Page 29 of Bear Boss's Mate
Emergency services and the police arrived within ten minutes. Austin stayed by Marcy’s side as they tended to her and moved her to a stretcher. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.
He watched as the police picked up Mick, cuffing him and loading him into a second ambulance. His friend Jake, a shifter himself, as well as a police officer, walked over to Austin. His brows pinched, and he cast his thumb toward Mick. “He’s going to jail. Just as soon as his wounds are cleaned up.” Jake rubbed his hand along his chin. “I’m sorry about your girlfriend.”
Austin lifted his chin toward him. He ground out. “She’s my mate.”
Jake nodded. “You’ll be glad to know he matches the description of witnesses. One of the attackers we brought in a few days ago mentioned someone named Mick. I think we have our ringleader.”
Austin squinted. His voice came out hoarse and filled with too much emotion. “I wanted to kill him. When I saw him beating her...,” Austin swallowed and wiped his chin with the back of a bloodied hand.
“Glad you didn’t. Mick will get what’s coming to him. Hopefully, now that he’s been caught, the attacks on women in town will stop,” Jake said as he looked over at Marcy.
The paramedics were preparing her for the ride to the hospital.
“I’m glad you got him.” Austin rubbed his forehead. He was still in shock. “I thought Mick was just stalking her. I can’t believe I let this happen.” His jaw tightened. “I want to go to the hospital with her. Can we discuss this later? You know where to find me.”
Marcy was wheeled into the ambulance now that they’d stabilized her.
Jake nodded. “No problem. I understand. I hope your mate is going to be okay.”
Austin gave him a nod and returned to Marcy’s side inside the ambulance.
She still hadn’t regained consciousness.
Pain filled his entire body, twisting and punishing him. He deserved it for letting this happen. He could not lose her.
THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCYroom was loud with the sound of voices and beeping machines, but Austin tuned out all the noise. All he cared about was hearing that Marcy would be okay. He sat in the waiting room with his elbows on his knees, head down.
How could I let this happen? If she dies...He fisted his hands and ground his teeth so hard his jaw hurt.
The familiar sweet scent of Marcy brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see the ER doctor that had met the ambulance when they arrived.
The doctor moved to stand in front of him. He was not a large man, only about five foot ten and wearing a white lab coat over a dress shirt and dress pants. Austin could see spatters of blood on a portion of the man’s lab coat.
He knew it was Marcy’s. His mate’s life was in this man’s hands now.
Austin stood to face the doctor. “Is she okay?”
He watched as the doctor swallowed hard, looking grim. His hands were in the pockets of his lab coat. “We’ve stopped the bleeding but need to run some scans. You may as well go home. I’ll get someone to ca–,”
“No, I’m not leaving,” Austin interrupted, sounding more gruff than usual.
The doctor looked taken aback. “Fine. I’ll let you know how she’s doing as soon as we assess all her injuries,” the doctor said before walking away.
Austin rubbed the perspiration from his brow.It’s my fault she’s in here. She has to be okay.Putting his hands in his pockets, he clutched his cell phone.
Pulling it out, he scrolled through, finding Bern’s number. He glanced up at the clock on the wall as the telephone began to ring. It was ten o’clock.
Bern answered. “Austin, what’s up?”
Austin paused before responding. “I’m at the hospital. It’s Marcy, she’s been attacked. I don’t know–,”
Bern’s response was quick. “I’m on my way.”
He put his phone back in his pocket and began to pace.
About fifteen minutes later, Bern rushed through the emergency room doors, looking around wide-eyed. Austin stopped pacing and made eye contact. The two friends exchanged a quick man hug, patting each other’s back.
Bern stood back to look at him. “Any news yet?”
