Page 45 of Ruin
“Here,” the familiar voice calls out, and I bring my attention forward again. Kolton stands behind the bar. He doesn’t look hurt, which is a relief.
I step over the bodies and try to avoid the puddles of blood.
I don’t recognize any of these guys, but the cuts and patches tell me they belong to another MC. Obviously one that Hell’s Mayhem doesn't care for, judging by the state of things.
“What’s going on?” I ask Kolton when I reach him.
He turns and walks down the hall and into a room without saying a word. I follow him without question, even though he doesn’t answer me.
There is a young woman, maybe mid-twenties, lying on the floor, curled over in pain and very pregnant. Most people would panic, but after a lifetime in the ER, there’s not much that phases me anymore.
“Is she in labor?” I ask. This isn’t what I was expecting to walk into. Maybe I would stitch someone up, but deliver a baby? Either way, my training has me going into doctor mode immediately.
“You’re the fucking doctor,” Kolton snaps.
“If she’s having a baby, she needs a hospital.”
“No hospital,” he says firmly, moving to lean against the wall and giving a lazy shake of his head.
“Kolton—”
“I said no fucking hospital,” he growls, his fiery gaze shooting to mine.
With a deep breath, I go to the young girl, drop my bag to the floor and get to my knees.
“What’s going on, sweetheart? Does something hurt?”
“My chest feels tight. My stomach hurts.”
I nod, digging through my bag. “What’s your name?”
“Anastacia.”
I pull out my stethoscope and place it on her chest to listen to her breathing and her heart as I ask her questions to help pinpoint the issue.
“How far along are you?”
“Thirty-six weeks… I think.”
Okay, good news. If she delivers, at least she’s close to full term.
“Were you hit in your stomach?”
She blinks, cringing as her gaze flicks to Kolton. My brows raise and I turn to him.
“You hit—”
“No!” he shouts, face going from his usual indifference to enraged. “I fell into the desk she was hiding under, and she fell onto her stomach. It was an accident.”
I nod, thanking God he isn’t an awful person. Yes, he does bad things, but that doesn’t make him a bad person. Had he hita woman though, a pregnant one no less, my opinion of him would have changed in an instant.
“Is that when the pain started?” I ask her as I move to listen to her back with my stethoscope.
So far, her chest is clear, but her heart rate is high.
“No, it was hurting before that.”
“Does it come and go, or is it constant?”
