Broken Bonds (Club Imperial Series) Read Free Page A

Emmy’s good hand with his good hand, and held on. He stared at her, a massive goose-egg rising on her forehead, and a small stream of blood trickling down her mouth. “Hang on, Em. The doctors will fix you up.”
    He could swear she squeezed his hand.

Chapter Two

    The doctor finished applying the last of the plaster on his cast. Nathaniel stood and the doctor directed him back to the bed. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    “My girlfriend is in the next room,” Nathaniel said.
    “No, she’s not,” he answered. “They took her up to surgery. She had an internal bleed and the broken humerus needed to be pinned.”
    “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” he snapped.
    “Because I was trying to fix your arm and I needed you here to do that.” The doctor remained utterly calm. “Don’t worry, Mr. Walsh. She’s in good hands. We’ll keep you updated on her. Meanwhile, please just stay here and wait for that plaster to cure.”
    “Can you tell me anything else about her?” He looked at the doctor and instantly lost the edge of anger he’d been carrying. “Please.”
    “I’m not supposed to unless you have a signed HIPAA slip.” The doctor lowered his voice. “But she was beaten up pretty bad. Kidney blows, cracked ribs, broken arm, crushed trachea, severe contusion and a diffuse axonal brain injury. The brain trauma doesn’t appear to be anything too serious, but they won’t know until they can do a full MRI. Right now, the internal bleed from the rib seems to be the most critical issue. While they have her under, they’ll pin the humerus and fix her throat.”
    Nathaniel shook his head, trying not to let the anger seep back in. The urge to smash Greg into the wall again led him to believe he’d failed at trying to relax. He jerked his head up. “Did they bring Cortez here?”
    “No,” the doctor answered. “The club manager demanded he go to Allegheny. We, of course, were the better choice for your girlfriend.”
    Nathaniel nodded. He had the EMTs take them to Magee-Womens. He was glad Franz had it in him to demand a different hospital. “Is there a place I can wait for updates on her? Can I get one of those HIPAA things to make sure I can hear about what’s going on?”
    “I’ll get HR to get you one.” He paused and looked up at Nathaniel. “They’re going to want to know why you deserve one.”
    “I’m her boyfriend and I’m paying the bills.”
    “They’ll like that,” the doctor agreed. He slapped the chart closed. “Now, I’d show you where you can wait, but the detective wants to talk to you.”
    “Detective?” Nathaniel swallowed hard. “Okay, I can do this.”
    “There’s also someone named Dorn here to see you,” a nurse said as she walked in. “But only when the doctor says it’s okay for them to come in.” The doctor bobbed his head in the positive.
    “Let’s get it all over with.” Nathaniel gestured with his good arm to bring everyone in.
    The nurse nodded and motioned to the group waiting just out of sight. The detective walked in, followed by Franz. Oh, Dorn. I didn’t know that was his last name. The doctor nodded pleasantly at the detective. “Detective Garabaldi, good to see you.”
    “You too, doc,” the detective said as the doctor walked out.
    Nathaniel was distracted by the nurse as she laid out a sling. “The cast will be dry in another five minutes. It’s heavy. Use the sling. Once it’s dry, you can go to the surgical unit and tell them who you are there to see.” She looked at the chart. “I’ll have the forms sent up for you to sign.”
    “Thank you.” Nathaniel pulled the strap of the sling over his head. 
    The nurse walked out between two cops and two security guards. Security guards? He was confused for a moment, and then realized Franklin and Victor had probably assigned them to him. He motioned for them to come into the room and they stepped in. One of them was a rather tall, trim woman who seemed to compliment her rather