Page 31 of Ellie 3

“The word we’re getting from boots on the ground is this is four or five times worse than the earthquake,” one told me. “And they don’t have any sort of response close to what Asia did. South America is so busy trying to downplay it like they didn’t let something so stupid like this happen over an old mine—”

“They’re not being of much use, and their own people are playing games under the guise of helping,” I muttered, gesturing to the magics who were hanging out like they wanted trophies for what they did.

Yeah, they deserved them… But not fromus. Their government should give them. I was disgusted how they were behaving and—all of it.

“What do you need differently than last time?” I asked him.

He seemed to hesitate but then sighed. “More of our soldiers are going into danger. We’ll need blood. The president might not ask for it, but—you know how rough things get for us in a crisis. Is there any chance you can spare extra of the good stuff?”

I did some quick calculations and a flash of the last reports I had. “For sure I can get you at least three hundred pints of blood with additives. Beyond that, it might be only regular blood. I’d have to check.”

“Okay, then additives for only our people who get injured. I would suggest getting something set up because it won’t takelong before some will need to refuel.” He sighed when I frowned. “Getting into the sinkhole to retrieve people is bad. It’s deep. This was—idiots. Serious idiots to have built over that mine.”

Fair enough. I made it happen, having a few of my admins work with his soldiers who were in charge of managing it all so someone didn’t slip into the chaos and walk off with free blood.

Then I was actually needed to jump in as a doctor because so many were coming in faster than our off duty people could get here on a Saturday. Or extra help to us.

I was relieved when about a dozen emergency and trauma doctors from New York arrived. A few were attendings—even better—but would be lost at ASH. I had them help the military and set up in extra medical tents outside to triage as best as they could.

Then another group of seven showed up from LA. Five from Chicago with the promise more were coming. Ten from Dallas.

Fabulous. Fucking fantastic.

But it was also summer in Atlanta and that was part of my yelling at the warlock. It was too hot already.

Relief filled me when I saw some of Ha-joon’s family working with others to set up tents and shelter from the sun on the grassy area along the parking lot. I talked to one of the president’s aides and he promised me water and more was already on their way. Clothes for kids and people to change into and—everything.

Amazing. And ASH didn’t have to pay for it all.

It sounded selfish or cheap, but we were giving enough already. It wasn’t like we were going to be collecting from another country’s insurance for all of the medical fees.

Apparently, one of the more sexist aides to the South American President was tired of being told no or I wouldn’t just do whatever they wanted… So, he came for the source. I sensed the pissed-off vampire before he reached me. I gave him a boredlook as he stormed down on me which only incited him even more.

Fuck. Him.

He extended his arm like he was going to grab me and pull me to the conversation he’d been having.

But I wasn’t having any of that.

I used the clipboard I had been reviewing to smack his hand away and then slammed it into his throat. “Maybe that will make you swallow down whatever bile was about to come out of your mouth now, you ungrateful piece of shit. We don’t owe you anything, and we’re not a United Nations funded hospital no matter what your president tries to pretend.”

Just to be a bitch, I tapped his head a few times with the clipboard while he was healing from the shot to his throat.

“Did that clear things up or do I need to smack more sense into you? Because I’m more than willing to.”

“You will be arrested for this,” he coughed.

I snorted, smirking when rage filled his eyes. “Everyone here saw you get physical first. Just because I’m better than you and was ready for it doesn’t change that. How about I haveyouarrested for assaulting a citizen here when you’re a guest?” I glanced past him. “Who am I talking to with a brain besides this one?”

Some idiots just never learned because he reached for me again. I let him touch my shoulder this time so there was no mistaking it or anything he could spin later.

I moved my fist under his arm and punched up into his elbow joint, instantly dislocating it before doing the same to his wrist and shoulder. “See, that was what I was stopping by slapping your hand away last time, but apparently you really wanted to see the consequences of your actions. Fine by me.”

Alan came racing over and glanced between us. “I warned you fools not to poke the bear when we’re in the middle of a calamity.”

A deep British voice spoke from my left. “I was unaware you had such a temper.”

I turned my head and met Alpha Clark’s gaze, swallowing down some of what I might have said because he was Ha-joon’s father and I was pretty sure I was in love with my Alpha wolf. “You should be grateful you didn’t get even worse and I was in such bad shape when you met me. I was too down on blood and recovering from injuries painfully because of that.”

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