Page 82 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“Ouch! That fucking hurts!” I blustered as a nurse poked and prodded at my fractured nose. Not even the pain of my injuries could hold my attention.

The emergency room in the small county hospital was a mess of people. Our security team had all been wounded by Damon or his son Derrick. One of them didn’t make it as his throat had been slashed and he’d bled out on the scene. I added his name to the long list of people Damon and Derrick had harmed irrefutably.

Buddy, I since learned his name, thankfully had been wearing a bulletproof vest protecting him from Damon’s shot to the back. The conk he’d received to his skull when Derrick knocked him out to get to me, was also going to heal fine. He acted like none of it had even happened, his big body a veritable wall between me and anyone else that got close.

Buddy stood next to me, my shadow, gaze scanning the room, big arms crossed over one another looking like one mean motherfucker. I suspected his ego had been bruised along with his head from where he’d been taken by surprise by Derrick.

He hadn’t left me since the deputies demanded Rhodes be taken in to the station for questioning, while me, my mother, Buddy, and my siblings, along with the two other guards thatsurvived were taken to the hospital. Derrick was pronounced dead on the scene.

The memory of hearing that news on the ride over gave me a modicum of peace.

One down, one to go.

A doctor approached, my siblings trailing behind her. The relief I felt at seeing them alive and unharmed was like a physical blow to the chest. I covered my heart and rubbed at the dull ache. Last I’d heard, they’d followed Mom’s ambulance with one of the neighboring town’s police detectives.

“Maia!” Zach hollered as they caught sight of me. He raced to my side, Maisie following at a quick clip behind him. “Are you okay?” His eyes were wild and scared as he looked me over.

“I’m fine, Zach. What about Mom?” I asked, gesturing to the doctor.

“She’s in surgery. When the bullet entered her, it obliterated her gallbladder and created some damage and internal bleeding. We’ll know more in a couple hours when the surgeon can give us an update. Once the doctor is done patching you up, you’re welcome to sit in the surgical waiting room.”

“Thank you,” I whispered as Maisie came up to my side, reached out and took my hand.

“Are you going to be okay, Maia?”

“I’m okay, sis. We’ll stick together and wait for the results of Mom’s surgery.” And between now and then, I hoped like hell Rhodes would be released by the authorities.

“What if she dies?” she croaked, tears shimmering in her pretty eyes.

“Let’s not think like that right now. We’re going to be as positive as we can.” I squeezed her hand, and she nodded.

Buddy’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket and answered with a clipped, “Go for Buddy.”

“What about Dad?” Zach sneered.

“And Rhodes? Why did they arrest him?” Maisie asked.

I shook my head, and the nurse who was treating me groaned before handing me an ice pack and a tiny paper cup with two pills inside. “Keep icing on and off for the next two days. Here’s 800 milligrams of Ibuprofen. Take for swelling and pain. Follow up with your normal doctor when you get back to California. And try to rest. Be careful when touching it. If you get uncontrollable nosebleeds or excruciating pain, contact your provider immediately. Understand?” she snapped, clearly done with my lack of care for my own wellbeing.

“Yes, thank you.” I popped the pills and took the water cup she handed me before I pressed the ice to my face. Pain bloomed across my cheek and nose, but I gritted my teeth and slipped off the bed. My entire body felt like it had been hit by a truck, and that truck had backed up and run over me a second time. Buddy settled me with an elbow for me to hold even as he spoke to whomever called.

“This is good news. We’ll see you soon, sir,” he clipped and then stowed his phone into his pocket. “Mr. Davenport is on his way. He says he has a lot to update you on, but they’ve released him and are dealing with his lawyers now.”

I closed my eyes and slumped toward Buddy. “Thank you. Why didn’t he call me?” I asked.

“He did, multiple times, but I don’t see your bag here. I believe it’s still in the SUV.”

I nodded, relieved that Rhodes would be here soon.

“Come on, guys. Let’s go wait for Mom to get out of surgery.” I let Buddy go and wrapped both of my arms around my siblings’ shoulders, letting them help me hobble toward the surgical ward.

Rhodes arrived not thirty minutes later, a flurry of activity as he rushed through the double doors, a wild energy surrounding him like a tornado.

“Maia!” He gasped, his head falling forward at the sight of me. His large frame bent over, hands going to his knees bracing himself. It was as though he’d just completed running a marathon and needed to catch his breath.

When I got to him, he stood straight and pulled me into his arms, one hand cradling my head against his heart. “I was so fucking scared. I can’t lose you, Maia. I just can’t.”

I sobbed against his chest, tugging at his shirt. “You won’t. I’m here. I’m right here.”

---