Page 30 of Bear Boss's Mate
Austin shook his head. “They’re running scans. I know nothing else yet.”
He looked at Bern. “It was Mick. I found him kicking the shit out of her. She hasn’t regained consciousness since I found her. I should have insisted on driving her home. She’s so stubborn,I thought....” Austin’s voice caught, and he choked up at the thought of what she’d endured. He looked away, clenching his teeth.
Bern put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t blame yourself for this. Only one person is to blame, and that’s Mick. Where is he now? Did they arrest him?”
Austin looked around. “I think they brought him here. Yes, he’s under arrest.” Turning back to face Bern, he said, “I beat him... I would have killed him.”
Bern nodded, his mouth twisted. “I’m glad you didn’t. He’ll get exactly what’s coming to him, but I don’t want to lose my friend and business partner to prison.”
He led Austin over to a couple of chairs, and both men sat down.
Austin ran his hands through his hair and folded his arms, sitting back in the chair. “I’ve been keeping an eye on her every night, since I first saw that idiot Mick at her apartment door. Just making sure she got home safe. Then tonight, she left later than usual, and I waited too long to check on her.” He stared straight ahead, angry.
Bern stared ahead as well, his hands on his thighs. “But you saved her. If you hadn’t gone when you did—” Bern didn’t finish as Austin interrupted.
Turning to look at Bern, his voice was tight. “If I’d taken her home and walked her to her door, she wouldn’t be in the hospital right now,” he growled.
Bern sat next to him, offering silent support. Austin was grateful for the support, but more than anything, he just needed to see Marcy again.
A few more hours passed, and the doctor emerged with a nurse at his side. Both men stood to face them as the doctor approached. “She’s being taken to a private room, just as you requested when you arrived.”
He looked at Austin as he spoke. “The scans seem to show no brain damage or other issues there. We will know for certain once she regains consciousness. But she received a severe concussion and cuts to the head that required stitches. We administered some pain medication and will be monitoring her through the night.”
“Can we see her?” asked Austin.
The nurse frowned and looked at the doctor. The doctor didn’t take his eyes off Austin. He put a hand in his coat pocket. “She isn’t awake now. You can sit with her. But please, let her rest. She has several broken ribs, amongst her other injuries. The woman’s body has been very badly damaged. It’s going to take time before she is okay again. You’re lucky that you got to her when you did. A few more minutes of that kind of beating....” He shook his head without finishing.
Bern winced and put a hand on Austin’s back.
Austin nodded at the doctor, wondering if things were worse than he was letting on. The doctor’s face changed back to being more neutral. “Nurse Tyne will take you to her room now. I will be checking in on her until the end of my shift.”
Austin and Bern entered Marcy’s room behind the nurse. Austin picked up a chair and placed it close to the bed to sit next to her. Gently touching her hand, he stroked it with his thumb.
His eyes moved to Bern, who was standing at the end of the bed, frowning. He motioned toward a chair against one wall of the room. Bern took a seat.
Staring down at his mate’s swollen face and cut lip, it physically hurt him to see her this way. He couldn’t believe this beautiful woman was lying in a hospital bed, bruised and battered having endured so much.
“I should have insisted on taking her home,” he muttered.
Bern sat up straight. “This is not your fault, Austin.”
Watching Marcy’s face, Austin whispered to Bern. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost her. I waited so long to find my mate.” His chest ached. His body tensed. If only he’d done a better job protecting her.
He tilted his head toward his friend. “When she comes out of this, I’m telling her I want her in my life as a partner. I don’t want to lose her, no matter how stubborn she is about dating the boss.” Austin let out a small laugh at his words. Bern did as well.
The hours dragged by as the men sat in silence, watching Marcy sleep.
Austin listened to the humming and clicking of the machines around her bed, their rhythmic sounds lulling him to go to sleep. He wouldn’t sleep. He couldn’t. And he would not leave her side. He clutched her hand in his and pulled it to his lips.
Bern spoke in a low voice. “Do you want me to go get us some coffee, or food?” He pointed a thumb toward the door.
Austin mouthed, “Coffee.”
Bern nodded and left the room.
Austin sat up straight when he felt a gentle squeeze of his hand. He glanced more closely at Marcy to see her eyes slowly opening.
Her eyelids were heavy, and he could see that she was having difficulty focusing. At last, her eyes found his. She tried to smile and winced. He put a hand toward her.
