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The doc, Monroe, is already in the clinic room when we get there, sitting on a stool and filling out paperwork. Though she isn’t a full-time employee, she’s here most weekdays to perform exams, run the STI tests required by the county, and answer questions the girls have. Monroe was a sex worker throughout medical school, so she’s uniquely qualified for this position.
“Gonna set you down on the exam table,” I say, carefully lowering Vivi to the paper sheet-covered surface.
Monroe spins around to face us. “Hi, Navy.”
Navy. I need to start calling her that out of respect for Vivi’s reasoning behind using her full name. It might not be the same source of pride in getting a road name when you’re patched in, but it’s similar. Just like the change that happens the second our member patch is sewn onto our cuts, Vivi has been through a change. She’s not the girl she used to be, and I need to recognize that.
“Hi,” Navy squeaks out, wiping the endless tears from her face.
“Maybe it would be best if we have some privacy.” Monroe looks pointedly at me.
I narrow my eyes on her. “I’m not leaving her.”
Neither heaven nor hell could get me to abandon Navy right now. My dad, my own fucking blood, did this to her, but it’s not the guilt that has me cementing my feet to the floor. It’s something bigger, deeper. Somewhere along the way, I claimed this woman. Not that I’ve made any declaration or anything. I didn’t even know it until this very moment, but nothing has ever felt more right.
Navy is mine. Now I just need to convince her of it.
“Can I speak to you outside for a second?” Monroe stands, and her white coat parts to reveal her low-cut, silky blouse and short skirt. I don’t even spare her a glance, though. Why would I want to look at anyone else when Navy exists in my world?
I cup Navy’s cheeks, forcing her to look me in the eye. “Will you be okay for a second?”
She nods her answer. So, as much as it pains me, I step into the hall with Monroe.
“Talk fast,” I say.
“I can’t do a proper exam if Navy can’t be honest, and she can’t be honest with a caveman grunting and growling next to her as she answers my questions.”
“I’ll keep quiet.”
“Even if that were true, I saw signs of other kinds of abuse,” she says carefully.
“What do you mean? Like broken bones or some shit?” My anxiety level rises, thinking about her having a broken arm or leg and hurting her by carrying her.
“No.” She sighs. “There are bruises on her inner thighs and possibly DNA there. I’ve received special training to perform a forensic medical exam, and I need to ask Navy if I can perform one on her.”
I get caught up hearing about bruising on her inner thighs, the rest of Monroe’s words going over my head. What did Ray do? Then it hits me, and my head spins with the realization. I clench my jaw so hard I hear a crack in a back molar, and my hands ball into fists as my breaths come in hard pants.
“This”—Monroe motions at me—“is what I’m talking about. I can’t perform a rape kit with you going homicidal next to her.”
“You’re saying she’s been raped?” I need the words. Need to be sure so I can have all the facts.
“I don’t know, Rigger. Based on a quick visual exam alone, I’m going to say yes, but again, I need to do a physical exam and talk to her to be certain.”
I leave Monroe in the hall and go back into the exam room, where Navy is in the fetal position, a paper blanket covering her nearly naked body.
“Listen.” I push a wayward strand of hair off her face. “I’ll be right outside, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”
She sniffles and nods, looking so goddamn small and broken. It’s not the Navy I’ve come to know, which only fills me with more fury. Ray did this to her, and that won’t go unpunished. My hands burn with the need to wrap my ropes around his throat and watch as the air leaves his body.
With one last kiss to Navy’s forehead, I leave Monroe to do her thing.
Standing in the hallway, I shoot a quick text to Cy, requesting he call Church for later today. It’s nine-thirty in the morning, and I already feel like it’s been the longest day of my life. I’ll be dead on my feet by tonight, but that’s nothing compared to how Navy’s going to feel.
“There you are,” Mary says, walking toward me.
“Not now,” I say.
“Yes, now. We’re opening the gate in a half hour, and I need to know my girls are safe.”
