Page 189 of Mad Love

Her eyes widened. “Then who will protect you?”

“I promise she’ll be safe,” Dr. Plaskon said with a smile.

“I’ll go with her, Cor,” Ryan said, looking at me over her head and daring me to push the issue. “We’ll both be back soon.”

Cori gave a heavy sigh. “Okay. I can be brave.”

I kissed the top of her head. “I know you can, honey. You’re the bravest girl I know.”

“I’ll get a nurse to bring in a chair to take you,” Dr. Plaskon advised me before grinning at Cori. “You really are a remarkable girl, Corinne.”

She beamed at him. “Thanks.”

All the guys came back a few minutes later, along with a wheelchair and a nurse. She went to help me out of bed, but Ryan simply used his body to maneuver her to the side so he could scoop me up and deposit me in the seat.

I flashed him a grateful look when he managed to barely hurt my ribs at all. Neither of us spoke as the nurse wheeled me down a hallway. When we got to the end, she pushed me inside where another doctor—a woman—waited with a lot of medical equipment that looked familiar.

“I’m Dr. Coleson,” she greeted, her eyes kind and her smile warm, but it tightened when she looked at Ryan. “Sir, you can wait outside.”

“No,” I said before Ryan could tell her to fuck off. I glanced at the table and the stirrups. “That exam won’t be necessary. I wasn’t raped.”

Ryan jerked beside me, his face paling like he’d never considered that option.

Dr. Coleson frowned. “Miss Cabot—”

“Maddie,” I corrected her as the nurse helped me from the chair to the exam table. Ryan seemed to remember I needed assistance at the last second, glaring at me for having the audacity to put my feet on the ground before he could pick me up.

“Maddie,” she agreed. “If you were assaulted, there’s only a small window where we can collect the proper forensic evidence.”

“He hit me a few times before I got away,” I replied, “but that was as far as it went. I swear. And I’d really prefer Ryan to stay with me.”

He moved closer to my head, like a sentry who would level anyone who tried to have him removed.

“All right,” she relented before nodding to the nurse, who pulled the curtain closed around us.

I lay back and tried to relax as she lifted up my gown and checked each injury as the nurse took photographs. Then they gently cleaned me up and took more pictures of the fresh marks.

With each snap of the shutter, I could feel Ryan’s rage brewing like a summer storm that was about to crack the skies wide open.

“Okay, Maddie,” Dr. Coleson murmured as she stepped back and pulled down my gown. “There’s a shower in the other room if you’d like to finish cleaning up.”

The nurse, a sweet woman named Joyce, smiled at me. “I can help you.”

I glanced at Ryan. “I think we can manage on our own, if that’s all right?”

Joyce nodded, understanding in her brown eyes. “Of course. I’ll come by in about fifteen minutes to take you back to your room, but there’s a red emergency button should you need help.” She added that last part for Ryan, who gave her a simple nod.

“Take care, Maddie,” Dr. Coleson told me as they left.

Once they closed the door, the silence became oppressive. I reached for Ryan when he came close, but he stepped aside before I could make contact. My heart constricted at the pain on his face.

“Ryan, look at me,” I murmured.

He shook his head. “I fucked up, Maddie. I fucked up, and he almost killed you and Cori.”

“But he didn’t,” I insisted, trying to sit up on my own. It took a little effort to smother the gasp of pain begging to be released, but I managed.

“Maddie—” He spun and stared at me.

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