Page 737 of Filthy Elites

Grant sighed and plugged a small device into the phone jack. A minute later, he tossed the phone onto the floor next to Graham and walked over to Adrian.

“Police! Open up.”

* * *

Adrian hadtwo pillows propping him up, and he was still uncomfortable. He was favoring his left side because of the big hole in his back, but the twisted angle his body was in was pulling at the stitches on his shoulder. Never in a million years did Adrian ever think he would be shot.

The painkillers they gave him were wearing off and he couldn’t find a position that didn’t hurt. Hospital beds sucked. Paper-thin gowns that exposed his entire back sucked and so did not being able to hold his girl.

While he was getting sewn up and treated for a gunshot wound, she was being interviewed by the local police and several federal agencies. Dominic’s guy, Grant, had promised to stay with her the entire time. He hoped the man kept his word.

Tons of people, except for the one he needed to see, had been in and out of his hospital room for the last several hours. He had been stuck with more needles than he cared to think about, run through a battery of tests and examined by doctors, nurses and even a couple of interns. Adrian had reached his limit.

He was pissed that he was being forced to stay in the hospital overnight. Apparently, the doctors were a little concerned with the amount of blood he lost before getting medical treatment.

Adrian had forcefully refused to allow the hospital staff to call his parents. They would have caused him even more stress than he was currently experiencing. The nurse was not happy about it until he signed a form allowing Kelsey to access his medical files and make any decisions for him if he was not able to do so.

A lot of time had passed, and his girl had still not made an appearance. He needed to go find out if she was okay. After the bravery she demonstrated returning to the animal shelter for him knowing that she could be hurt or killed, he needed to wrap her up in his arms and not let go.

He searched around the room but didn’t see his clothes or phone. Kelsey must still have it with her, and he heard a nurse say that the police had collected his blood-soaked clothes as evidence. He was stuck in the butt-revealing gown.

Swinging his legs over the side, he paused to allow for the dizziness to pass. Sudden movements did a job on his balance. Adrian reached a hand down to the bed to steady himself. He might be in worse shape than he had originally thought.

Adrian slid from the bed, landing on the freezing tile in his bare feet. His knees immediately buckled, and he began to crumple to the floor.

“What the hell, man?” Xander’s arms came around him and Adrian found himself hoisted onto the bed.

“I need to find Kelsey.”

“You almost took a header into the floor. You’re not going anywhere. Stay there and we’ll find her.” Xander crossed his arms over his chest in challenge.

Cade, Alec, and Ian were all crowded into his room.

Alec leaned against the wall. “I can’t believe that asshole shot you. How ya feel?”

Adrian shrugged. He wanted to find Kelsey.

Cade moved forward. “Did you see Hunter’s pass? Knocked the fucker out with his throw. Hands down that would have been a touchdown pass. The feds didn’t believe that was how we took him down.”

Xander grinned. “You should have seen Ian jump out from the closet and tackle that douche to the floor. He didn’t see it coming.”

Adrian had to admit, he was sorry he missed it. He would have liked to see Greg’s smug face when he was brought down. “I’m sorry I missed it.” He glanced at the football players who had become his friends. “Thanks, guys. I don’t know how I could possibly thank you. You save both our lives.”

Cade put his hand out for Adrian to clasp. “That’s what friends are for dude. You’re one of our boys. We take care of our own.”

One by one they put their fists out for Adrian to bump.

Xander glanced at the doorway and then back to Adrian. “We’re going to head out. We’ll stop by tomorrow with some decent food. The crap they try to feed you here is disgusting.”

Adrian gave him a chin lift. “Thanks.”

He hadn’t watched them leave, so he missed who was waiting to enter the room.

“Hey.” Kelsey called out in a small voice. She was exhausted, drained, and still shaking. She knew she was running on adrenaline, and she was going to crash soon, but she had to see Adrian.

When she returned to the animal shelter and saw him on the floor with a blood-soaked towel, she thought she was going to lose him. She had never been more terrified in her life, and she hoped she never would be again. Seeing him vulnerable like that made her want to tear Graham and Greg apart. Kelsey had never been a violent person, but those two made her want to do harm.

Adrian’s head whipped toward the doorway, and he smiled in relief. “I was so worried about you.”

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