Page 15 of Bossy Baby

“It does,” Hayley said in a small voice.

“I know, sweetie.” Mac kissed the top of his head. “But you’re being so good. So brave. Sammy is going to help you.” Or the nurse would face Mac’s wrath.

“I’ll hurry,” Sammy jogged off as Mac turned toward the room they’d been directed to.

He walked inside the small room, surpassing a shudder. Mac hated hospitals. He’d killed many men inside them. It was so easy to get in and out. There were a lot of ways to make a death appear natural or a result of why the person had been admitted in the first place.

Hospitals just weren’t safe.

His boy would be safe, though. Mac would make certain of it.

Mac set Hayley down on the bed. Running his palm down Hayley’s cheek, he wiped away the dirt and tears. “Won’t be much longer and we’ll get some good drugs in you.”

Hayley nodded.

“We need to get a gown on,” Sammy said as he entered the room.

Mac took the gown from him. “I’ll do it.” No one else would be touching his boy.

“He can keep the pants on, but the shirt has to go. We’re going to have to get X-rays.”

“X-rays?” Hayley asked.

“They have to look at the X-ray to check on the break. That’ll tell them if your arm can be set with a cast or if you need surgery,” Mac explained.

Both Hayley and Sammy stared at him.

Shit, he probably shouldn’t know that. But Mac was good at his job. Sometimes before killing a mark, he needed answers. Knowing what bones to break and how was important. “I watch a lot of medical dramas on television,” he tried to explain away.

“Uh-huh,” Sammy didn’t sound convinced.

Hayley was fading fast, no energy left.

“Scissors? I want to cut his shirt off. It’ll hurt less.” It took time and a lot of maneuvering before he was able to get the shirt off and gown on. He helped Hayley lie down on the bed before pulling up the blanket.

“I need to get an IV started,” Sammy said.

Hayley took one look at the needle and paled.

“Look at me,” Mac ordered. He turned Hayley’s face so the boy didn’t have a choice.

Hayley blinked watery eyes.

“You pay attention to me. You don’t worry about what Sammy is doing.”

Hayley nodded. “S…sorry I messed up our date.”

Mac pulled the chair against the wall closer to the bed. He sat before he threaded his fingers in Hayley’s hair. “You didn’t mess up anything. This is just a small detour.”

Hayley’s lips trembled. “I’m not usually this much trouble. I promise.”

“Baby.” Mac leaned closer. Sammy could hear every word they said, but all that mattered was reassuring his boy. “You aren’t any trouble. This was just an accident. That’s all.”

“I feel so stupid.”

“Not stupid,” Mac barked. “And I don’t want to hear another word like that.”

Hayley flinched which probably meant that Sammy had the needle in.

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