His brother hugged him instead. “I’ll get the paperwork started and get you out of here. Oh, and your mother called, but I didn’t tell her anything. I figured you’d want to talk to Fiona herself.”
“I’ll tell her when we’re home,” Galen answered.
Luke left them alone and Natalie scooted her chair closer to him. “Dr. Morgan gives fast service. Must be nice to have family on call. Are you ready to go home, Galen?”
The muscles in his neck and shoulders tensed. He needed to find out what had happened and the reason behind Rocco and Maria’s actions. All of this medical treatment took way too long. He swallowed, ignored the pain as he stretched his arm and tugged his phone out of his back pocket. “I’m calling Rafe now.”
“Sounds good,” she nodded. “Put him on speaker so I can hear.”
This had been her life under attack. “Sure.” His phone rang a few times, and finally his brother-in-law answered. “Rafe, what have you found out?”
Rafe’s voice was clear. “Natalie was being targeted by the crime organization. Rocco’s past with her was the entrance they wanted to use.”
“What?” Natalie stood in alarm. “Why though?”
“We don’t know for sure,” Rafe said, “but my hunch is that this leads back to either what happened in the fertility doctor’s office or something else that happened that day. I need you both to write down everything, no matter how unimportant you think it might be.”
A lot had happened before Galen ever saw Natalie at the clinic. He’d helped his other brother, Damien, save his wife from a human trafficking ring. His mind put that together and wondered if someone intended to hurt Natalie like that too.
Natalie asked, “Do you think Jennifer might have hired people?”
“It’s possible but I have a hard time believing it,” Rafe said. “However I’ve been wrong before and I’m fully investigating her.”
“But you dated her in college,” Natalie argued. “Can you be clearheaded with her?”
He’d talk to Rafe later about his suspicion, since Rafe was also part of that kidnapping case.
“And we’re still friends, but she’s number one on the list. She already admitted she talked to you at the bowling alley about a possible baby.”
Natalie met his gaze and her face was slightly red as she pressed her lips together. “I’m beyond tired of that one.”
Fair enough. Everyone kept asking her. He said goodbye to Rafe and stood as Luke entered with their discharge papers. Galen took them. “Thanks, Luke. It’s fine, Natalie. Let’s go.”
They walked down the hall to leave, again, as Natalie shook her head and quietly said, “So basically, they still don’t know anything and I’m in danger from a crime syndicate?”
The elevator doors opened, and he hoped they’d finally get out of the hospital. “I promise we’ll find out soon.”
He reached behind him again and pulled his car keys out once they reached the lobby. However Natalie stopped and pouted. “Do you need me to drive?”
She must have seen him wince. She traced his face.
He shook his head, but kissed her hand. “No, but when we get there if you can help with the bandages, that will be good.”
They made it to the front door and Natalie braced her shoulders. “Here we go again.”
He pressed her hand to his heart and shook his head. He wasn’t taking chances. A Morgan security guard came running and he handed him his key as he told Natalie, “No. Wait. My car is being brought for us.”
The wait inside helped still his beating heart, but then it ran in overdrive the moment his SUV was parked right in front of the door. Galen, determined not to show his emotion, pressed his lips together but stiffened his muscles to pretend he was calm. He held Natalie’s hand and they walked the ten feet surrounded with police presence everywhere. He told her, “Okay, stay with the officers.”
He opened her door and she slipped in. Security waited near his door until he joined them and took the driver’s seat. Good. Everything went smoothly. Once he was in, he locked the doors and began to drive. She let out a breath she must have held and said, “That was a lot of work.”
He nodded. His heart still pounded, but he kept his gaze focused on the road. Rocco had come from nowhere. “It’s important you’re safe, Natalie. I promised your father.”
“If you say so.” She settled in her seat. “Honestly, the one you’d have to worry about if anything did happen to me is my mother.”
“Good to know.”
The drive home was uneventful and they both appreciated the gorgeous Miami sunset over the bay.
