Rage burned in his chest when he saw that her knees were skinned up from the fresh blacktop. Sirens echoed against the surrounding buildings as the emergency vehicles approached and emergency lights flickered against the vehicles in the back parking lot. They cut the siren as they got close to the scene, and Ben was grateful.
“Well, at least they didn’t come to the front of the building. This way we’re less likely to have the crowd inside empty out to watch the chaos.”
Sylvan patted his shoulder. “I’ll go make sure everything’s running smoothly inside and make an announcement if it becomes necessary. You just take care of Camilla. Oh! And poor Cody, too.” She rushed over to the back of the truck, where it looked like Cody was just returning to consciousness. She waved at Ben and gave him the thumbs-up before running back to the club. Ben was relieved they’d hired someone who obviously worked well under pressure.
Quinten looked over his shoulder and groaned. “You may have spoken too soon.”
Ben looked behind him and sighed. The news crew that had been at the front entry, interviewing patrons who were lined up out the door, came running around the corner, microphones, cameras ready.
Luckily, law enforcement headed them off. Hank joined Ben and Quinten as the Tarkett County Sheriff’s Department took over. “How’s she doing?”
They’d bundled her up in the coat, and as Ben shifted her, his hand got hung up in her corset laces. “Shit, what did he do to her?”
He reached under her coat and felt that the laces were pulled extremely tight on both sides. “He must have pulled her up by the laces. Her breathing is probably constricted. Quinten, got your pocketknife?”
Quinten grinned and reached in his pocket. “Always prepared.”
“She’s gonna be pissed when she finds out I ruined her corset.”
Hank said, “Understandable given the circumstances.” He turned his back, and Ben began grabbing the laces and severing them, careful to not get the blade close to her skin, until the corset loosened considerably. The EMTs came with a stretcher, and Ben gently lifted her and laid her on it, careful to keep the leather coat over her as a covering.
“So you know her?” the EMT asked as he removed a stethoscope from his bag.
“Yes. She’s my fiancée. We suspect she was drugged.” He glanced at Quinten, and he nodded at him. “She’s pregnant, nearly eight weeks.”
“Thank you for telling me. We’ll take good care of her.”
David Northup, the Tarkett County Sheriff, showed a vial to the EMT. “We found this and two empty syringes in Anderson’s coat pocket.”
The EMT took a close look at the vial and then nodded at him. “Morphine. She’s symptomatic for it.” To Ben he said, “Her vitals are stable, so we’ll transport her. There’s room for you if you want to come with her.”
Ben glanced at Quinten, giving him the option to ride with her, even though Ben had identified himself as her fiancé.
Quinten said, “I’ll be right behind you in the truck.”
Ethan came out of the back door as they prepared to load her in the ambulance. “I’ll stay here and cover for you. Sylvan has everything under control. Very little fuss inside. A few were curious when the television crew took off around the building, but otherwise, everything’s fine inside. You two go ahead. Take care of your lady.” They paused to check on Cody, who was complaining about having to ride to the hospital, too.
Ben said, “Cody, listen. Camilla is also headed to the hospital. He drugged her, too. You need to get checked out. Heath and Spencer can handle things here.”
“I’ll stay and help out too,” Hank said. “It’ll be like old times when I helped out with security a few years ago at The Pony.”
Ben nodded. His trust in Hank was absolute.
He rode in the ambulance and was nearly giddy with relief when she came around while in transit.
* * * *
Camilla groaned, nausea assailing her again as her equilibrium shifted, and she felt like she was floating.
“Sugar?”
Struggling to lift eyelids that felt weighted down, she turned to the sound of Ben’s voice. “Where am I?” Her eyes refused to stay open.
“You’re in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.”
“Club?”
His solid, reassuring hand stroked her shoulder. “The grand opening is going off without a hitch. Ethan and Sylvan and the guys are all there.”
“Quinten?”
“He’s right behind us, sugar. You’ll see him soon.” Camilla blinked her eyes and looked up at a stranger kneeling over her.