Ryan did so, meeting the man’s questioning gaze. Pretend you’re important and belong here.
“Visiting hours are over. How’d you get here?” The doctor frowned.
“You gonna ruin a patient’s life by having me stop instead of getting on the elevator?” He didn’t need this. “There are more important things than me.”
The doctor rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “Security. I need a man removed from the fourth floor. Now.”
Fuck! Ryan snatched the phone from the doc’s hands, and it splintered in his palm. Shit, shit, shit.
The man held up his hands and shuffled backward, his face blanched.
Ryan grinned. “No, you’ve got a ride to catch to a different floor.”
The man turned and fled. Of all the luck. Ryan dashed after him, then dove using a rugby move and hit the guy square in the back. They both crashed to the floor, the man’s glasses skidding away. Without waiting, Ryan hauled up the doctor and dragged him to the elevator. When the doors dinged open, Ryan tossed him inside.
“What floor were you going to?”
“I-I”
Ryan growled. “What floor?”
“Two.” The man’s body shook as he cowered against the back wall.
“Have a nice day.” He punched the button, then ducked out as the elevator closed. Damn, security would be up here soon, combing for an intruder. He raced ahead, his breath locking in his chest at being so near to his brother and yet so far. The vinyl flooring stretched out before him as the scents of blood, urine, and harsh astringent clogged his throat. One room he passed smelled like decay and he cringed as he picked up the pace.
Around a corner, glass walls showed dozens of infants. As soon as Ryan came into view, all of them, even the ones who had been sleeping, began to wail. Must be something instinctual that they knew he wasn’t human. At least not anymore.
A father who looked frazzled glanced at the babies, then Ryan. But he didn’t stop his strides as he passed the maternity towards pediatrics and finally to ICU.
At the double-locked doors to Intensive Care, Ryan paused. There hadn’t been too many people on the way here, but what was on the other side of this entrance? No window to show him anything. There could be a guard or a nurse’s station facing the door. He’d been lucky so far. And how long before the doctor who’s ID Jessica swiped found out and reported it? His badge might not even work now, but he couldn’t just waltz in. There had to be a janitor’s closet or something where he could find a disguise.
Backtracking, he was almost to the pediatrics section when two doctors headed right for him. They were talking and hadn’t spotted him yet. Ryan ducked into an alcove and held his breath. His wolf demanded he fight and not cower. He bit his tongue to stop a howl and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. Damn, why hadn’t the guys moved past him? This was a long stretch of hallway lined with rooms, no exit until further up or behind them.
“How’s your wife taking the news of your shift change?” a man asked, his voice carrying through the corridor despite his whispering.
“Not good, man. She threatened to lock me out of the house if I came home stomping around again.” The sound of pouring coffee into a Styrofoam container reached Ryan. “Let’s go back before nurse Nazi asks why our smoke break took so long.”
The other man chuckled, then their footsteps faded away.
Ryan ducked from behind his hiding space and frowned, gazing up and down the hallway. There was no coffee bar present. Maybe a break room then? He walked forward, checking each room on either side. Eight steps ahead, he spotted an employee’s only sign. The door had a badge reader on the outside of it. Ryan leaned against the door, listening for any sound or movement. Nothing. Hopefully, no one was a quiet sleeper on the other side.
He flashed the ID card and the door clicked open. Dashing inside, he found several tables and chairs along with a mini kitchen in the room. No janitor supplies or anything he could use. This was useless. Might as well march into ICU and take out anyone in his way. Or he could shift once past the threshold and race to his brother’s side then transform back. He’d be naked, but he could borrow a hospital gown or something. One way or another though, he’d see Kevin.
As he turned to leave, a biohazard trash can in the corner caught his attention. Human illnesses and diseases didn’t affect werewolves. He’d learned that through Carmen, who had been diagnosed with cancer weeks before their trip. After the bites, he went to start his chemo and the doctors were astonished to find the cancer completely gone. Ryan opened the lid and smiled. Several doctors and nurses' uniforms were piled inside. He dug through them until he found a doctor’s white jacket with the least amount of stains on it.
After donning it, he left it unbuttoned because it was a tight fit across his shoulders. He left the room and whistled as he once again approached ICU. Soon, Kevin. I’m right here.
Not waiting, he pressed the doctor’s badge to the scanner and exhaled when the doors swung open. A nurses’ station faced him and three of them stared up at him. Instantly, he felt like he was a water buffalo and them three hungry lionesses as their gazes followed him. Inside, his wolf let out a low growl. No time for this, he had to keep going despite his heartbeat slamming into his throat. Which room was his brother in?
“Evening.” He grinned and marched forward.
One of the nurses, a woman with a stern nose and jet black hair pulled into a tight bun glided out in front of him. “Excuse me, who are you?”
Chapter Seven
Ryan
Ryan didn't know what to say to get what he wanted and past the three nurses who blocked his path to the ICU rooms. Ryan froze mid-stride, his pulse hammering in his chest.
“Excuse me, sir. I asked you a question,” the head nurse said.
His brother was in this wing of the hospital and he wouldn’t let three nurses get in his way. He faced them and offered them a wide grin.
The nurse narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. "Mary, call security."
If he didn't do something quick, he wouldn't see his brother tonight. The doctor had said the first seventy-two hours were critical to Kevin’s recovery and not developing an infection. And he had a chance that his bite would heal his brother, but he had to see him. Know that he was okay, minus the coma and amputation. "Ladies, please." Would they believe him if he said he was a doctor visiting from another hospital? Maybe, but they’d ask for his ID and he didn’t have one. Plus that might take too long and every second lost could bring security, who were already looking for him. Ryan put on what he hoped was his best puppy dog face. "I just want to see my brother."
"Visiting hours are over." The head nurse folded her arms over her chest. "Come back in the morning."
"You look familiar." One of the nurses still behind the desk cocked her head to the side.
Might as well confess. His celebrity status had to be good for something. "You’ve probably seen me play with the Hellion rugby team. I’ve been in training for weeks. I can’t bear it that I wasn’t informed of his accident until they already brought him here. Just let me see him.”
The woman's face went from pondering to blushing. Well, maybe he had a potential fan here. One who could get him in to see his brother for a few minutes, maybe? He just had to convince her to help him and past the Iron Maiden glaring at him.
"I just need a few minutes, please."
Two of the nurses shook their heads, while the third bit her lip, staring down at the phone receiver in her hand.
"In and out, ten minutes, tops. That's all I ask."
She gave him a small smile. He had her. Soon, he would get to see his brother. The tension in his shoulders eased somewhat. After this, he needed a beer. Hell, three would be better.
"Enough of this." The glaring nurse stomped to the desk and snatched the phone from the other woman's hand.
"But it’s Ryan Taylor."
"I don't care if he's the prime minister. The rules apply to everyone." She punched th
e numbers on the desk phone while Ryan's wolf howled in his ears. Fight or flight. His wolf snarled against his restraints, but he couldn't shift in front of these women. Or kill them. Swallowing down the growl that vibrated against his throat, he bolted away from them and deeper into the corridor, knocking a metal IV pole against the side of the desk. He ran, sorting through the scents inundating him, ammonia, blood, and sickness, to locate Kevin’s musky scent. For once, he was grateful for his wolf sense of smell. He darted past the first three rooms. Kevin wasn't in any of them.
Behind him, he could hear the fast click-clack of heels. Probably the head nurse; Ryan wouldn’t be surprised if the woman brought pepper spray with her.
He skidded to a stop and backed up a few steps, inhaling deeply. There.
He burst into the room, closing the door. His brother lay hooked up to machines, pale and motionless. Fiddling with the door, Ryan couldn’t find a way to lock it. Damn, security would be here soon. He dragged the visitor chair across the room and propped it up against the door. Wasn’t much, but it might buy him a few precious seconds.
Lunging for him, Ryan’s fangs ached in his mouth. But, inches from his brother’s throat, doubt trickled through his mind.
What would happen if he didn’t wake up? The doctors were concerned about his coma. This might be the way to bring his brother out of unconsciousness. He gripped his shoulders tighter and opened his mouth. Doctors had no way to help Kevin, but he did. The monitor beeping his brother’s heartbeat increased in pace. Was part of him aware? Or knew the danger lurking over him? He set his brother back down on the bed and plowed his fingers through his hair.
Ryan paced back and forth between the bed and the window.
What if his brother didn’t recover from his amputation or worse, couldn’t deal with it? Would making him a werewolf be the right thing to do? Kevin might never come back from this… or what if he was in a coma for months…years?
Could Ryan stand by and do nothing when the chance to heal his brother lay in his bite? But if he bit him, they’d be a family again. In every sense. He growled low in his throat. Would Kevin become a wolf and grow back his leg? His co-player, Carmen, had been cured of cancer… but restoring limbs?
He shook his head. No idea. And, in Kevin’s condition, he’d have no choice. Just like Ryan had had none. He couldn’t do that to him. He wanted Kevin to choose. To know everything before deciding to become a werewolf or not. Wanted to give his brother what he’d never had. His will had been taken and now he possessed a wolf that constantly longed to erupt from his skin and roam the night.
“You need to come out of your lazy ass coma, Kevin. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” Ryan raked a hand through his hair as the monitors beeped and droned. “Enough pouting, get up.”
But his brother didn’t move. Didn’t even flutter an eyelash. Shit! The doctor had been concerned earlier when he’d talked about the amputation and Kevin wasn’t waking up yet. Ryan should’ve done more. He should have taken him into his confidence and explained why he’d been distant these past months, ever since the overseas trip and the wolf bite. But he’d thought he was protecting Kevin. Last thing Ryan wanted was to admit to anyone, besides his teammates, that he wasn’t human.
Ryan shook his head, unshed tears stinging his eyes.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about, man.” He squeezed his brother’s hand. “So wake up so you can give me that attitude of yours.”
“Open up,” a man’s voice yelled outside the door, followed by the noise of the doorknob rattling.
The hairs along Ryan’s neck bristled. Damn. The room had a window, but they were four floors up. Running to see if there was a ledge or rooftop, Ryan tossed aside the curtains. Nope, just four floors down and a set of bushes. Not enough to break his fall… as a human. But he’d been body-slammed by dozens of opponents and came away unfazed.
More voices echoed in the hallway.
“I have a tazer if we need to use it,” another voice said.
Damn, what would happen this close to the moon phase if he were hit with electric current? He didn’t want to find out.
A thump sounded against the door. It wouldn’t hold long.
Ryan’s muscles constricted. Fuck! Bones cracked and shifted. Burning acid barreled through his veins. No, no, no!
But his wolf was tired of being shoved down, and despite all the adrenaline tearing through him, he should’ve known this was a mistake. Every month, he was losing more and more control over the beast. How long before it took over completely? Before he became like the werewolves in Romania who were so insane, they’d attacked an entire rugby team?
And how many of the people outside would end up hurt if they opened a door and found a huge wolf in a hospital room? Would they connect him to his brother? Or what if Kevin got hurt worse in the struggle?
No, he had to leave. Now, before he only had claws and teeth to work with.
Ryan broke off the safety lock on the window then pushed up against the pane. It didn’t budge. Behind him, the door groaned. Sweat broke out across his skin as he strained against the glass to open the damn window.
The hairs on his arms stood up as his bones began to shift. Not now. Damn it!
With a combination of a grunt and a growl, the window creaked open halfway. It would have to do. Ryan tore off his clothes and stuffed them in the nightstand beside his brother’s hospital bed.
Naked, he released himself to the twisting of bones and muscles. The agonizing pain ripped a howl from him.
Muffled voices rang in his ears, but he didn’t care. He wanted out of this room. Out of this place, to run through the night. To hunt and devour. His face elongated and he fell to the floor on all fours. Fangs and sharp teeth broke through his gums, the copper taste filling his mouth. The sharp colors of outside shifted to more gray and black. His ears picked up the beeps from the equipment beside him, echoing along with the crickets chirruping outside.
His claws scraped along the flooring. A low whine radiated from his throat and the door budged the chair aside a foot. Time to go. He grabbed his underwear between his teeth and leapt to the window. Scrambling out it, his hindquarters pinched. Was this really a good idea? He’d had never fallen from this height, and he didn’t know if he’d end up with a broken leg or not, but he couldn’t let them capture him. He had to get out, now. They’d be inside the room in moments.
At the last second, a rustle from the bed sounded. But it was too late to stop his fall as the ground rushed up to meet him. Shit, shit, shit!
Untitled
Chapter Eight
Jessica
“You sure you’re all right, miss?” the young nurse asked at the check-in desk.
The bandage covering her healing scar itched. Jessica rubbed her arm. God, she hated needles and they’d taken a truckload of her blood. Ryan owed her big time for this. “I’m fine. Sorry to worry everyone.”
How much blood had they drawn anyway? She walked past the hospital’s automatic doors and outside. A smile tickled her lips. All the poking and prodding was worth it if Ryan had been able to see his brother. All her life, she'd wanted siblings. She had envied her friends, despite the horror stories of their troubles growing up with brothers and sisters.
The muggy wind outside the hospital did nothing to cool her skin. She glanced back at the hospital. How much longer would Ryan need? Hopefully, he wouldn’t get caught. Her gut clenched. Damn, this had been her idea to help him sneak inside after hours. Would they arrest him? Guilt laced through her. She had a bit of money in savings and would use it to pay whatever fine. Of course, he had to have more than her, but she would have to do something to ease her conscience.
For now, she needed something to occupy the time, instead of pacing out front and imaging the worst. Maybe she could do some work on his story in her car. She dug her keys out of her purse and trailed along the sidewalk next to the hospital.
From the bushes, a thump then a growl sounded behind her. What was that? She
spun, her heart hammering against her sternum. The bushes along the sidewalk shook.
She swallowed hard and glanced around for help, but the parking lot was empty except for a few dozen cars. It was a good fifty feet back to the hospital doors if she ran.
Yellow glowing eyes peered at her from inside the bush.
Maybe it was a hurt animal and needed help. Her mind raced… what wild animals lived here in New Zealand? Was it a feral dog? Or maybe just a lost sheep.
Was it looking for food? She had a package of crackers in the bottom of her purse somewhere. Her emergency stash for her hyperglycemia. “Hungry?” She pulled out the crackers. “I'll split them with you. I'd give you the whole bag, but I need a couple before I start shaking.”
The creature didn't move, but kept staring at her. Maybe it was shy or had been abused by someone. An abandoned pet. She tossed one of the crackers near the bush and the unblinking eyes, then she popped one into her mouth.
“See, it's good.” She chewed but glanced around. Maybe the hospital wouldn't like her feeding wild animals on their property. “Okay, here’s another one, just don't tell anyone you got it from me.” She threw the cracker, hoping to get it closer to the creature since it hadn't gone after the first one. If she got this one closer to it perhaps it would eat.
Maybe she was too close to the creature. Backing up, she lost her footing on the curb.
Her heel slid out from underneath her with her throw and she yelped, losing her balance. Her arms flailed as she tried to keep from falling.
All the air gushed out of her as her butt hit the concrete sidewalk. Her purse flew out of her grasp and under a car. The package of crackers opened and all the contents broken into crumbs.
Pain snaked up her backside. Shit. “Guess neither one of us is going to have more.” With a grunt, she pushed up and dusted off her skirt which now had dirt smeared across the back and a split up the side. So much for her professional image.
Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection Page 61