Page 80 of Undeniably Enemies

I nod, but with that thought in mind, and with him finally calming down, we get going on his line and give him some lorazepam to settle him down and also reduce his risk of seizure and lower the amphetamine-induced hypertension he has.

Finally, he closes his eyes, and his body goes slack. All of us take a deep breath.

“Miss Fritz, I need to speak to you in the next room. Now.”

She gives me a wary look but nods, not stupid enough to argue with me in here.

“Let’s get his wounds cleaned up and examined, but don’t dress them until the burn unit comes down,” I tell the team of doctors and nurses. “I want a CT of his head, and once that’s clear, we can suture him up.”

I storm out of the room and march down the hall. I don’t have to look to know Wren is following me, and when I reach an empty patient room, I march in there and slide the glass door and the curtain closed behind us.

I turn on her. “What in the absolute fuck were you thinking?”

“I was trying to calm him down!” she fires back, indignation flaring in her eyes.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous what you just did was?”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

“Not at first it didn’t, and what would you have done if he had broken through my grip and come after you?”

Her gaze drops to the floor, and I take a step toward her, my jaw locked and my hands… fuck, I’m shaking. It’s not from the patient or the adrenaline. She could have gotten hurt in there. Before I can stop myself, I cup her jaw in my hand and lift it so I can see her eyes.

“What if he had hurt you?”

“He didn’t. I’m fine.”

I shake my head, unable to form words. I got spooked. Really fucking spooked, and it hits me that I feel like I have something to lose here. Something that isn’t even mine and never will be. But something I can’t lose or see hurt all the same.

“Wren…”

Her hand covers mine on her face, and I don’t stop myself from dragging my thumb along the edge of her lips.

“I was so scared. I thought…what if I couldn’t hold him back?”

“I’m fine, Jack. I am.”

I stare into her eyes, feeling like I’m losing my mind. Losing it completely.

I clear my throat and drop my hand when what I really want to do is bring her into my arms so I know she’s safe and kiss the hell out of her so she knows she can’t disobey me again.

“Next time tell me what you’re going to do. Approaching an out-of-control patient like that is dangerous to you, him, and the rest of the staff. We communicate with each other in traumas because it’s life or death in that room, and it’s not just the patient’s safety I’m concerned about.”

She glares wordlessly.

“Do you understand me?”

She swallows audibly and slowly nods. She knows I’m right. “Yes, Dr. Kincaid. I’m sorry I didn’t communicate with you. You’re right. I put myself, the patient, and other staff at risk.”

I blow out a breath, and now I do break and pull her into me. Just for a second. Just a beat so I can hug her and smell her hair before I immediately release her and take a step back. I’m seriously fucked with this girl.

“Okay. You can go back now.”

“Can I stay and watch the burn unit?”

I nod. “Yes. But stay out of their way.”

“I will.”

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