Page 46 of Mercy

Relief washes over me as my father, Fenrir, and Aesir pile out, their faces etched with concern.

"What happened, son?" Runes asks, his eyes darting between me and Meghan.

I shake my head, frustration evident in my voice. "I don't know, but she needs a hospital. Now."

Runes nods, his face grim. "All right, I'll drive you two to the hospital. Fenrir, take Tor's bike. Aesir, get Meghan's car back to the club."

I scoop Meghan into my arms, cradling her against my chest.

She feels so small, so fragile, and my heart clenches.

As I carry her to Dad's truck, I can feel her trembling.

"It's okay, Meg," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I've got you."

The drive to the hospital is tense, filled with worried glances.

I keep Meghan close, my fingers gently stroking her hair, willing her to stay awake.

As soon as we arrive, everything becomes a blur of motion.

Meghan's whisked away on a gurney, and I'm right there beside her, refusing to let go of her hand.

A doctor approaches, trying to assess the situation.

"What happened here?" he asks, eyes darting between us.

Meghan's voice is weak as she answers, "I lost consciousness."

Before she can say more, I cut in, "Looks like a carjacking. Found her on the ground by her car."

Meghan's eyes meet mine for a split second, a flicker of... something passing between us.

But she remains silent, and I press on.

"Doc, she was in a coma a couple months back. Head injury. We want to make sure everything's okay."

The doctor's eyebrows raise, and he nods gravely. "I see. Well, Ms..."

"Whittaker," I supply. "Meghan Whittaker."

"Ms. Whittaker, we'll need to run some tests to ensure there's no serious damage. Given your history, it's crucial we're thorough."

As the doctor speaks, I can't help but notice how Meghan's grip on my hand tightens.

I glance down at her, seeing the fear she's trying so hard to hide.

My chest aches, and I silently vow to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

No matter what happens, I'm not letting her out of my sight again.

The doctor's face softens as he looks at me, his eyes filled with approval. "You did the right thing bringing her in immediately. With her history, we can't be too careful."

I nod, feeling a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. "So, what's next?"

"We'll order a head CT and some routine bloodwork," he explains, jotting notes on his clipboard. "Then we'll go from there. It's standard procedure, but essential given the circumstances."

Meghan's fingers tighten around mine, and I give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

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