“Good morning.” She gives me a friendly smile. “I’m Brenda, I’ll be your nurse for the day. Susie’s shift just ended, but she filled me in before she left.” I smile back at her, wondering what exactly she got filled in on, but I don’t dare say anything. I have no idea what Declan told the nurses, or doctors or even where Trey and Wes are. I can only assume they’re close by, since I know there is no way they would leave their brother to deal with me by himself.
“I’m glad to see you’re eating. How are you feeling this morning? Susie said your fever finally broke, so the antibiotics are definitely doing their job,” she continues. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Declan shift in his chair. He looks uncomfortable, worry stricken. Brenda looks over at him and suddenly her face falls, her smile vanishing, something close to recognition flickers in her gaze and I wonder how she could possibly recognize him. Unless of course they’ve met before?
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” The words escape her lips quickly. “You must be the boyfriend who brought her in.”
“Yes, and she is feeling great this morning, to answer your question. Aren’t you, babe?” He looks over at me, and even though he is smiling, all of his perfectly straight white teeth showing, his eyes are telling me that I better agree with him, or else.
“Yes, I’m great. I really just want to go back home, you know there isn’t anything like your own bed.” I tell her, forcing a bubble of laughter out.
“Okay…the doctor will be in shortly,” she tells us before checking my vitals and unhooking me from the IV machine. “Do you need help going to the bathroom? The last thing we want is for you to slip and fall.”
“I’ll take her,” Declan interrupts before I can get the first syllable out. “She can’t pee in front of strangers.”
A nervous laugh escapes from her throat and I can’t help but wonder if this is everyone’s reaction to him. Peeking up at him I take in his rugged features once more. Dark eyes, a strong chin, and cheekbones that would make a model jealous. He looks like he was carved from stone. And I haven’t even gotten started on his body. He is so big he makes the chair he is sitting in look breakable. He’s the biggest of the brothers, and though he terrifies me, in more than one way, I feel incredibly safe with him. It’s a conundrum that I still haven’t figured out yet.
Nurse Brenda exits the room with a smile and Declan gets up from the chair and walks over to the bed. “Come on, go use the bathroom and get dressed so we can leave as soon as the doctor comes in.”
As I stand my legs are shaky, and a wave of dizziness slams into me. I grasp onto the railing of the bed and am surprised when I feel Declan’s warm hand gripping my elbow tenderly. Who knew a man like this was capable of such a soft grasp?
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Princess. We haven’t made it out of here yet. If I have to, I’ll use you as a human shield to save myself and my brothers.” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from responding to him. He’s so cruel, so callous, and dark. One minute he’s kind and caring, and the next he’s threatening to shove me into shark-infested waters. He helps me into the small bathroom off the side of the room.
I use the toilet by myself, but Declan helps me get dressed. Just as I get the T-shirt pulled into place, the doctor walks in. As Declan asked of me, I insist on being released right away. The doctor makes me sign some paperwork, which I sign with a fake name that Declan gave me. Then I’m given a bottle of antibiotics, and a smile, as the doctor tells me he hopes I feel better before he walks out, leaving us all alone.
“Time to go, Princess.” Declan puts my meds in his pocket and puts his arm around me as we walk out. His hold on me is possessive, and I cling to his side with each step we take, still not feeling at one hundred percent. His phone starts to ring as soon as we step out of the room, and I stare at him completely puzzled. When did he get a phone? In all the time I was with them, I never saw any of them using a cell phone. He looks down at the screen of the sleek device and mutters a string of curses.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, panic filling my belly.
“Ready to find out what it’s like to be used as a human shield?” My eyes go wide, and dread clings to my insides. He wouldn’t, would he? Who am I kidding, of course he would. He’s wanted me dead since the moment he laid eyes on me. A scream lodges in my throat and the need to run overwhelms me, but I don’t. That would be a stupid move, something that would surely get me killed.