Page 188 of Mad Love

Pulling back, he gave me a curt nod. But the tightness in his jaw said everything was far from okay. He looked at Royal, who had ended his call with his brother and was watching.

Waiting.

Royal planted his feet and looked ready to take whatever punch Ryan was ready to throw. Thankfully, Ash intervened before Ryan could move forward. His green eyes flicked down to Cori and me before he whispered, “Not here.”

Ryan gave another tight nod as the doctor appeared behind Bishop’s and Linc’s broad shoulders.

“Uh,” he began, already frowning as he counted all the new bodies, “I’m going to have to insist some of you leave.”

Linc shot him a glare that made him take a step back. “Who the fuck are you?”

“The doctor,” I supplied, shaking my head. “Sorry about that, Dr. Plaskon.”

“Everyone out,” Ryan snapped, gesturing for the doctor to come in as he faced the now nervous man. “I’m Ryan Cain. Corinne’s my sister and I have guardianship. Maddie is my girlfriend.”

I smiled at each of the guys as they met my gaze before leaving. I had a feeling they weren’t going far.

“No!” Cori protested as Royal went to leave. “Stay with me.”

“I’ll be back in a few, princess,” he assured her.

She pouted but didn’t argue anymore as he left. I could see it hurt Ryan, the way Cori wanted Royal, but right now he needed to suck it up. Cori had been dealt a shitty hand all around, and if she wanted Royal on a unicycle wearing pink taffeta and throwing glitter confetti, then Ryan better help him onto the damn seat.

“Corinne has responded well to the oxygen,” Dr. Plaskon began, smiling in her direction before turning his attention to Ryan. “She can be released tonight, but I’d advise you to keep an eye on here and if her breathing changes, bring her back to the hospital. I would also suggest keeping her quiet for the next few days as her lungs recover.”

Ryan nodded, a muscle pulsing in his jaw as he listened to the doctor.

“Miss Cabot,” the doctor started, glancing at me, “I’ll need your consent to share medical information with Mr. Cain.”

“Consent granted,” I assured him. Not that it would’ve mattered. Had I said no way, Ryan would’ve had Ash hack into the database and find my records. His obsession knew no boundaries when someone he loved was in danger, and truthfully? There was a big piece of me that secretly loved it when he got all demanding and protective.

“I got your X-rays back,” Dr. Plaskon began, turning and lighting up a board on the other side of my room. He put up the scan I’d had done on my torso when they’d noticed bruising. “Thankfully it doesn’t appear you’ve fractured or broken any ribs.”

I kept my eyes glued to the scan as I felt Ryan’s questioning gaze land on me.

“Your jaw is cleared, too,” Dr. Plaskon added, oblivious to the way Ryan was now scanning me. I could feel the press of his gaze as it lingered on my face, noting that beneath the soot marks, the dark shadows under my ear were also bruises. “No concussion. The worst seems to be the smoke inhalation.”

“Right,” I murmured. My chest felt raw and hollow from all the smoke and the coughing I’d been doing, but I also felt every bruise that Beckett had dealt. Asshole.

Dr. Plaskon turned and looked from Corinne to me before clearing his throat. “Now that you’ve had a bit of time to recover, I suggest we clean you up and document things. Should a trial happen, I believe it will help. There’s also a pair of detectives outside, waiting for a statement.”

I glanced down at Cori and the way she was clinging to me. “I don’t know that it’s such a good idea.”

“Cor,” Ryan started, gently touching her hand and grabbing her attention. “The doctor needs to look at Maddie a little more.”

She blinked owlishly up at him. “Because Daddy hurt Maddie?”

I sucked in a sharp breath and instantly regretted it when my side throbbed. “Cori, you were in your room. How did you—”

She ducked her head. “I heard Daddy yelling and… I got scared and stayed in my room, but I heard you, Maddie. I should’ve been braver—”

“No.” I cupped her face with my hand. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do.”

Dr. Plaskon coughed discreetly before moving to the foot of the bed. “Corinne, do you think you can be brave now and let me take Maddie to another room so I can check her out?”

Cori stilled beside me. “Take her where?” Panic seeped into her tone.

“Not far,” I promised. “And Ryan, Royal, and all the others will stay with you while I’m gone.”

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