
“Technically, you shouldn’t be treating me right now.” A stubborn look slipped into the blue eyes. “Considering our relationship.”
“Ok. Stay put.” Virat stepped out of the exam room as Annie stepped in. The first female physician he passed, he commandeered. “Dr. Kaur? In here, quickly.”
The obstetrician diverted and came toward him. They’d had two dates over a year earlier before deciding that while they were friends material, it would stop there. “Virat, what do we have?”
“Fin. And I can’t treat her.”
“Oh?”
“Personal involvement.”
“When has that ever mattered around here?” Layla asked with a small smile. “I don’t think Holden-Deane will write you up for this.”
Fin had a stubborn look on her face; Virat stepped out of the exam room.
Virat stayed near the exam room. He just didn’t want to let her out of his sight. Too much had happened in this very ER for him to ignore the fact that something could happen to her—right there in the midst of everyone.
But she wasn’t ready to shout to everyone what was between them. And he had to honor that.
“Virat?”
He turned. There she was, in a light-blue hospital gown. He stepped back into the exam room.
And held open his arms before he stopped to think about it.
Fin practically jumped into them. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her as closely as he could.
Chapter 31
Fin was changing out of the gown and into the scrubs when the curtain was pulled back a bit and Annie slipped in. “Hey, I wanted to check on you one more time before you go.”
“I’m ok. Mostly just road rash on my leg and palms. And I twisted my knee. I’m more concerned with Nikkie Jean right now.” No one had told her anything other than that Lacy and Rafe and Allen were taking care of Nikkie Jean personally. Well, that Lacy was.
Lacy had kicked Rafe and Allen out for some reason. Probably to make the male-skittish Nikkie Jean more comfortable. But Fin needed to see for herself.
“She’s being admitted.”
“Concussion?” Annie wouldn’t be able to tell her much. But Fin had to ask.
Annie hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
“I need to go see her.” Fin bit back the fear. It wouldn’t go away until she saw the other woman for herself.
“She’s going into 403. I don’t think anyone would stop you if you went there.” Annie handed her a pair of spare tennis shoes. “I found these in my locker. They’ll be a bit big, but they’ll be better than your broken heels.”
“I...”
Annie wrapped her arms around her and hugged her. “She’ll be ok, Fin. I’ve seen her myself, and she’s just bruised, mostly. I promise.”
“She pushed me out of the way, Ann. The truck was coming right at me and she knocked me out of the way. She wouldn’t have been hurt if it wasn’t for me.”
Annie’s blue eyes filled with compassion. She knew. Understood. “You don’t know that. It was probably just an accident. And Nikkie Jean pushed you, so what? You both are going to be just fine.”
Sierra had pushed her away that night, too. Her and Margo. And told them both to run. Sierra had been bigger, stronger, a year older, more athletic.
The protector of their little trio.
Sierra had died because of it. Fin had never forgotten that.
Or forgotten what it felt like to be the one who needed protected.
She needed to see Nikkie Jean. Just to make certain her friend was going to be ok.
Chapter 32
She’d slipped out. Virat strongly suspected he knew exactly where she was. And he headed for that wing of the hospital.
He found her with her friends. Nikkie Jean was sound asleep in 403. Annie sat nearby, her phone in her hand. Izzie was slouched in another chair, reading a textbook.
Fin was curled up by Nikkie Jean’s feet like a little cat.
Sound asleep. It looked like she’d just sat there and gone out like a light.
Lacy stood checking the chart and speaking with Jillian, who was covering second shift for someone. They’d effectively surrounded Nikkie Jean. As he would have expected them to. “How is she?”
“Nikkie Jean’s going to be fine,” Lacy said firmly. “We’re keeping her for a few days, until all the tests are back. But her prognosis is good.”
She shot him a significant look. One that said she wanted to talk.
He pulled Lacy out into the hall. “What’s going on?”
She went on to tell him the exact diagnoses—and which tests she had ordered. Including additional blood work he never would have suspected.
“Just some additional blood work. I’m not expecting to find anything, but Nikkie Jean says the possibility exists. She was a bit frantic, and I ordered the tests to calm her. And with her past history, it can’t hurt.”
She wasn’t his patient, so Lacy wouldn’t be able to tell him much at this point. “Keep us in the loop. We...care...about her. A great deal.”
“I know. She’ll be fine, Virat. But I think you have a problem you need to fix.” He looked at her with confusion. She pointed to the woman sleeping at the end of the bed. “Take Fin home. Put her to bed. Help her fight the nightmares from the past, because I think they’re coming soon.”
He hesitated. Lacy shot him a pointed look.
“Vir, you really think it would stay a secret after the Snotty Garlic got ahold of the two of you?”
Well, Lacy had him there. And he had been the one to spread the Snotty Garlic tabloid around the hospital when Lacy had ended up in it front and center.
He was surprised Lacy hadn’t said something sooner.
Annie was shaking Fin awake. She sat up and stretched. And looked for him. He knew by the look on her face when she saw him—she had been looking for him.
Virat stepped into the room and reached for her.
She walked right into his arms again. No hesitation. Not even a single moment.
With everyone watching.
Chapter 33
Nikkie Jean was going to be ok. Annie and Izzie were going to stay with her.
Virat was taking Fin home.
After they spoke with Dom Alcardi.
They met the police detective in the lobby, where he was s
peaking with his father and his father’s fiancée.
Cherise hugged her and asked if she was ok. Fin resisted the urge to cling to the older woman. Cherise was one of the unofficial “mothers” of the ER. Fin needed that from time to time.
Fin was going to be ok. As soon as they caught the man responsible for hurting Nikkie Jean. As soon as all of this fear stopped.
She answered Dom’s questions as best as she could. But she hadn’t seen more than a glimpse of the driver. “I just don’t know.”
Dom had led her to his father’s office. Vince had accompanied them, but was out in the hall to preserve her privacy. Fin appreciated that.
“I think we’ll play it safe and assume this is connected to the letters on your car. Has anything changed in the last week?”
The only change in her life had his hand on her shoulder. He’d pulled out the chair for her to sit in. And was hovering. Fin looked up at him. “Virat has stayed with me since. And we...our photo has been in the Snotty Garlic. I think everyone in the hospital knows our relationship has changed.”
“And it’s made the stalker mad,” Dom said flatly. He looked a lot like his father, but was bigger, more muscular. Harder.
Scarier.
She was glad he was on her side.
“So what do I do now?” She looked at the man and just listened.
Chapter 34
“That’s it?” Virat bit back the anger as he stared at Dom. The other man’s frown darkened and he nodded.
“It’s not much. But stalking is illegal in all fifty states. If something makes you feel afraid, Fin, anything, trust your gut and don’t wait. Call me specifically. If you can’t get me, call Detectives Evers and Callum. They can access my cases easily. And I trust them. Don’t go places where you may be vulnerable.”
“Do you think it was him today?” Fin asked quietly.
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