by Lynn Hagen
Hardened looks that said they weren’t on the up-and-up. I just had that feeling in my gut.
“Because you’ve been his nurse since he got out of surgery,” the guy said. “And I’d like to keep you on retainer after Reese is on his feet.”
He grabbed the briefcase he’d brought with him and set it on the table tray next to Mr. Corbin’s bed. “This is a legitimate deal. You take care of Reese until he’s fully healed and, after that, come whenever we need you.”
He slid a business card from his wallet and handed it over. I took it and looked at it. Maximus Russo of Russo and Associates. He was a lawyer. Even I knew of his law firm. Not that I’d needed their legal expertise. The building was located a block over from Ridgeview General where I worked.
From the way Mr. Russo was dressed, even if I’d needed legal help, I wouldn’t have been able to afford him. I just bet he spent a grand on some dinner and thought nothing of it. Like the money was a drop in the bucket for him.
“This is half of what you’ll get for taking care of Reese.” Mr. Russo opened the briefcase, and I nearly fainted at the rows and rows of money.
“Fifty grand now and fifty grand when Reese is back on his feet.”
This was legal, right? He wasn’t asking me to do anything against the law. He just wanted to hire me to take care of his friend, and I had a month of vacation time coming to me. I could still keep my job while paying off my debts.
The guy was making the pot too juicy to pass on. “And how much will I be paid as a retainer?”
Mr. Russo closed the briefcase. “Let’s be honest here…”
“Clover,” I said. “My name is Danni Clover.”
“Let’s be honest, Danni. Most nurses are drowning in school debt. If you agree to be on retainer, I’ll wipe that debt away.”
It was as if the guy had just read my mind.
I felt as if I’d be obligated to the devil. This sounded too good to be true, and when that happened, it usually came with a boatload of strings attached.
“Since we’re being honest, why would a lawyer need a nurse on call for him?”
My mama hadn’t raised an idiot.
“Work for me and I’ll tell you.” Mr. Russo took the briefcase off the tray, and I wanted to snatch it away from him. Not only were my bills mounting but my mother was sick, and her treatments were costly, along with her medications.
I was still struggling to pay her medical bills since she couldn’t work. I was in over my head and felt as if I’d drown before a lifeline was thrown to me. But Mr. Russo was making me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
God, I felt as if I was dealing with the Godfather.
“We already have a physician on call, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a nurse, too.”
“I want a legal document drawn up saying that I’m a nurse, not a henchman. I won’t be doing anything illegal, Mr. Russo.”
I had fought too hard to finish nursing school and had gone many, many nights living off noodles to get where I was. I was also the first in my family to make something of himself, and I wasn’t going to have that taken away from me.
“I’ll have a contract drawn up by the end of the day,” Mr. Russo said. “I take it we have a deal?”
I looked at Mr. Corbin, who was still unconscious. He appeared harmless in his sleep, but I had a feeling I was wrong. What made me agree was desperation. To pay my own debts and to give my mother the care she deserved.
“Yes, we have a deal.” I looked at the briefcase. “But you can’t leave that here. I’d prefer we met somewhere else when my shift is over.”
“They’ll be someone here at all times,” Mr. Russo said. “I need Reese safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“Sign the contract and I’ll tell you.” Mr. Russo walked toward the door. “And I want Reese to get top-notch care, Danni. Anything he wants, you get him.”
“I’m a nurse, not a gofer.”
“You are now.” Mr. Russo walked out, and I saw a muscular guy dressed in black just outside the door.
What in the hell had I just gotten myself into? There was still time to back out. I hadn’t signed anything yet. Then I thought of my mother, at home by herself while I was at work. The money could pay for in-home care. It could pay for her to get top-notch care, too.
“Max,” Mr. Corbin murmured.
I turned and saw him open his eyes. Regardless of everything else going on, he was my patient, and his care was my main concern.
“You’re in a hospital, Mr. Corbin.” I went to his bedside and smiled down at him. “I’m Nurse Clover, and I’ll be taking care of you.”
Mr. Corbin grunted. “A twink in uniform.”
I’d been called worse.
“Just don’t shoot me.” Mr. Corbin closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.
I had to tell myself that I was making the right decision. My mother came first, even before my student loans. This deal would help, pay me one hundred thousand dollars and wipe out my student loans on top of that.
That was more money than I could ever imagine making in this short amount of time. I had to keep telling myself that, because if I thought too long and hard, I knew I was getting into something I would regret.
* * * *
“This isn’t food.” Mr. Corbin pushed away his tray. “I’ll pay you to get me something decent to eat.”
“It’s a strict diet for men who are a pain in the ass, Mr. Corbin,” I said. I was trying hard not to be charmed by him. Mr. Corbin was tall, muscled, and had facial hair I was sure could sear my skin with plenty of kisses.
“Call me Reese.”
“Then you can call me Danni. But I’m still not smuggling any food in here.” I’d had very cute patients before but did my job without drooling over them. Then again, I’d never given them aftercare. Not only had Reese been shot, the bullet inches away from his heart, but he’d had a bruised kidney and a few cracked ribs.
It would take weeks to get him back to full health.
I’d felt as if I’d sold my soul yesterday when Mr. Russo had sent someone with the contract and I’d signed it without understanding half of what it said.
“I’d kill for a steak.” Reese grimaced when he tried to sit up. “That’s not chicken on my plate. That’s something the kitchen cooked up in a lab.”
“Busted,” I said. “Every patient in this hospital is a science experiment. The chicken is actually drugs to alter your reality. I’m not even real.”
Reese grinned. “Then let me keep hallucinating.”
“Flirt.” I got up from my chair and headed for the door. “Your pain meds are making you loopy.”
I had to get out of there before he charmed my scrubs right off me. Reese Corbin was sexy as sin, and he had a killer smile. I just might get sucked in if he kept talking that way. This was a job, nothing more.
When I walked into the hallway, I looked at Bruce, who stood just outside Reese’s door. “He’s all yours.”
Bruce simply nodded, as if he were a robot. He never spoke a word, always staying posted in the hallway. I wasn’t even sure how he’d pulled that off. Normally people were discouraged from loitering. Mr. Russo had deep pockets. That was the only explanation.
I was tending to my other patients, doing my rounds and filling out the charts behind the nurses’ station when I noticed a guy with a bunch of balloons looking into every room he passed.
Nothing suspicious about that.
There was totally something suspicious about it. I glanced toward Reese’s room. Bruce was still there, looking at something on his phone. I couldn’t blame him. Standing there for hours on end had to be boring as hell.
The stranger with the balloons slowed as he stared at Bruce, and my gut told me he was there for Reese. My gut was confirmed when I noticed one of the balloons said, “It’s a girl!”
This wasn’t a maturity ward. I worked on the critical care floor. I wasn’t sure what insanity befell me, but I was out of my seat and racing toward Ree
se’s room, shouting, “Bruce, watch out!”
The movies didn’t have it wrong. It was as though time slowed. The guy released the bundle of balloons and reached inside his jacket at the same time. Bruce reached inside his own.
I ducked behind a laundry hamper. It was the only thing close by. Shots were fired. Glass shattered. People started screaming and running. My heart became lodged in my throat, and the only thing I thought about was getting to Reese.
Not because I was being paid to take care of him but because he was the helpless target. He wouldn’t stand a chance if the gunman got inside the room.
I got to my feet and raced behind the large food transport cart that Merv had been using to collect the lunch trays. It was made of chrome, but I was dead certain it wasn’t bulletproof.
Why am I risking my life? Just let Bruce handle this. When I peeked around the side, I saw Bruce on the floor, blood pooling around his torso and the stranger heading into Reese’s room.
I started forward, but I was yanked back by my arm. It was my supervisor. “Don’t play hero, Danni. Mr. Corbin isn’t worth your life.”
Cornelius Bottom—yes, that was his name. Nurse Bottom. It sounded like a title to a porno—was one of those head nurses who enjoyed making his underlings miserable. He had a particular dislike of me.
It could’ve been the fact I was the only male nurse under his charge. Or that I was openly gay. Or maybe he just hated blonds. One thing was certain. He wasn’t stopping me because he was concerned for my safety. Nurse Bottom probably didn’t want to do the paperwork that would be involved in my death.
I yanked my arm free.
“You go into that room and you’re breaking protocol. I’ll have you fired. Wait for security.”
I snapped my head around when I heard another shot fired. Reese didn’t have time to wait for security, and neither did I. I ran toward his room at breakneck speed, praying I wasn’t too late, though I hadn’t the first clue what I would do against a gunman.
Reversing course, I ran to the nurses’ station and frantically looked around.
“Here.” From her stooped position, Mable handed me a syringe. “It’s a sedative. That should knock him on his ass.”
“Thanks.” I ran to Reese’s room, bursting through the door in hopes of surprising the intruder.
Without thought to my own safety, I yanked the cap off the needle and plunged it into the guy’s shoulder, emptying the drugs into his body.
I was backhanded for my efforts. I hit the wall then the floor, taking the tray of food down with me. I’d just had the sense knocked right out of me. The room spun as I tried to get to my feet. Something wet trickled down from my scalp.
I heard something hard hit the floor and prayed it was the bad guy. I had no idea what sedative had been in that syringe, but I hoped it was quick acting.
My head throbbed as I shook it, trying to focus. “Reese,” I called out. “Reese, are you okay?”
I wasn’t even sure I was okay. I was seeing stars.
After what felt like forever, he finally answered me. “Yeah, I’m okay. I don’t think I did myself any favors by hitting the floor.”
I couldn’t see where he was. Reese was between the bed and the window, and I was over by the door.
A laugh burst from my lips, and I wasn’t sure where it had come from. Stress? It had to be stress. “I think I was just fired.”
“You’re not fired,” Reese said. “I’ll make damn sure of that. But for now, can you scrape me off the floor?”
“Oh, sorry!” I staggered to my feet and saw the stranger out cold. I got a small amount of satisfaction seeing him drooling. Even though he was unconscious, I still gave him a wide berth as I stepped around him and hurried over to where Reese was sprawled out. His hospital gown had parted, and I got a good view of his toned butt.
“Do you know that guy?” I grunted as I tried to get him up.
“He’s a part of my fan club.”
Security flooded the room. Two nurses made their way in and helped me get Reese back into bed. He was a huge guy and my muscles quivered trying to lift him on my own.
“He shouldn’t wake up until he’s booked,” Mable said as she stared down at the gunman. “I’ll get Dr. Savant to come look at Mr. Corbin.”
I wasn’t really sure how long I was in Reese’s room before his friends showed up. All three looked menacing as they surveyed the room.
“What the fuck happened?” Max snarled the words. His demanding tone had me ready to confess everything, even things that had nothing to do with this situation.
I noticed how Reese looked at the security men. Max didn’t say another word as Reese and I explained our versions. I told the guy about the stranger seeming out of place, how he’d taken down Bruce, and how I’d jumped into action to keep Reese safe.
The real cops showed up, took our statements, and went with a nurse while the bad guy was wheeled to the emergency room for observation after the sedative I’d given him.
The room cleared of law enforcement, and then the real fun began. Hospital personnel asked me and Reese the same questions that the cops had asked. I was dead certain they were afraid of being sued more than they cared about Reese nearly being murdered.
“Don’t you dare fire this guy.” Reese jabbed a finger toward me from his bed. “He saved my life, and if you fire him, I’ll sue the shit out of you. In case you don’t know, I’m a damn good lawyer.”
Out in the hallway, Cornelius didn’t look happy. I just bet he’d been doing a happy dance at the thought of getting rid of me.
“He did break protocol,” one of the hospital executives said. “But he saved a patient’s life, too. No action will be taken.”
I nearly sagged with relief.
“Bruce?” I asked. “Is he okay?”
“I don’t know who that is,” the executive said.
“The guard at Mr. Corbin’s door,” I said. Bruce had never really talked to me, but I still cared what happened to him.
“I’ll have someone look into it,” the executive said.
Mable returned and squeezed into the room as the executives walked out. “He’s in surgery, Danni. They say he’s gonna make it.”
“Oh, thank god.” I pressed a hand against my chest. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“What about you?” she asked. “I hear you got knocked against the wall. Maybe you should get your head looked at.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Get yourself checked out,” Reese said.
I noticed how Max kept staring at me. I wasn’t sure what that was about but was glad for the excuse to leave the room. As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I saw Bruce’s blood, still on the floor.
Was it too late to back out of my contract? It seemed working for these men was hazardous to my health.
I didn’t go to get my head looked at. I made my way to the emergency department to spy on Balloon Assassin Guy. I wanted to know why he’d tried to kill Reese and if anyone else was after him.
“Hey, Danni. What brings you down here?” Rita smiled at me from where she was perched on a chair behind the station, looking over a chart while biting into an apple. “Does it have anything to do with the excitement on your floor?”
“Maybe,” I said in a teasing tone as I walked over to her. “Tell me about the sedated guy the cops escorted down here and I might tell you what happened.”
“I know a little something.” She slid from her seat and set the chart aside but kept a hold on her apple. “We had to call upstairs to see what he’d been given. It turns out Mable gave you the wrong syringe.”
My heart skipped a beat. “She said it was a sedative.”
Rita shrugged. “It was twenty cc’s of fast-acting insulin. The perp in cuffs nearly had a heart attack. We had to stabilize his sugar before he crashed.”
Oh fuck! I was going to strangle Mable. I knew we were all scared, but clearly Mable sucked under pressure. I knew the patient who needed the insulin. He
wasn’t one of mine, though. The guy weighed about four hundred pounds, and his relatives kept sneaking him junk food. The guy had already lost his feet, his eyesight was poor, and his kidneys were failing him.
He was also rich as fuck, and that was why his relatives hadn’t been banned from visiting him.
Corporate and their bottom line.
“He’s stable now,” she said. “I kept trying to find out who stuck the guy, but no one will tell me.”
“That would be me.”
Her dark brows shot to her hairline. “Are you nuts, Danni? You’re a nurse, not Rambo. Don’t you ever confront a lunatic again!”
I was still shocked that I’d done it in the first place.
“So,” she said, her tone changing, “tell me about the rich hunk on your floor. I hear you’ve been spending extra time in his room. Does he have a straight brother or uncle?”
“You seriously need to get a life.” I walked away, heading for the bad guy’s room. I was positive he hadn’t seen my face. I could pretend to check on him while being nosy.
I wasn’t even sure why I was doing this. Mr. Russo had paid me to care for Reese, not become a detective. Which, turned out, I sucked at it. The cops were in his room, but the guy wasn’t talking. All he kept repeating was the word lawyer.
With a sigh, I returned to my floor to finish my shift, still shaken by the entire event.
Chapter Three
Reese…
There was no two ways about it. As soon as I healed, I was out for blood.
“The question is, did Antonio send him or Robert?” Lucas stood by the window, his hands in his pockets, staring at something below. “Antonio hates us for trying to kill him, and Robert hates you for shaming him in front of his men.”
“Technically I was the one who tried to kill Antonio,” Max said from where he stood by the doorway.
“It has to be Robert.” I was convinced of that. He had to prove to his boys that he could take me down so he could restore his manhood in their eyes.
“It seems another human saved one of our asses,” Gabe said.