Page 87 of Witness Protection

“No.”

In their world, there was an entire underground of professionals. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, and even cops had been on her father’s payroll. She was thankful Hawk was getting help. It was surreal seeing Cayden again. She thought she’d lost him forever when he’d dropped her off last time.

Her heart felt at peace being close to both men. If only it could last forever.

Hawk helped Cayden to the elevators, then left them there to rent a room in the lobby.

“Does it hurt?” she asked.

Sophia pressed her forearms to Cayden’s chest, grabbing handfuls of his shirt.

“Not so much anymore.”

Cayden’s voice sounded weak, his pallor getting worse. He started to close his eyes. “Cayden, stay with me,” she shouted. “Hawk will be back soon.”

She cupped Cayden’s cheek.

“He loves you,” Cayden said. “He’s a good man. He’ll take care of you.”

“Cayden, don’t say that.” He was talking like he was already gone, either a dead man or running away again. She wouldn’t allow him to leave her. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, baby.”

“I love you, Cayden. I can’t lose you.”

When he started to collapse, Hawk was there to support him, dragging him into the elevator. “Nineteenth floor.”

The doctor had cut off his pant leg in the car, and the bleeding had stopped. “He’s in luck. The bullet didn’t hit the femoral artery,” said the doctor. “But he needs blood.”

She sighed in relief, continually jostling Cayden so he wouldn’t go to sleep.

As soon as they got inside their suite, Hawk dropped Cayden on the sofa. “Take care of him, doc. I’ll get some boiling water.”

Sophia unbuckled and unzipped Cayden’s black jeans, tugging the remaining material down past his hips. He was a dead weight, making it difficult. When she pulled her hands back, they were coated in blood. She held them in front of her face, staring at the crimson fluid, going into shock.

“Sophia! For God’s sake. Go sit down.” Hawk tore the jeans off the rest of the way and dropped some towels on the floor.

The doctor went right to work, opening his black bag on the coffee table. Hawk poured a bottle of booze over the wound and Cayden passed out.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” she asked.

“He’s one of the best, Sophia. Dr. Zelwik used to work for your father.”

She watched, unable to look away, and angry that the sight of blood still affected her after all this time. An IV had been set up, and the doctor began a blood infusion between the two men. Hawk was O negative. She remembered her father mentioning it may come in handy for her.

Sophia stayed glued to the wall until it was done.

The doctor stitched up the side of Cayden’s leg a while later. It was a small hole for all the blood she’d seen. “He’ll be fine. Missed the bone. Mostly blood loss. Just let him sleep it off tonight. Tomorrow, he should be up and walking. I’ll leave pain killers.”

He set a bottle of narcotics on the table.

The doctor left the suite.

“He won’t take them. Cayden has a thing about drugs, prescription or otherwise. He’s a stubborn bastard,” said Hawk.

“How do you know that?” she asked.

“We’ve had a couple days to reminisce while planning your rescue,” he said. “I guess bringing you along the other night wasn’t the best idea. I was afraid to leave you alone at the hotel.”

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