Authors: Vanessa Fewings
“I’m stunned.”
“Maybe now you’ll let me dance with your girlfriend?”
I shook my head, feigning the ridiculousness of him asking.
“Go have fun,” I said. “Thanks again, Richard. I really appreciate what you’ve done.”
Richard’s gaze found Mia in the swarm. “She looks happy.” He pushed to his feet and headed over.
My phone vibrated again.
Mia and Arianna greeted Richard warmly, and Mia peered through the crowd and signaled for me to join them.
Scarlet scooted over closer. “How’s Richard doing?”
“Good.”
“Looks like he still has a thing for her,” she said softly.
Too softly, but I’d read her lips.
Richard danced close to Mia, their comfort with being close to each other evident by the way they moved well together with the rhythm of old friends. Mia flashed an uneasy glance my way. I grinned back.
I ran through what might be an appropriate reaction should Richard grind against her, which he was very close to doing. But I took into consideration I’d stolen her from him and he’d just added a few million to my portfolio.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the gift card and handed it Scarlet. “Happy birthday.”
She turned it over. “Cameron, it’s too much.”
“It’s your favorite spa. Now you can get pampered every week, like you deserve.”
“For the rest of my life,” she said, amused. “Cameron, thank you.”
“It’s from Mia too.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
Alert for: Dr. Cole,
it repeated
, 02:37. Cedars ER. Response requested by Dr. Tavon Pierre. Surgical. Urgent.
Mia, Arianna, and Richard were swallowed up by the crowd.
I gestured to Shay I had to take this. “Tell Mia I’ll be right back.”
Pushing my way through the throng, I eventually made it to the foyer. Not wanting to have the caller hear me in a nightclub, I stepped outside.
Cold night air hit me with a bitter chill and only then did I realize I’d left my jacket behind. A few more steps and I lingered beside the deserted valet kiosk.
I brought my phone to my ear. “Dr. Cole.”
“Dr. Cole,” said the familiar chirpy voice of Nurse Saunders. “Sorry to bother you so late, it’s Payton. I know you’re not on call, but Dr. Pierre needs to talk to you urgently.”
“Do you know what the issue is?”
“No, but Dr. Pierre told me to tell you it’s urgent.”
“Thanks, Payton. How are you?”
“Crazy busy. Just got a multiple MVA. We’re slammed.”
“Hang in there.”
“Hope I didn’t wake you?”
“Not at all.”
“I’ll put you through to Dr. Pierre. Hold on.”
“Who’s that?” came that familiar timid voice behind me.
I spun round and saw Mia. “Cedars.”
“You’re not on call.”
“No.”
“We were just dancing, Cameron,” she said.
I narrowed my gaze.
“I love you,” she said, her gait unsteady. “You’re the most important man in my life. I only want you.”
I studied her pupils. “How much have you had to drink?”
“That’s not exactly a romantic response.”
“How much?”
“Maybe I had a shot.”
“Of what?”
“Tequila.”
“Arianna bought you a shot?”
“Richard did.” She lowered her gaze “He bought one for you. But you’d left. Are you upset with me?”
Running my hand through my hair, along with an appropriate response through my brain, I tried to think of the best way to handle this.
“This is hard for me too,” she said.
“Mia, I received a text from Cedars requesting me to call. I stepped out so I could hear.”
“Who’s Payton?”
“A registered nurse. She was asked to text me by another staff member.” I gestured to the building. “My jacket’s in there. I’m coming back.”
“You gave me permission to dance.”
“Cole!” boomed a voice through the phone.
“Tavon?” I raised a hand for Mia to be quiet.
“I’m worried about Richard,” Mia whispered.
“One second.” Resting my forefinger on my lips, I again insisted she was quiet. “Hey Tavon, everything okay?”
“Yeah, I need to talk to you,” he said. “Can’t say too much on the phone. When are you in next?”
“How about my office?”
“I need to see you sooner.”
Mia rested her hands on her hips. My thoughts drifted to Richard and I wondered what kind of conversation they’d just had. Heartbreak and booze were a dangerous mix.
“Cole?” said Tavon. “You there?”
His voice sounded raw.
I needed to focus. Walking away from Mia, I stood beneath the green awning. “I’m listening.”
“I think I’m having a panic attack.”
“What caused it?”
“Lost a patient.”
“What are your symptoms?”
“I still have his blood on my sleeve.”
A wave of dread. “From a procedure?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you, Tavon?”
“ICU.”
“Your symptoms?”
“I feel like shit.”
Mia neared me, smiling broadly, and poked my stomach to get my attention.
I held my hand over the phone. “Mia, this is important.”
She froze, her eyes wide. “Do you still love me?” she slurred.
I reached for her, spun her around, and cupped my hand over her mouth playfully, pulling her back to my chest and holding her tight to control her.
She wiggled in my arms and brushed against my groin.
“How quickly can you get here?” asked Tavon.
“I’m just down the road. I’m on my way. Change out of those scrubs.”
“Okay.”
Mia stilled and let out a soft sigh of her arousal. It vibrated against my palm.
“Tavon,” I said, “head to the cafeteria and get some tea. Watch the TV. Do not call or text anyone. Talk to no one. I’m on my way.”
“Did I wake you?” he said.
“No. Make it decaf.”
“I really appreciate this.”
“See you soon.” I hung up and released Mia.
She spun round and stared up at me.
“Mia, I have to go.”
“No!”
Of course the last time a girlfriend had made a scene during a party I’d dumped her soon after. That girlfriend had been McKenzie, and she’d thrown a fit because I’d gotten called into work.
I tipped Mia’s chin up. “This is important.”
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I’ll get your jacket.”
I grabbed her wrist. “There’s no time.”
She tried to wriggle free. “But you’ll get cold.”
I pulled the phone back to my ear. “Leo, bring the car round.”
“Let go of her!” A raspy voice—
The woman wore all black. The forty-something vixen wore a skirt too short and hoop earrings too big and looked spaced out. She was high. The question was from what?
She teetered on high heels.
“Mia’s my girlfriend,” I reassured her. “She’s fine.”
“Doesn’t look fine,” she snapped.
“He has to go,” Mia told her. “Something happened.”
“Please be quiet,” I muttered and hugged Mia.
“What the fuck,” said the woman. “Let her go. She doesn’t wanna go with you.”
I let Mia go and stepped back, hoping to deflate the tension. I reached for my phone and texted Shay:
Bring jacket. Mia’s bag. Fast.
I peered up to see the woman glaring.
“Just texting my buddy,” I said calmly. “Letting him know where we are.”
“I’m fine,” said Mia to the woman. “Really, he’s my boyfriend.”
“He had his hand over your mouth,” she said. “Didn’t look fine.”
Fucking great
, I caressed my brow to lessen this impending headache.
The woman grabbed Mia’s arm. “Come stand with us.” She gestured to her friends.
Mia tried to twist out of the woman’s grip. “I don’t want to.”
I wrapped my fingers around the woman’s hand and pried off her fingers. “You’re scaring my girlfriend. Please let her go.”
The limo pulled around and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Pain—
Sharp—
My head jolted back.
Agony in my lip, resonating across my face.
Stunned.
Disorientated, I raised my hands to defend myself from the second punch heading fast toward me, a tattooed fist that had almost knocked me out with the first strike.
A blur of movement.
My attacker now lay flat on his back.
I blinked at the sight of Emma and her Ronda Rousey moves. A slow motion vision of her now slid between Mia and that woman. Mia stumbled back into my arms. I caught her and hugged her into me possessively.
Both our attackers now lay on the ground, moans rising. Emma calmly leaned over them, her expression pure matter-of-fact. Her demeanor all business as usual.
Shay marched toward us carrying my jacket and Mia’s handbag.
Emma, his hardcore guard, gave him a look of triumph.
“Get Cole in the car,” he yelled.
CHAPTER 14
WHAT THE HELL
.
Our limo shot away from the curb, pushing us back in our seats.
I pressed ice cubes wrapped in a handkerchief to my lower lip. It stung. Every nerve, sinew, and cell was on high alert.
I wanted to go back and punch someone.
“Sure you’re okay, Mia?” I lowered the handkerchief and examined her arm, checking for contusions.
“I’m fine.” She reached for my hand and placed the cold pack back on my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
My forced smile of reassurance made me wince. “They attacked us. They were drunk. Or high. Or both.”
Shay handed Mia an icepack from the first aid kit and she replaced it with the rudimentary one he’d made from the wine cooler and pressed it to my mouth. The cold burned.
“Fuck,” I mumbled. “My parents fly in tomorrow.”
Mia looked horrified. “Can you tell them you tripped?”
Shay scoffed as he texted. “Let’s hope your attackers don’t know who you are.”
“I imagine it ended up recorded on a few phones,” I said.
Shay glanced up. “Data is currently being deleted.”
“You can do that?” asked Mia.
Shay looked over at me. “My specialty.”
“The White House tried to poach him,” I said. “Offered quite the salary.”
“D.C.’s too cold,” he said, and feigned being chilled to the bone.
I eased the icepack off my lip and cringed when I saw blood.
“Cameron told me he’d pay danger pay.” Shay winked at Mia.
“Talking of which—” I gestured to Shay’s phone— “how are they?”
“Dazed, but fine. Emma usually just stuns her victims. She can do a lot worse.”
“Very enthusiastic employee,” I said dryly.
“I like her.” He tucked his smartphone away. “He could have had a gun, Cameron.”
I shrugged. “Give them medical attention. Whatever’s needed.”
“I’m handling it.” Shay’s phone buzzed and he read the screen. “Emma says they’re from out of town so we may just be in luck.”
“They can’t sue us,” said Mia. “They attacked us.”
“Press charges,” said Shay.
“My aversion to the press won’t let that happen,” I said. “Let’s put it behind us.”
“What’s going on at Cedars?” asked Shay.
“I have a colleague who had a difficult case.”
“It can’t wait till tomorrow?”
I gave a shake of my head. “I’ll send Scarlet flowers.”
Scarlet would understand, she always did. In fact everyone in my life was used to my frequent exits, and right now Mia also seemed to be handling it well.
Seeing her in danger had triggered a desire to do whatever it took to protect her at any cost.
Within ten minutes, the towers of Cedars Sinai loomed.
“Shay, take Mia home,” I said. “Stay with her. I won’t be long.”
“Sure.”
“I can’t come with you?”
“I won’t be long.”
She looked uncertain.
I let out a long sigh. “The first time you lose a patient you don’t think you’ll ever be able to breathe again. Doctors grieve, despite the emotion being taboo.”
“Have you ever lost a patient?”
I held her gaze.