Page 92 of Rescuing Ally: Part 1

She nods, finally looking up. Her eyes widen slightly when she notices me. “Oh! Are you Dr. Collins?”

“Ally,” I correct automatically, surprised she knows who I am. “Still have to defend my thesis to get my PhD.”

“Mitzy mentioned you might be coming by,” she explains. “She’s looking forward to meeting you.”

“Thanks,” Hank says, steering me back toward the exit before the woman can ask any more questions. We’re almost out the door when Hank suddenly pauses. “Wait. Do you have a charging cable for a laptop?”

The receptionist blinks, then glances at me. “What kind of laptop?”

I lift mine slightly. “MacBook.”

“Hold on a sec.” She picks up the phone, murmuring somethinginto the receiver before giving me a small smile. “Someone will bring one right down.”

A few minutes later, a young man in a Guardian-branded polo steps off the elevator, holding a charging cable. “Here you go.”

“Thanks,” I say, accepting it.

Hank gives a satisfied nod before guiding me outside.

We climb back into the cart.

“Was I on Mitzy’s schedule today?” I ask as we pull away from the tech building.

“Not officially,” Hank says. “But Mitzy has a knack for knowing things before they happen.”

“It’s a bit creepy,” Gabe adds cheerfully.

We wind through another section of the compound, passing what looks like a medical facility and several administrative buildings. Instead of continuing toward the café, Gabe turns the cart toward the clinic’s entrance.

“Quick stop first,” Hank says, giving me a pointed look.

Right. The exams.

I swallow hard, my fingers tightening briefly on my lap before forcing myself to relax. Hank may have given the command, but it’s my choice. And I trust them.

Chapter 27

Guardian HRS’smedical wing isn’t what I expect. Unlike the sterile, institutional feeling of Malfor’s facilities, this place balances clinical efficiency with actual comfort. Warm lighting softens the medical equipment, and the air smells faintly of lavender rather than antiseptic.

Hank keeps his hand at the small of my back as we approach the reception desk while Gabe walks slightly ahead, scanning our surroundings. They do this everywhere—positioning themselves around me like human shields. It should feel suffocating, but somehow, it doesn’t.

“We’ve got an appointment with Doc Summers,” Hank says.

“Of course. Follow me.”

We’re led to a spacious exam room where Doc Summers is waiting, reviewing something on a tablet. I immediately understand what Gabe meant by “terrifying in a good way.” Everything about her exudes competence—from her precisely pinned dark hair to her crisp lab coat to her direct, assessing gaze.

Doc Summers barely glances up from her tablet before a slow, knowing smile tugs at her lips. “Ah, yes. The urgent request fromHank.” She taps the screen, arching a brow as she finally meets my gaze. “Imagine my surprise when I get a message flagged STAT—not for a gunshot wound, broken bones, or some near-fatal disaster—but for STD screenings and birth control.”

She levels Hank with a dry stare, one corner of her mouth twitching. “Gotta say, I’ve worked in combat zones, patched up SEALs, and even once pulled a bullet out of my own damn thigh. But this? This might be a first.”

Gabe exhales sharply, shaking his head, while Hank—completely unbothered—grins. “Hey, when something’s a priority, you make sure it gets handled. And I figured you’d appreciate the proactive approach.”

Doc Summers snorts, setting the tablet down and crossing her arms. “Oh, I appreciate it, alright. Hell, I almost framed the message. Damn near choked on my coffee reading, and I quote, ‘Need STAT full panel STD testing and birth control consult. Don’t ask. Just book it.’”

My face heats, but before I can sputter out a response, she waves a hand. “Relax. I’ve seen it all, heard it all, but I must admit, the sheer urgency of this particular request had me wondering—” She glances between Gabe and Hank with a mock-serious expression. “You two got some kind of medical emergency I should know about? Something contagious?”

Hank smirks. “Only insatiable levels of stamina and an aversion to rubbers coming between us and our girl.”

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