Page 58 of Something to Believe In
"It won't hurt her if that isn't it, Axel. But something just happened to her, and until EMTs can get here, we have to do everything we can."
Tony rushed to them and knelt down. He inserted a nasal spray into her nose and squeezed. Within seconds, Maddyn's eyes opened. She looked dazed, but she was awake.
His heart raced. "Mads. My God, Mads, what happened?"
Her brows pinched. "Something hurt my leg."
He looked to see a wet spot on her right thigh. EMTs rushed to them, and he relayed the information Mads had just given him. An EMT cut her jeans up to her thigh, and there was a puncture mark. Jami stared at him, his eyes round and fear clearly written on his face.
"Someone drugged her."
He looked down the hall. "Tony, those showgirls. One of them drugged her. It has to be. They were the only ones here with us."
Mitch and Tony were conversing a few feet away. Police officers were present; they came with the EMTs. He prayed they'd find out who did this.
He held Maddyn's head in his lap. He stared into her eyes. "Mads. Oh my God, Mads. Please stay with me."
Her weak smile was her answer. She took a deep breath as EMTs took her blood pressure and checked her pupils. He wasn't leaving her. Not now, not ever.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Maddyn woke in the hospital for the second time in three days. Axel sat next to the bed, his hand held hers, his head lay on the mattress next to her. She smiled down at him and took a deep breath.
Axel sat up and rotated his head. "Hey, how are you?"
"I'm good. I think I need to pee."
He reached over and pushed the call signal. "You have to let the nurse know."
She raised the bed, so she was sitting. Glancing down, she noticed she was in a hospital gown. "Who undressed me?"
"I helped a nurse. We removed only your jeans. They needed to see the injection site. We were very professional."
She chuckled. "Okay."
"Mads. Did you see who injected you?"
"No." She stopped and pulled the covers back. Glancing at her thigh, she saw a bruise. She brushed her finger over the area and felt a small welt. "Someone stuck me with a needle right here."
He nodded, his brows furrowed. "Yes. That's the conclusion. They're doing toxicology right now. We should find out in a few hours."
She closed her eyes. "So many people are looking for Lacey. How did she get in there?"
"Police are interviewing the showgirls. So far, they've told Mitch there was a new girl among them. She talked very little. With their makeup and costumes, she went unnoticed. They said she had dark hair. Mitch thinks she either wore a wig or dyed her hair to look different."
Her stomach turned. How could she ever feel safe with Lacey on the loose?
A nurse entered the room. "What can I help you with?"
Her voice shook when she spoke. "I need to use the toilet."
The nurse helped her stand. She was fine on her own, mostly just tired. "I can make it on my own."
"Are you sure?"
She chuckled. "I'm sure."
Strolling to the bathroom, she took a deep breath. Finishing up, she exited the room to see Axel sitting on the bed waiting for her.
