Page 122 of Saving His Heart
Sloane
“Go, Seth. Get my sister now. It’s … It’s Loki,” I choke out. I’ve seen enough pictures I could tell his handsome face from a mile away. Even behind layers of dirt, blood, and God only knows what else, I can tell this is Preston’s missing friend.
“Fuck,” I hear Seth curse as he sprints down the hall.
I run to the bathroom and grab a bunch of towels and wet washcloths with lukewarm water. Loki felt feverish, which probably isn’t a good sign. Running back to his side, I drop it all on the bed.
With great effort, I’m able to roll him onto his back and climb onto the bed. Kneeling beside him, I use the wet clothes to wash his face. I’m looking for the source of blood as I go, but so far, find none.
Leaning over him to grab a clean towel, I’m thrown back when his hand closes forcefully around my neck. His eyes are wild as he asks, “Who sent you?”
He is crushing my airways, and I can’t make any sound.
“Who. Sent. You?”
His middle finger twitches just enough I’m able to choke out, “Preston. I’m … Preston sent me.”
His fingers relax a fraction as I read the confusion on his face.
“Loki! Jesus Christ, let her go,” I hear Preston’s voice but can’t see anyone as my vision blurs. I see the flash of my sister’s hair as she plunges a syringe into Loki’s side. I register shock before his eyes go glassy, and he falls back to the bed again.
“That is only a mild sedative. If he’s violent, it won’t last long,” Emory commands.
“I’m not violent. She’s trespassing,” Loki murmurs before his eyes close once more.
“We need to get him to the hospital now,” Emory barks again. Dr. Camden in control.
“No,” Seth interrupts. “We cannot risk taking him to a hospital. We don’t have enough information. Our intel says no one is chasing him, but I know Loki, he wouldn’t have gone through all these hoops, missed Trevor’s wedding, or Preston almost dying if he didn’t at least believe someone was after him.”
“I agree with Seth,” Ashton says, entering the room. “Emory? Can you check him out here if we get you the equipment?”
“Ash … I, he could have internal bleeding, broken bones. For all I know, he has a collapsed lung or something. He needs to be checked out properly in a hospital.”
“If we get you basic equipment, can you rule out any life-threatening injuries?” Ashton repeats.
“Seth, do you think his life could be in danger if we bring him to the hospital?” Preston asks.
“I don’t know,” he says, appearing defeated. “I just know he wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble if he didn’t have just cause. If he believes someone is after him, and it turns out there is, then yes, his life would most definitely be in jeopardy admitting him to a hospital.”
All heads turn to Emory. My poor sister, who just got her medical license back, is being asked to do something that goes against all the ethics she swore to uphold.
“I’ll do my best, but if I suspect anything I can’t handle from this bed, he goes to the hospital. That’s my deal, take it or leave it.”
I almost laugh. Emory has always tried to play hardball. If these guys knew her at all, they’d call her bluff, but the only one smiling is her husband, Preston. Good man that he is keeps his mouth shut. He knows she would tend to Loki even if they didn’t meet her demands, but I’m glad when they do.
“Okay, done,” Seth says.
“What do you need?” Ashton asks.
“We have an ECG and a portable UltraSound Machine in our closet upstairs. Let’s start with those. Sloane, we need to get him undressed and cleaned up as best we can so I can do an exam.”
Realizing she’s telling me to help is a shock. Most people think I’m an idiot, but I should have known better. My sister raised me. She knows me better than anyone.
“Got it. I started with his face, which seemed to irritate him, so be warned,” I tell her.
“The sedative will give us about twenty minutes. We’ll have to see what Ashton can get for supplies. I can already tell Loki is severely dehydrated. That’s why he’s so disoriented, but we’ll need to check for head injuries, too. Have we found where the blood is coming from?”
“My thigh,” Loki croaks, causing both Emory and I to jump back, startled.
