Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 Karen Whiddon (best fiction books to read TXT) 📖

yourself and my sister,” Jones said, giving a two-fingered wave before getting in his vehicle and driving off.

Micha watched him go and then turned around to head back inside. He made it as far as the front porch steps before he slid to the ground as everything went gray and then black.

* * *

Answering all of Officer Crenshaw’s questions, Carly kept one eye on the door waiting for Micha to return. Even though the danger appeared to be past, he had a beast of a head wound. She’d even begun to rethink making him go to the hospital. In fact, once the questions were over, she thought she’d just go ahead and drive him to the ER herself.

When ten minutes had passed and still Micha didn’t return, part of her wondered if he might still be talking with Jones. But she’d seen how tired her brother appeared to be and knew how badly he’d wanted to go home. In addition, Micha could barely stand. There was no way he was still out there chatting it up with Jones.

Something was wrong.

Cutting off Charlie mid-question, she took off for the front door, motioning for him to follow.

When she caught sight of Micha slumped on her porch, she let out a low keening cry of worry and rushed to him.

“Do you want me to call for an ambulance?” Charlie asked.

“If we can get him into a squad car, I think it’d be faster to take him that way,” she said. “If we could run lights and sirens, that is.”

Charlie eyed her doubtfully. “Micha’s a big man. I don’t know if I can lift him.”

“My cousin’s fiancé is still here. He’s a homicide detective with Chicago PD. If we enlist his help, I’m pretty sure we can get him into a car.”

Without waiting for an answer, she ran back inside.

Working together, Sean and Charlie managed to get Micha into Carly’s vehicle. Then, with Charlie escorting her, police lights flashing, they headed to the hospital. Sean and January followed close behind.

Once there, Charlie ran inside and alerted the charge nurse. Two orderlies were sent out with a wheelchair, though Carly informed them they’d need to come back with a stretcher instead. Meanwhile, Carly checked Micha’s pulse, which was steady, not weak. She wished she had the equipment to check his vital signs. The fact that he’d passed out after a blow on the head had her extremely worried.

After what felt like an eternity, the orderlies returned with two more. All four of them managed to get Micha on the stretcher and inside to triage.

Once inside, Carly was allowed to go back and wait with Micha until the doctor ordered tests, which would be an X-ray and an MRI. “The X-ray will show the bone,” the doctor explained. “While the MRI will show the bone as well a soft tissue, so I can take a look at the brain.”

Carly nodded. Though she already knew this, she appreciated the doctor taking the time to explain.

While Micha was off having his scans, she returned to the waiting area to let January and Sean know. “Charlie had to go,” Sean said. “He wanted me to tell you he’d touch base with you later today.”

The small waiting room had free coffee, though Carly knew from experience that it tasted pretty foul. She checked her watch and guessed she really didn’t need to ingest caffeine at this hour of the morning. She wasn’t scheduled to work today, so she might get some sleep at some point.

Right now, she felt too antsy to sit, so she settled for pacing the waiting room and hallway.

“Did Micha ever wake up?” January asked on her way to get a cup of coffee.

Carly thought about warning her, and then decided her cousin was old enough to make her own choices. “Not that I know of,” she said.

Half an hour dragged on by. Carly knew all too well how long things could take in busy hospital ERs, though the near-empty waiting room gave her hope.

“Carly...” January called her name, inclining her head to where the doctor in his white coat had entered, carrying a clipboard.

Heart skipping a beat, Carly hurried over. January and Sean gathered behind her, offering their physical support.

“Mr. Harrison has a linear skull fracture,” the doctor said, smiling slightly.

Carly breathed a sigh of relief. “Those are the most common,” she told January. “All that’s required is usually an anti-inflammatory and rest.”

The doctor eyed her approvingly. “That’s correct. We feel quite confident that this will heal itself. How did you know?”

“She’s a nurse,” January answered for her.

“I work in the NICU next door,” Carly elaborated.

“Nice to meet you.” The doctor smiled again. “He’s back in the room, though he was still sleeping so I haven’t been able to give him the report. Let us keep an eye on him for a little bit longer, and then we can discharge him to go home with you. I’m thinking another hour or so. Will that work for you?”

“Of course.” Carly sagged with relief. Seeing, January put her arm around Carly’s shoulders, letting her know without words that she’d help hold her up.

“May we go see him?” Carly asked.

“Certainly.” The doctor waved his hand in the general direction of the room. “I’ll fill out the paperwork and pre-sign the discharge papers, though I’ll make sure the nurse knows he can’t leave for at least thirty to forty-five minutes.”

Which in hospital-speak meant an hour or more. Carly thanked him.

Once the doctor had left, Carly led January and Sean down the hall to Micha’s small room. Micha appeared to still be sleeping, though numerous machines beeped while taking his vital signs. She allowed herself to drop into the hard plastic chair next to the bed. January came over and began to rub Carly’s shoulders. “It’s going to be all right,” she murmured.

Carly’s phone, which she’d silenced, began to vibrate, indicating an incoming call. Since it was still way too early for most people to even begin stirring, she figured it