“Are you her husband or a relative?” She blinked rapidly like her heart was fluttering.
He shook his head. “Neither. I came in with her last night. I rode in the ambulance with her.”
The doctor cleared her throat as her lingering gaze drifted to the floor. The artery in her neck pulsated like she was nervous.
“Then I’m sorry, I can’t tell you anything. How did you get in here?” She sucked in her lips like she was trying to remain professional yet lost under his confident spell.
“The police gave me the all clear at the reception. You can check for yourself. My name is McGrath.” Marcus pulled his wallet from his pocket. “Look, how much will you take? I need to know if she’s okay.” He was growing impatient.
Her brows pulled together. “I don’t accept financial bribes Mr. McGrath. I shouldn’t talk to you.” She paused while she chewed the inside of her mouth. Looking back over her shoulder as if scouting for listeners, she sighed. “Fine.”
Her framed stare cut back to him, trailing up his towering physique and resting on his strong jaw. The slight twitch of her mouth gave the distinct impression she was eager to wrap her lips around his dick.
Usually, he’d be only too willing to charm the little doctor into the store cupboard, but right now he wanted answers. He wanted Lana.
“I’ll tell you this much - she wasn’t sexually abused. If you’re the one who found her, then she has you to thank for that. Overall, her physical injuries are minor.”
Relief forced a long slow exhale, which puffed out his cheeks. His gaze focused on Lana, lying in the hospital bed, weak and defenceless. The drug had made her irrational and woozy.
She’d babbled nonsense and vomited a few times. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, her body gave in to a peaceful sleep. Marcus had waited with her the entire time, ordering the nurses about like they were his staff.
He nodded. “I’m covering the bill, so make sure she has what she needs.”
The doctor snatched a pen from her front pocket. “Of course, Mr. McGrath.”
His eyes flicked to hers. “Thanks,” he said in a sombre tone.
The doctor’s eyes were wide with curiosity, but they were dull and unappealing in comparison to Lana’s.
He stared into the room from the corridor, just to catch another glimpse of Lana’s fragile state. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever met, with a personality to match.
Her silky alabaster skin would make a goddess jealous, and her startling, bright blue eyes were like precious gemstones. His emotions were spiralling out of control and the doctor was just a nobody.
The doctor quirked an eyebrow and clicked her pen. “Right then, Mr. McGrath. I must finish my rounds. I’ll not mention the fact you shouldn’t be here, for her sake. She’ll need a lot of support when she wakes up.” She smiled faintly and walked off.
Marcus strode into the private room, weighed down by his anger. He never expected that one of his wealthy, popular members would resort to kidnapping, or even murder. Now he sought justice, and he knew exactly how to get it.
Lana laid perfectly still, tucked in loosely. Her pale skin glowed under the morning sun flooding the small, sterile room. The only sound was the heart monitor beeping at a steady rhythm.
His eyes focused on her chest, watching her lungs expand and contract. It was a macabre scene for a man who loathed hospitals. Now, he despised Carl Reed even more. His head hurt with a mash of anger and worry.
Adjoining the room was a modest washroom with a shower, hand basin and toilet. He ran the cold water tap until the water was icy cold, then splashed his face and patted it dry with a paper towel.
He slumped into the high back chair at the foot of her bed and shut his eyes. A subtle vibration in his pocket forced him to a quick stand. He jogged to the hallway and accepted the call.
Skipping the pleasantries, he firmly asked, “Jamie. What’s the latest?”
“Carl is such a creep, Marcus. I don’t know why you kept him in Verto!”
Marcus pressed his forehead to the pale green wall and kicked the skirting. “How was I to know he was a royal fucking dickhead?”
“I’ve been talking to Arthur. You should know that Carl is a member of an exclusive organisation from back in his private school days. They’re sworn to protect each other in any situation, solicitors, judges, policemen, businessmen—you name it. Total shady bastards. He’s got connections everywhere. Last week, he was spotted at a restaurant with Paul Adair, the head of the Law Society.”
“Are you serious?” Marcus snarled.
“Whatever you pull together on him has to be watertight.”
“There’s no way they’d let him out after he murdered his wife! He’ll rot in prison no matter who he shakes hands with.”
