Page 46 of Breaking the Rules (Roaming Devils MC 1)

“I really think your father means well. He’s on the right side of the law. It’s a different world than the one we’re in.”

Ella stayed at the hospital for the majority of the night. She was supposed to return to work, but her boss told her to take another day off. Ryker had been in surgery for a long time and she knew it took a while to repair damage, but it still didn’t do anything to ease her nerves.

Her father left to get breakfast and brought her something back. He didn’t say anything as he set it in the chair next to her and walked away. Ella wanted to make up with him, but she couldn’t. Not right then. She ate the food he gave her, ignoring the looks from her mother.

She was hungry and tired. Worried and sick. She really shouldn’t have been in the waiting room since she had strep, but the antibiotic should have helped her. She’d taken the damn shot and it was supposed to be quicker, but she didn’t really think so.

“Dr. Hawkins?”

Ella looked up at one of her co-workers. She set her food aside and stood, waiting for the results of the surgery. Each heartbeat filled her ears, and it seemed like minutes passed before the woman spoke again.

“He came through surgery fine. We’ve got him in recovery but he’s going to be sore for a while.” She stared at her. “I don’t know who he is to you, but you saved his life.”

Ella nodded. “Thank you.”

“You look horrible. Go get some sleep.”

Ella smiled as she followed the woman out of the waiting room. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be in the recovery area, but it didn’t really matter much to her. She went through the double doors, heading to the back room to find Ryker.

“Are you next of kin?” a nurse asked her.

“I’m a doctor.”

“Oh.” She glanced over at the lady at the nurses’ station.

“Let her go.”

Ella sidestepped the nurse, grabbing a mask, and went back to where Ryker lay. The very thought of losing him brought tears to her eyes. She never thought she’d be an emotional sap toward a man in her life.

“You stupid, stupid man.” Ella squirted hand sanitizer in her palm and rubbed her hands together before walking over to him. She ran her hand along his bare chest, feeling his strong and steady heartbeat. “I love you so much it hurts.”

He groaned. “Am I in heaven?”

She smiled through her tears. “Not even close.”

“There’s no way my Ella is in hell.”

She chuckled and leaned in to press her forehead against his. “Without you I am.”

He opened his eyes and cringed. “So you saved me?”

“I did, you big dummy.”

He closed his eyes, smiling. “I knew you would.”

She stared at him. That was part of his plan all along. Take the focus off her and put it on him because he knew she could save him. He really was a fucking bastard. Ella stayed with him until they moved him from recovery. He was stable, so they put him in a room where he could rest.

“We both need some sleep,” Ella told his guests. “Please go home and come back this afternoon.”

Most of them left. Ella spotted her father and mother standing off to the side, silently supporting her even though they’d had an argument. She didn’t know what to say to them. It was bad enough that she’d had an outburst.

“Do you need anything?” Her father came up to her.

“No.”

He brushed his hands along her shoulders before pulling her in for a hug. “Call me if you do.”

She didn’t say anything as her parents left. She didn’t want to deal with that problem at the moment. She closed the door and pulled the curtains so the room was mostly dark.

---