The police had surrounded Rocco’s car, but Galen didn’t stick around to see what happened next. Natalie tugged at him to go. Police, patients, doctors and visitors crowded the entrance, but Natalie led him toward patient care. He took his phone from his back pocket with a wince. Ignoring the pain, he texted his brother. “Fine, as long as I can see Luke this time.”
A nurse took his ID and insurance card while Natalie signed in as family so she could stay with him. Once the nurse processed their information, she tucked her arm around his waist like he was the crippled one. “I know your brother. Let’s get going.”
One of the Morgan Security guards appeared in the hall as if searching for someone and Galen stopped to grill them for whatever information they had. “Wait.”
“You need help.” Natalie answered fast and tugged on his arm to get him to move.
Soon, but he wouldn’t put her in danger again because he’d been slow. He directed her toward the security guard. “What happened?”
The man nodded, spoke on his radio and said, “Miami PD has Rocco Dubois in custody, sir. Rafe is getting all the information and will have it for you in a few minutes.”
“Good.” He hoped the threat was finished.
Natalie didn’t even blink. She tugged on his arm again. “Then we’ll have answersafteryou see a doctor.”
He looked down and saw his shirt was soaked with more blood. Perhaps she was right though he felt nothing. He waved off the guard and walked with her toward his brother who had come out of the waiting room with the nurse.
Luke gestured for them to follow him back to a private room. Galen held himself together, but asked Natalie quietly, “Do you want to be checked first?”
Her laugh held a note of alarm as she stared at his bloody shirt. “I’m fine. At most I’ll have a bruise but that doesn’t matter. You put me in the SUV so I had shelter—that’s why you were shot.”
“I improvised with the cement blocks.” Being unable to help Natalie against Rocco made his insides freeze. “Not being able to get to you in those seconds petrified me.”
She scoffed but led him into the room where his brother directed them. “I was more worried about you.”
“Luke.” Galen shook his brother’s hand though he could tell from Luke’s expression that he intended a full exam, immediately. At least he could trust his brother to give him the best care without sugar-coating.
His brother eyed him sharply and then pointed toward the hospital bed. Galen sat and unbuttoned his shirt without being asked. Luke said, “Galen. I don’t normally do ER anymore as treating gunshot wounds isn’t my thing—but for you, I’ll make an exception. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Luke cut the shirt off because it was stuck to his back. Natalie winced. Galen grunted when his doctor brother poked the wound. Now it began to pinch and hurt—he preferred numb.
Natalie bravely waited at his side, with a quiet, concerned expression. Once Luke finished cleaning the area, she asked, “Is he okay?”
“The fact that Galen is still talking is a good sign, but I’ll order an x-ray so we know what steps to take next.” Luke wrote in a chart on his tablet. He looked up when done and said, “I think the bullet went right through his flesh without hurting anything important, but I need him up and moving for my wedding, so I want to make sure.”
Orderlies came in with a gurney.
Galen sat up, which caused a sharp pain in his side. He ignored it while he settled on the bed they brought for him. Once he was done, he met his brother’s gaze. “Wait with Natalie until I get back, Luke.” He didn’t want her left alone.
“I will,” Luke agreed, turning to Natalie. “Caro mentioned wanting to talk to you, so you can call from my office. Nice to see you again, Natalie.”
Natalie gave his brother a tremulous smile. “Thanks Luke. You seem happier than I remember in college. Your wedding will be amazing as you two are clearly meant to be and I’m so excited you finally told Caro you loved her.”
“It wasn’tthatobvious.”
“But it was,” Natalie said while she waited with his brother now out of earshot as the orderlies brought him down the hall. At least he knew Natalie was safe. His brothers were the closest allies he’d ever have, and Luke had the easiest to talk to personality out of all the Morgans.
The x-ray took only a few minutes, probably because his brother ordered it for him, and Dr. Luke Morgan had some clout. The room was empty when the orderlies returned him. He sat up and called out, “Natalie?”
“I’m here.” She rushed in from across the hall. “I was in Luke’s office, on the phone with Caro. Their wedding sounds nice. How are you?”
“Let’s ask Luke for the test results.”
Luke followed her in at a much slower pace and began to bandage Galen’s side as he said, “I can confirm. The bullet grazed your skin, but didn’t puncture a lung or break a rib, which is what I thought from your stable condition. You’re going to be sore, but you can go home.”
Good. Other than the sting, he felt fine.
Once they went home, he needed to talk to Natalie about her declaration of love earlier. Love was an illusion women often claimed existed but only ended up causing emotional damage to women instead. He’d seen this with his own eyes growing up. For now, he sat up once his brother finished with the bandage and held out his hand to shake. “Thanks Luke.”
