The harried looking woman behind the desk barely looked up from the paperwork she was sorting. “Have a seat. The doctor will come out and see you when he has news.”
“She’s my fiancé. I want to go into the back with her.”
She did glance up then, eyes narrowed in aggravation. “Have...a...seat.”
Sean took a deep, open-mouth breath to gain control. “Can you have someone let her know I’m here?”
The woman rolled her eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson.” He should have had on his uniform. Maybe then he’d get some respect.
She scribbled something on a stickey notepad. “Got it. Now, please, have a seat.”
Sean forced himself away from the window and went and leaned against a wall facing the double doors from which the doctor would exit. His position also allowed him to see the Emergency Room entrance. Despite his relaxed pose, the scowl on his face and angry vibe had a nearby elderly couple relocating to a different area. Others kept giving him wary looks.
Thirty minutes later, Von’s grandmother and some other relatives he recognized from photos Von had sent over the years arrived. The lady at the desk gave them the same routine. “Have a seat and someone will be with you shortly.”
They sat without argument. Sean considered going over and introducing himself but stayed where he was. He didn’t know them, was unsure if they knew about his relationship with Von, and frankly, he wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation.
He still didn’t know what the hell happened, or who the crazy bastard was that had attacked his woman. The only thing that mattered was Von. He needed to see for himself that she was okay. That he hadn’t lost her when he’d just gotten her.
More time passed. Sean straightened abruptly when Derrick came rushing into the ER. When he turned from the desk, Sean was there, in his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Derrick reared back, his expression going from shock to annoyance. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I received a phone call that my father had been transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.”
Images flashed before Sean’s eyes and in a blink, he had Derrick jacked up against the nearest wall. “You son of a bitch! Tell me your daddy had nothing to do with Von being here!”
“Sir! You can’t do that in here. Security!”
Derrick struggled uselessly, then seemed to freeze as Sean’s words sank in. Sean shook him again. “Tell me!”
“Von?” Derrick asked hoarsely, the color leeching from his face.
“Is that why you came to her apartment, to help your father finish what you’d started? You sorry son of a bitch. Despite all that talk, you turned out to be just like your old man after all,” he said in disgust.
Derrick shook his head rapidly, his mouth open on a silent no.
The sound of running feet reached his ears. He released Derrick before the urge to pound him into the floor overwhelmed him. He couldn’t afford to get kicked out of the hospital. Not yet. Not until he knew how she was doing.
By the time Security rounded the corner, there were several feet of distance between the two men. “What’s the problem?”
“No problem, Officer,” Sean told him, still glaring at Derrick.
“Then move along.”
Sean backed slowly away, before pivoting on his feet and walking to his former spot on the wall. As he retreated, he could hear Derrick asking the woman at the desk for Von’s status. He paused long enough to hear her say they hadn’t been given one.
It was hours before they received word. A doctor still in surgical gear came out asking for the family of Von Washington. Sean moved forward with the rest, but lingered near the rear.
“Are you the family?”
“Yes,” the grandmother answered.
“She’s in recovery. We couldn’t get her blood pressure stabilized. There was internal bleeding and we had to open her up to find the source. Her condition’s critical, but stable. She’s going to be in a lot of pain and heavily medicated for a while.”
“Can I see her?” the grandmother asked.
“When she’s out of recovery, we’ll send someone to let you know. Could be awhile. You might want to wait and come back in the morning. Until we’re sure there are no further complications, we’re restricting access to family, and only one or two at a time. I won’t lie to you. Von took one hell of a beating, but she’s young, healthy and strong. I expect her to make a full recovery. Von’s a friend. Everyone here loves her. I’d like to get my hands on the man that did this to her. I hope they got the bastard,” he said with venom.
“They did. Thank you, doctor.”
“You’re welcome.” His gazed raked over all of them, taking note of Sean standing close but not too near, before turning and going back through the doors.
Von’s grandmother turned to the other lady and said, “Thank God she’s all right. Now if they’ll just let Ketta go.”
“I sent the boys down to get her out, Momma. She hasn’t been charged. They’re just questioning her. The police aren’t stupid. They’ve seen Von. Seen what that guy did to her. They’ll let her go.”
“I hope so.” The grandmother clearly wasn’t as optimistic.
Sean turned and bumped into Derrick, who immediately held his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I wanted to see how she was. I swear I had no idea. I know you don’t believe me, but I love Von. The last thing I’d want is to see her hurt.”
He stepped around Derrick without saying a word and left the hospital. It bit that they were only allowing family members to see her, and without Marketta there to vouch for him, Derrick had a better chance of getting to Von than he did since her family knew him. He’d come back in the morning, and while he was at it, check on the cousin as well. He owed her a debt of gratitude that could never be repaid.
In the meantime, he had some phone calls to make. No one fucked with his woman and got away with it. No one.
Chapter Fourteen
Von came to slowly.
“That’s right, Sunshine. Open those beautiful eyes for me.”
The eyes in question felt like they had weights on them. Von managed to pry them open only to instantly lower her eyelids to shield them from the harsh, bright light.
“How do you feel?”
“Cold.” Her answer was punctuated with a shiver. A warm weight settled on her body and toasty socks were placed on her feet.”
“You feel any pain?”
Now that it was brought to her attention, Von realized her body ached all over, but the worst was her abdomen and face. “Yes.”
“The anesthesia’s wearing off. We’ll give you something to take care of it. The good stuff,” the voice said with a feminine chuckle. “Now take some deep breaths for me.”
Von tried. “It hurts.”
“I know, but it’s important. Now again. That’s good. Again. Uh-huh. Once more. Excellent.”
“Gloria?”
“Yes, hon?”
“What happened?”
“You were brought in with a bleeder. Dr. Kandt had to go hunting. Thank God he found it before it could do too much damage. You’re going to be out of commission for a while.”
While Von’s fuzzy mind absorbed her words, Gloria leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We all are. Rest now while we prepare your room.”
Warmed with a numbing sensation sweeping through her body, Von lost the struggle to stay awake and retreated back into the darkness.
Some time later Von drifted. There were voices, the sensation of movement. In some portion of her mind, Von was aware of being transported to her room. Machines beeped, there was a slight tug in the I.V. line as the bag was hung, the bed was positioned, lights lowered. Last she heard her grandmother and aunt whispering over her before they, too, disappeared.