Who the hell was the guy? A coincidence that he finds her lying unconscious and convulsing at Connor’s grave. I didn’t believe in coincidences.
I looked over the moment Tyler put his hands on either side of her head as if he was going to kiss her. I knew he wouldn’t, but still, I didn’t like it. I had to end this conversation fast. I kicked at the orange plastic chair in front of me and it toppled over. Both Georgie and Tyler looked at me, he dropped his hands from her and a nurse behind the desk scowled at me.
I felt like a fuse had been lit inside me and was slowly burning. Soon I was going to lose it, and losing it in front of strangers didn’t happen. But my thread was pulled so tight right now it was going to snap any minute. I couldn’t get out of my head the look in her eyes after she drove her elbow back into my cheek. It was an expert’s move. When the hell did she ever take a class to learn that shit? Georgie was too busy partying to take a class. It didn’t make sense.
I heard the ding of the elevator, then watched two burly men wearing security uniforms walk out, a doctor with them. Kai was saying something about the fuckin’ favor, but I was focused on what was about to go down. My eyes shot to the nurse behind the desk who was looking at me and talking on the phone. The men coming our way had eyes locked on Georgie and Tyler.
“Tyler.” I snapped my phone shut, hanging up on Kai.
He was instantly alert, turning and standing in front of Georgie like armour. I strode toward the doctor and the two buffoons to intercept. The nurse called out to me, but I knew enough about hospital policies to know what was going down.
The doctor stopped in front of me, cocky little bastard wearing a fuckin’ sneer on his narrow face. I was blocking him from getting anywhere near Georgie, although I suspected from his expression, and Rick and Mick at his side, that he thought differently. “Sir, only family members are allowed to visit.”
“I’m not visiting.”
He cleared his throat and shifted uneasily while adjusting his glasses, which didn’t need adjusting. “We’re going to have to ask you and your friend to leave. The nurse will help the patient back to her room.” From the corner of my eyes, I saw the nurse-—name tag, Belinda—come out from behind the desk.
“Deck,” Tyler warned. And it was a warning because I had my hand on the gun beneath my jacket. “Not here, Boss.”
“We’ll look after her. She can leave after a psych evaluation scheduled for tomorrow and after the police have been to question her about the wounds on her back. It’s mandatory after something like this. We’d also like to re-run her blood for precaution.”
I stared at him for several seconds then I glanced over at Georgie, who stood quietly behind Tyler. I didn’t like it. And I sure as hell didn’t like the doctor, but starting a fight in the hospital would cause us problems. Besides, Georgie was better off here for one more night and I did want to hear what she told the police about the fuckin’ cuts on her back.
I nodded to Tyler. Fine, one night.
“When can we pick her up?” Tyler asked.
The nurse gave instructions about discharge to Tyler and I approached Georgie. She was still up against the wall, having not said a word during the whole exchange.
“Tomorrow, you’re coming with me. We need to sort this shit out. Okay?” She nodded and I felt her tremble as I ran my hands down her arms. There it was … in her eyes. The vulnerability and softness that had been hidden for years. Fuck, I wanted to wrap her up in my arms and kiss her so fuckin’ badly. I cleared my throat. “Pass the psych exam, would you?”
She smiled and it was the first time in over ten hours I felt like I could breathe. She grabbed my sleeve before I walked away.
“Deck. I need to tell you …” She stopped, straightened her shoulders and looked around as if searching for someone. Then her eyes dropped to the floor and she looked … scared. Georgie rarely looked scared, and it reminded me of the moment I told her about Connor. “Please, don’t put me in rehab.”
Jesus. Then she said shit like that.
I paused. Blue streaks hung down the side of her face, no makeup, standing against the wall in the light blue hospital gown. Innocent. She was innocent and yet, I knew Georgie. She was a lot more than that. She was stubborn and determined, had an attitude, which was part of her, but for some reason, it was more exaggerated than I thought suited her.
But her looking at me, uncertain, exposed and yet still with confidence … this was the Georgie I knew.
This was who I’d fight to bring back. “I won’t.” I nodded to the right where the doc stood watching me. “Don’t let that guy touch you.” She smiled at that and I tucked her hair away from her face. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Get some rest, baby.”