That Day - Karen Deen (large ebook reader .TXT) 📗

to make me feel better. I can see that humor runs in the family. “Now we are going to load you up on the stretcher and get you into the ambulance. Is there anything you want Kurt to grab for you?”

I can’t think clearly. I don’t even know what I need.

“My phone maybe. I don’t know. What else do I need?”

Patting my hand, Kurt smiles at me. “Just me.”

Jodie groans next to us. “Please don’t make me throw up. After you feel better, Asha, you can explain to me what you see in this hopeless case here.” Pointing her thumb at him, she starts to pack up her equipment, and I can hear the noise of the stretcher coming into the house. I hadn’t realized but Coco is on the floor behind me, keeping watch over everything. She barks at the sight of the ambulance stretcher.

Kurt reaches out with his other hand to pat her and give her some reassurance that I’m alright. “It’s okay, girl, they’re helping your mom.”

“Coco. Kurt, who will look after her? She needs food.” I suddenly remember what I was doing before all this.

“Shh.” His finger touches my lip. “I will figure it out. Just rest and listen to Jodie.”

I can see how torn he is about letting go of my hand. The moment his touch leaves my fingers, I can hear movement and noise. Kurt talking to Coco while placing her food down in her bowl. Then he’s gone, looking for my phone, and I can hear him closing windows and locking them. And as soon as he’s back in the kitchen, I hear him ordering Davina and Scott outside so he can talk to them.

I just look at Jodie, hoping like hell she gets me on the stretcher and outside as quickly as possible. I need to make sure he doesn’t say or do something stupid that makes them send me away.

“I don’t know what is going on between you two, but whatever it is, keep going. I have never seen that side of Kurt come out before, unless it was to protect me.” Jodie gives a little chuckle as she and her partner roll and lift me onto the stretcher. It all feels like too much. My head is killing me, and the nausea is still hanging on. I can’t handle much more.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I manage to get out as Jodie shoves a vomit bag in front of me.

I try with every bit of energy I have to hold the contents of my stomach down, which isn’t much since I haven’t eaten.

Closing my eyes as we leave the house, I can hear Kurt’s voice, a stern mumble, but not loud enough that I can make out any words clearly.

“Just relax, Asha. It’s okay, you’ll just feel a small prick. I need to get an IV into you and start some fluids.” By this stage, I couldn’t care what she’s doing. I just want to sleep again.

Drifting off, I hear the back doors of the ambulance close, which startles me a little, panicking that Kurt isn’t here. My eyes open wide only to see him settling into the seat near me, his hand reaching out for mine again.

Just like he always does. The fear calms, and I drift off again.

I feel safe.

I don’t know why, but I do.

KURT

“Did anyone go into the house, were you even watching?” I’m so close to Scott’s face, it wouldn’t take much to headbutt him.

“Back off,” he growls at me as I feel Davina tugging on my arm.

“Kurt. Stop it. If anyone sees us, you will give this away. Calm the fuck down.”

My eyes don’t leave him as I pull back slightly. I don’t have to say the words, but he knows I want to beat the shit out of him.

“You’re overreacting,” Scott hisses. “She just passed out. How would I even know from where I was watching her? So stop being all wild on me, riding in here in your big cowboy truck thinking you’re the hero. Just remember whose client she is!” Scott’s voice is low but full of aggression.

“That’s right, dickhead, she’s your client, but she’s my girlfriend. Just like I told Davina, I will protect her.”

“And how well did that go for you today, macho man?” My hand clenches and draws back.

“Stop it, both of you. Or I’ll ship her to the back of no-man’s land, and neither of you will see her again. I call the shots here, not either of you. Do I make myself clear?”

The noise of the gurney coming out the back door has me turning and walking away from them.

“Kurt,” Davina calls me, frustrated that I’m walking away from her.

Giving her the bird, I walk to the back door. Taking the keys off the counter and patting Coco and then locking her in for the night, I don’t even look back at the two of them standing in the shadows.

Davina can think she calls the shots all she likes, but I’ve got news for her. Asha is mine to protect, mine to look after, and that’s what I intend to do from now on.

Fuck the agency.

I’m in agony, pacing the waiting room in the ER while the doctors assess her. I want to be in there, but the doctors insisted she be on her own. Probably because I looked amped up and Asha is lying there with a gash on her head. Jodie lectured me to calm down before she headed out on another call and told me to trust the doctors.

Davina is sitting down to take weight off her leg, which must be throbbing by now. I know the more she walks around, the more she is jeopardizing her recovery time. But she is the least of my problems.

Scott is leaning against the wall in the corner. Just staring at me with a look that is full of hatred and loathing. There are unspoken words between us, ones that Davina doesn’t