“Most likely holding a gun on you,” Raine said in a flirty, teasing voice Vienna rarely heard her use.
Vienna took another look at Briac. Irish. In his late thirties. Early forties. No ring on his finger. Very attractive with thick, dark hair that had a bit of a reddish tint to it when the light hit it. He was a doctor, so intelligent, which Raine needed to keep up with her super-smarts. He also looked as if he was the athletic type, which would be good because Raine was all about the outdoors on her days off.
Vienna looked at Zahra and mouthed, “Hot.”
Zale leaned out of the doorway and bit her neck. “I saw that,” he hissed.
“Well, he is.” She wasn’t in the least repentant. “For Raine. He’s looking at Raine and she’s looking back.”
“He can stop looking at Raine. She’s ours, not theirs.” Zale was decisive.
Vienna narrowed her gaze as she looked at him over her shoulder. “What does that mean? Supposedly she’s an independent contractor, but she works exclusively for the military. That would make her theirs.”
“Nope. She’s your best friend. She belongs to Sam. Sam’s with us. That makes her ours. They don’t get to claim her.”
“You’re being totally serious.” Vienna could tell he was.
Zale scowled at the doctor and his companion as Rainier limped toward them. Evidently, Rainier decided that he would be treated in Shabina’s bedroom. It made sense as both men had slept there the night before. Like Zale, he was eyeing the doctor and Gage Barrington as if they were enemies and needed watching at all times. Vienna decided she would never understand men in a million years. They’d regarded Raine with suspicion, and now they were acting as if she were a national treasure they had to guard.
Zale stepped back farther into the room and indicated for Vienna to follow him. “Come inside, Vienna.”
She frowned at him. “They don’t need me.”
“You’re a nurse.” He reached out and caught her wrist before she could elude him and drew her into the bedroom.
Shabina had always kept her home immaculate. The room she stayed in was no exception. There was no evidence that either man had stayed the night there. In fact, the room held a faint fragrance that was definitely all Shabina.
“I need you to be visible.” Zale’s voice was low. “Stay close to Rainier but out of my line of a shot at Barrington. And stay out of reach of Barrington.”
He stepped away from her and then disappeared. Vanished. Like a ghost. Vienna blinked. How the hell was she supposed to stay out of his line of a shot at Barrington if she didn’t even know where he went? It was too late to ask the question because Rainier had stalked into the room. Even with his limp, the man managed to stalk and look menacing.
“Vienna, good. Come to the side of the bed.” He went straight to the bed as if he and Zale had mapped out a plan beforehand. It had been impossible. How could they have known Harlow and Vienna would insist on a doctor looking at Rainier’s wound?
Rainier slid down his pants, and she realized he was wearing soft drawstring sweats. She had known, of course, but it hadn’t really registered with her. She was so used to him being so impeccably dressed. He stretched out on the bed, facedown, sliding his hand under the pillow as he rested his head on it. It seemed a natural gesture to put his hand there, but she knew, now, there was a weapon stashed under the pillow.
So, the two men had known all along that the two nurses would insist on Rainier being seen by a doctor, and they’d prepared in advance. She didn’t make the mistake of scowling toward shadows or closets, but she wanted to.
This is what I’d have to live with.Zale always being one step ahead.
She felt a faint stroke, like a caress along her nerve endings, but she didn’t find it soothing in the least. She found it annoying, mostly because, in spite of everything, her body reacted to his touch. He would be hell to live with.
Gage followed Briac into the bedroom, shutting the door behind them. The bedroom was actually quite spacious, but the moment the door was closed, Vienna felt as if the space were very small. The doctor came straight to the side of the bed and put his medical bag on the end table.
“I’m Vienna.” She thought it best to introduce herself. “I’m a surgical nurse and thought in case you needed anything, I could assist you.”
She glanced at his companion. He hadn’t approached the bed or patient. He walked around it, but kept his distance. She could see that he had noted Rainier’s hand under the pillow and he had assessed her.
“Do you have any weapons on you?” Gage asked her abruptly.
“No.”
“You aren’t needed. I can assist him if he needs help,” Gage said.
“There’s no need to be rude to her,” Rainier said very, very softly. “She stays. You talk to her like that again and you’re the one who leaves the room.”
“Briac doesn’t have to help you,” Gage said.
Briac glanced at what clearly was his personal protector. “Leave it alone. We’re on the same side, remember? Vienna, would you cut away the bandage, please?”
She took the scissors and did as the doctor asked, ignoring the man pacing behind her. She decided everyone in their business had to be a little paranoid.
“Have you known Raine long?” Briac asked.
“Several years. The six of us live in a small town, and all of us like the same things. Well, Stella lives about an hour from us, but essentially, we all live close. We like climbing, hiking, skiing, dancing, that sort of thing.”
“Stella is the one getting married,” Briac qualified.
“Yes. Did Raine tell you that?”
“When she reported there was an accident, she said she was here in Vegas for a bridal shower. I believe it was mentioned that Stella was the bride.” Briac studied the wound. “Who initially cleaned this?”
“I believe Rainier did. He’s a doctor.”