Page 25 of Liberating Mia
With a sigh of defeat, the EMT dug around in her bag for supplies. “Fine. I’ll make a note in my report that you’re to have the wound stitched. After that, it’s in your hands.”
Finn snapped a two-finger salute, flashing his dimple again. “Yes, ma’am. I take full responsibility for my decision.”
He had to grit his teeth as she got to work on cleaning and disinfecting his wound. He felt Mia slip her hand into his. “Here, hang on to me. That can’t be pleasant.”
“You could say that, I guess.” Finn snorted out a laugh.
Mia grinned back. “So, tell me something about yourself.”
“Oh, now you want to know something about me?” he teased.
“Ha, ha. Very funny.”
“I thought so. Seriously, though. I’m Texan, born and raised.”
“Tell me about home?”
Finn thought about it for a moment. Did he start with the majestic sight of the rolling plains, spread out for as far as the eye could see? The biting cold of early morning out on his parents’ ranch in the middle of winter? Or cookouts on a long summer’s evening? The words started to pour out, making him realize once again just how much he missed home. He couldn’t wait to take some well-deserved time off when he got back stateside.
So wrapped up in the rapt expression on Mia’s face and memories of home Finn was surprised when the EMT proclaimed she was done. She handed him a couple of pain pills.
“These will help take the edge off for the moment. That’s as good as I can get it. You’re going to have to go into an emergency room for the rest.”
“Will do.”
“I’ll see to it he goes in for stitches.”
Finn and Mia spoke at the same time.
Mia’s words rocked him back on his heels. She intended sticking around to ensure he went to the ER? Amidst the noise, chaos, bloodshed, and suffering, and despite the pain, he couldn’t help but feel a spark of happiness at the thought of her wanting to stay. For him.
Nodding at Finn, the medic packed up her bag. “See that you do.” On that parting shot, she took her leave.
“Right, gents. You heard the lady. Let’s get this circus packed up so I can go get some needles jabbed into me. Young, let’s see if second time’ll be a charm. Can you please take Ms. Shore to be check out by the paramedics?”
“On it.”
Turning to Mia, he said, “There’s a collection point for the all vict— the ladies to be processed. Will you wait for me there? I’ll come find you as soon as I can.”
“Yes, I’ll wait for you. Just be careful, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. Speaking to the group of his men who had gathered, he continued, “Let’s get this done.”
Chapter Eighteen
Afull twenty-four hours later, after the scene had been processed, the women’s safe, temporary housing arranged so they could later gather statements from them all, and they had investigated – with an unsatisfactory, inconclusive result – Hunt’s death, the doors to Foreshore General Hospital’s emergency room glided open, and Finn and Mia walked in. The brightly lit area was pretty empty, and Finn breathed a sigh of relief. It was bad enough he had to be there at all. He loathed hospitals, having spent a fair amount of time in them over the course of his career. The smell, the sounds, the very reason for their existence bugged him. And he was exhausted. He’d almost be willing to sell his soul for a good few hours sleep.
A mother sat in the corner of the room with a wailing toddler. What he assumed was her husband stood at the nurses’ station filling out paperwork. A janitor mopped the floor near a bank of elevators. An old couple sat a couple rows away from the mother, the wife cradling her arm against her chest.
Yep, he hated hospitals.
“Take a seat. I’ll go get the paperwork done and join you when I’m finished,” Finn said to Mia. He still couldn’t believe she’d insisted on coming with him. But he couldn’t say he was sorry she had. Somehow, it made it a little easier having her with him.
“Okay.”
He watched the gentle sway of her hips as she went over to a row of chairs before striding over to the desk.
“Good evening, sir. How may I help you?” A pretty, young nurse smiled up at him.
