The nurse walked in quickly. “Can I help?”
She was an older woman with kind eyes that invited you to trust her.
Wolfe wouldn’t be falling for that.
“She’s in pain.”
The nurse looked at her watch. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Pierce, you’re not due for any more painkillers for another hour.” If she thought it odd that he was watching over her rather than her supposed husband, she didn’t say anything.
Smart woman.
“That’s unacceptable,” Wolfe told her, crossing his arms over his chest.
Bravely, or foolishly, she met his gaze. “I’m sorry, sir. But I can’t give her anything more until then.”
“She’s in pain.”
“Is your arm hurting?” she asked Genevieve.
He slid between them, the urge to protect her too strong to ignore.
“Her head is hurting,” he said before Genevieve could speak.
“Wolfe, just leave it. I’m fine.”
“Hush, Genevieve. I’m handling this.”
She sighed. Loudly.
“Perhaps I can get something else for her,” the woman said, staring at Wolfe. “But it would help if I could actually talk to her.”
He frowned. Why was he acting like this? For some reason, he didn’t want the woman talking to Genevieve. He wasn’t sure exactly why.
“Wolfe,” Genevieve said more firmly. “Let me talk to the nurse.”
Wolfe grunted but he stepped to the side. Slightly. Why did the thought of someone else hurting her make him feel so ill? He could hurt her but nobody else could? What the fuck?
If he’d been Aleki, he’d never have let her leave. No matter what he had to do to keep her.
Fuck. Stop.
He was watching over her for his brothers. That was all. They weren’t here. He was. He was in charge.
Sometimes, leaving him on his own wasn’t a good idea.
“Where does it hurt, dear?” the nurse asked. She seemed kind and caring. But it could still be an act. So Wolfe remained close. On alert.
“Just around my temples. I’m fine. It’s just a stress headache. I get them sometimes.”
What the fuck. How much stress had she been under?
“I tend to grind my teeth in my sleep,” she was telling the nurse. “And clench my jaw when I’m worried.”
“Do you usually have a guard?” the nurse asked.
“No,” she said quietly.
He wondered why not. He also wondered if a pacifier would have a similar effect? Maybe not, but it would be cute to see her curled up with that stuffed pig she’d been holding when they found her, a pacifier in her mouth. Maybe dressed in a cute little outfit.