Page 85 of Call Sign: King
Ryder walked into the suite at the back of the plane just in time to find Doc helping Khloe rinse off in the small shower they had on board.
Admiring her from afar, he recognized she’d lost weight in just those few days she’d been with Vladimir.
“Need any help in there?” he asked, loving the glow in Khloe’s gaze as she looked up and pointed that thousand-watt smile of hers at him.
“We’re almost done,” Doc called, on her knees rinsing Khloe’s legs with the hand-held spray. “I wanted her rinsed off so I can get a better look at her wounds to get them cleaned up.”
The plane started moving just as Khloe spun around so Doc could rinse her other side, giving Ryder his first view of her from behind.
He felt the newest punch to his gut the second the two-inch high V on her left hip came into view. Red hot fury that Vladimir had marked Khloe’s perfect body threatened to ruin their reunion. The pictures had been bad enough, but seeing the ugly burn in person was worse.
Had the fucker been there, Ryder would have relished torturing the bastard. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that letting his anger show would only hurt Khloe. She had suffered enough. Raging about the mark on her body would only make her feel worse.
“It’s going to be okay…” she said, his first clue she’d noticed his change in mood.
Trying his best not to let his anger at Vlad spill into this voice, Ryder answered. “I’m so damn sorry he hurt you.”
“Me too, but it’s over now.”
He bit his tongue. She didn’t need to know what he knew. That for the rest of their lives, he would think of this day every time he saw that damn V on her body.
“Victory,” Doc said, jarring him from his thoughts.
“Say what?” he asked.
“The V. When you see it, remember it stands for your victory over the Volkovs.”
Had he said his earlier thought out loud? Looking at Doc, her smile told him she just knew him that well.
“Victory,” he repeated, accepting her suggestion, knowing it would take practice to think of that word first.
Grabbing a couple towels, he went to Khloe. As Doc turned off the water, Ryder wrapped her body in a towel while she wrung her long hair out.
“We’re gonna take off soon. Let’s get you over to the bed.”
Khloe leaned on him for the short walk to where Doc already had the covers turned down and waiting.
Ryder sat next to his wife, taking the damp towels, and finished patting her body dry inch by inch, placing small kisses on each of her many cuts and bruises.
Doc sat on the other side of the bed, taking Khloe’s vitals, and asking questions about her injuries. At finding out that Khloe had had nothing to eat and almost nothing to drink while she was in Vlad’s custody, Doc insisted on inserting an IV, delivering a sedative along with a mild pain killer to help her patient get some much-needed rest.
As soon as they were at cruising altitude, Ryder went in search of a tray of food, bringing it back to their bedroom just as Doc was finishing up bandaging Khloe’s raw knees where she’d been tackled to the asphalt.
“I think I’m done for now,” Doc said, pushing to her feet. “I’m gonna give you two some privacy now, but I’ll just be outside. Come get me if you need me.”
Ryder nodded, saying, “Thanks.”
When Khloe failed to answer Doc, he glanced down to find her eyes already closed.
Setting the charcuterie board on the side table, Ryder sat next to the love of his life, taking this first quiet minute alone with her to thank God for bringing her back to him safely. He would never again take their amazing life together for granted.
It was tempting to just let her sleep, but knowing she hadn’t eaten in over forty-eight hours, Ryder leaned down, kissing her forehead gently.
“Princess, I need you to eat a few bites before you get to sleep.”
Moaning, Khloe didn’t respond at first. When her eyes slowly opened, she smiled. “You still trying to get me to eat?”
“Always,” he grinned holding one of her favorite combos of cheese, crackers, and salami up to her mouth.
