Page 83 of Break Me
“Do it!” he barked and I gently placed her into his arms, taking a split second of looking at her before sprinting into my room.
I dressed without thinking, and I couldn’t remember if I’d brought my purse with my identification with me. It wouldn’t matter if I had my insurance card because the hospital was out of network.
But he was right. That couldn’t matter. All that did was saving my daughter’s life.
Somehow in the melee, he managed to jerk on his shirt and jacket, rushing toward the car first and throwing open the door.
“Boss. What’s wrong?” one of the security men asked as he rushed from the driver’s door of the SUV.
“We’re headed to the children’s hospital.” That’s all Alexsey said before making certain we were secured in the passenger seat and jumping over the hood of his car to the driver’s side.
By the time the engine started, he was already rolling, the brakes squealing as he pulled away from the curb.
“It’s okay, baby. We’re going to be fine.” I rocked her, something she loved so much. Her eyes were open, staring at me as if begging me to help her. I’d never felt so utterly helpless in my life. Unable to get full control, tears slipped past my eyelashes, dripping on her little arm.
The sharp sob erupting from my throat filled the dense space. Instantly, his hand gripped my knee. I knew at this moment he was simply trying to anchor me.
Even as he floored the accelerator, he managed to pull something from his jacket. I finally realized what was in his hand. An earpiece for a cellphone. Who the hell was he calling right now? Just drive. Just please fucking drive and get to the hospital on time.
“Yes, this is Alexsey Dmitriyev. I need a full crash cart waiting in emergency. I’m bringing in a little girl with breathing difficulties from an asthma attack.”
What the fuck? I turned my head in his direction. He could just snap his fingers and order a crash cart to be waiting for our arrival?
“Yes, we’ve used an inhaler more than once. Yes, we have it with us. I need the best pulmonologist in the hospital made available.” He was in utter control, making the turn with one hand while talking on the phone and his other hand remainingon my knee. “I don’t care what time it is or where he’s at. Get him to the hospital. Now. We’ll be there in three minutes.”
I was so shocked, I had no idea what to say. He finally realized I was staring at him, barely offering a smile. Now he did concentrate on driving, swerving around any vehicle in our way, but not once did he blow his horn.
For some reason, I had a feeling he knew that could upset Emily.
He didn’t take three minutes to glide into the bay of the emergency room at the finest children’s hospital in Nevada. It was more like two and a half and with severe asthma attacks, seconds mattered.
True to his demands, there was a crash team that appeared even before he jumped from the car, racing around to yank open the door.
Everything was a blur and their words were in a vacuum. I was holding her so tightly, terrified to let her go even though I knew they were telling me she’d be in good hands.
Finally, Alexsey pressed his hand on the small of my back, leaning over so he could whisper in my ear, “I’ll be right by your side. I’m not going anywhere.”
Nodding, I finally managed to find the courage to let her go. Instantly, she was given an oxygen mask and whisked away. Before I’d taken two steps, I stopped and turned toward him. Terrified of sobbing openly, I mouthed my thank you, unable to stop tears from streaming down both sides of my face.
I’d take him at his word that he wouldn’t leave me alone. While I hated to admit it, I needed him. His strong arms. His comforting yet commanding voice. Something about him grounded me.
As I entered the hospital, I felt his eyes on me. And at least for a little while, I could feel protected.
In a daze.
I knew at least three hours had passed and I’d refused to leave her side until she was resting peacefully. She would have cried had I left the room while she was still awake.
That’s how I felt and very little was going to change that at this point. I was stumbling along the corridor or at least that’s what it felt like, moving toward the waiting room they’d told me to go to. She was resting and there was little I could do at this point. There were still echoes made from every noise, but at least my heart rate had slowed.
When I noticed the sign, it seemed like a mile away. Somehow, I lumbered closer and suddenly a pair of strong hands pulled me into a tight hold where I allowed myself a few seconds of weakness.
Before I lifted my head to look in his eyes, I inhaled Alexsey’s incredible musky scent. It rekindled a fire, but not about passion. About how precious life was. I clung to him, wrapping my hand around his shirt, twisting the material. A single sob erupted and I told myself that was enough.
“It’s okay,” he said quietly. “Everything is going to be okay.”
A part of me wanted to argue as I usually would do, but I didn’t have it in me. He pulled me gently toward a couch, easing me down. A split second later, I had a handful of tissues in my hand. For some reason, it made me laugh. At least it broke the horriblemood enough I was able to lift my head, darting my eyes back and forth across his.
“Thank you. For everything. I think you saved her life.”
