“No. It isn’t. Your adrenaline keeps you from feeling it. You’re shot,” she informed him while using Liam’s belt to stave off the flow.
Patch knelt beside his teammate and pulled out his supplies. Addy moved aside for Patch to assess the wound while she set the IV and handed him gauze and bandages.
“Have Doc send the ambulance,” Patch instructed.
“Shit, how bad can it be if I can’t feel it?” Ragu asked, still not believing her.
“Stop moving,” Patch grumbled.
“I don’t want to sit in the chair, I’ll get blood all over it,” he confessed. “My body feels funny.”
“Ragu,” Addy said firmly. “Sit down or I’ll call Annabelle and tell her you’re acting like a pain in the ass.”
Patch chuckled and coughed as he concentrated on the wound.
Ragu lowered himself onto the chair, glancing at Addy. “I didn’t think you swore.”
“Then you don’t know me at all. Ask my patients what happens when they don’t follow the doctor’s instructions,” she said, turning to Leo. “Call Kassie, let her know we’re coming in with a GSW. We’ll need a surgical room prepped. Annabelle’sworking on the second floor. Call Cindy and ask her to come in early to cover for her. She’s the closest night nurse I have.”
“Don’t call her. She’ll freak,” Ragu pleaded. “Patch can fix me up, and I can walk into the hospital on my own. It’ll ease her fears.”
Addy straightened and glared at him as she muttered, “Men,” under her breath. “Annabelle’s a bright and capable woman. Do you think she won’t notice your clothes? I’m having her meet us in the ER. Then, she can see you’re all right without worrying about her patients.”
The ambulance’s siren alerted them when it turned into her driveway.
“Ragu, I need you to keep your leg straight while I transfer you to the gurney,” Patch instructed.
“I’ll help you to stand while Patch holds your limb,” Addy said softly, assuring Ragu. “Lean on me.”
“Dang it, Addyson. I’ll get blood all over your clothes,” Rugu muttered.
“It’s not the first time it’s happened,” she said, smiling at him.
The paramedics arrived, bringing the gurney. Leo and Liam moved furniture to let them pass. Addy gripped Ragu while he rose from the chair, completely in her element. Liam wanted to shout to the world, “She’s my girlfriend,” but it might make the situation awkward since they never dated anywhere other than in his dreams.
“Good luck, Ragu. I’ll see you at the hospital,” Addyson said as Patch secured him.
She knelt by her dog. The strong woman Liam witnessed earlier seemed utterly vulnerable as she caressed Zeus’s head.
“Jake’s here. He waited for the ambulance to take Ragu before coming up the stairs,” Leo said. “Liam, stay with herwhile the police get her statement. We’ll find out more about the asshole who did this.” Leo left to accompany Ragu.
“My poor baby,” Addy murmured to Zeus as Jake knelt beside him.
“Awww, he’s a tough guy,” Jake soothed the stress-ridden dog. “It appears the bullet grazed his leg and went alongside his belly. “I’ll keep him with me for a couple of days,” he said, giving Zeus a shot to help him relax. “Do you have his vaccination record?”
Addy rose and rifled through the desk. “He’s up to date on everything.
“I’ll take good care of him, Addyson,” he assured her. “Liam, call one of the boys to help you take him downstairs to my truck. Two of them will have to follow me home.”
Liam turned to call down the stairs when his gaze met hers. He saw the worry and anxiety eating at her. The sooner they got Zeus cared for, the better she’d feel.
A few minutes later, Liam and Shadow picked up the dog, with Taco assisting.
“I’ll call you as soon as I get him settled,” Jake assured Addy. “I’m keeping him as a precaution. It doesn’t appear too serious.”
“Thank goodness,” she said, watching them take Zeus down the stairs.
When they loaded him into the truck, Whiskey volunteered to follow them due to Zeus’ size.
