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“Hurry up. Less chit-chatting,” Ava demands with an aggressive tap of her foot.
My palms twitch to scold her for speaking to me that way, but she’s right. We don’t have time to waste.
Shortly after we lay Oliver on the bed in the downstairs bedroom, Dr. Smith kicks everyone out. He tries to kick Ava out too, but it doesn’t sit well with her. She won’t have it, and I doubt anything Dr. Smith could say will alter that, so I pace alone for the second time in as many weeks.
“What the fuck happened?” I snap at Angus when he reaches me.
“Good news. I’m certain he found the shooter, who is now dead.”
“Bad news?” I ask, knowing you don’t have one without the other.
“Is in there.” He nudges his head to the bedroom I just left. “For being an idiot.” Normally, I don’t tolerate anyone disrespecting a Manarch, but Oliver was being an idiot. I’m certain of it.
“And the scene?”
Angus purses his lips. “We called the cleaner. Everything will be sterilized within the hour.” He shifts his feet to face the bedroom he nudged his head at. “How’s he doing?”
I shrug. “I don’t fucking know. They kicked me out.”
Angus scoffs. “The big bad wolf got kicked out. I don’t believe it. I bet it was Mrs. Manarch.”
He’s mocking me to ease my anger, but I know he’s as worried as I am. He sees Oliver as a little brother.
“The one and only,” I confess before I can stop myself.
Thirty long fucking minutes later, the door finally opens, and Dr. Smith leaves.
“How is he?” I demand before he can speak a word.
His head wobbles back and forth. “As good as he can be. He’s lucky. It was a clean shot. The bullet nicked a minor blood vessel when it passed through, which is why he bled so much. I’ve stopped the bleeding and started a blood transfusion. Oliver needs rest… a lot of it. I’ll leave instructions with the nurse. Call if anything changes.”
“Thank you, Dr. Smith.”
I wait for him to leave before entering the bedroom to see Ava in a confrontation with the nurse.
“You’re doing it wrong,” Ava barks at the nurse, her tone unforgiving.
“Mrs. Manarch, I know what I’m doing.”
With a stern point to the door, Ava shouts, “Get the fuck out!”
“Hey.” I stand behind her, forever having her back before locking my eyes with the nurse. “Give us the room.” The woman looks scared to death, so she accepts my offer immediately. “What’s wrong?” I ask Ava once we’re alone.
“She was doing it wrong. He groaned every time she moved his pillow.”
Hearing the words she didn’t speak, I reassure her. “He’s fine. Dr. Smith said he will be fine.” When she cries, I pull her into my chest, her tears wetting my shirt. “It’s okay. He’ll be okay.”
“I was so scared. It took Dr. Smith almost twenty minutes to stop the bleeding.” She dries a handful of her tears and lets out a deep breath. “If something were to happen to him—”
“He’s home and alive.”
“Not for long.” When I peer at her, lost, she adds, “I’m going to kick his ass the instant he opens his eyes.”
“I’m sure you will.” I kiss the top of her head, then hug her tighter. “But until then, how about we let the nurse do what she’s paid to do.” When her back gets up, I quickly add, “We also need to let Oliver rest.”
“I’m not moving from here. Anita is on her way to help with the kids,” Ava announces while breaking away from our embrace.
My anger kicks up a gear. “You shouldn’t have called her.”
