Page 77

“I will drive Ellie home,” Dr. Bass said. “I already told my attendings to handle my day. I want to check on my daughter and the situation.”

“Good, let us know how she is,” Dr. Carpenter accepted.

And that was it. Ellie was gone before I could even get a kiss goodbye or check with her again that this was what she wanted. It felt like whiplash from her practically on my lap and holding onto me for dear life not minutes ago.

The girl was doing well in surgery when we checked in. I promised to be on call just in case but let them know that I had a pressing issue so to please let me know the moment I was off the hook. To say they all gave me weird looks was an understatement.

But when I quietly explained to Dr. Carpenter that I would try to get Ellie to have some funny brownie if she let me, he fully understood. I wanted to basically clock out with her and be whatever she needed me to be.

And if that was a high buddy with munchies and binge-watching anything to take her mind off what happened, all the better.

The police station was a madhouse, and vampires all over lost their minds when we showed up. Some were threatening to kill us if we didn’t drop the charges, and others were accusing us of unplugging their family member in retaliation.

“Shut it!” Gerald roared, showing he was a lion shifter for sure. “Dr. Clark and Dr. Carpenter arenotin charge of his care, nor have they been near his room.Norin contact with his doctors. I checked.”

“I don’t even know who you people are,” I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest as I stared them down.

“Bad move,” Dr. Carpenter sighed, and Gerald had about the same reaction.

But I thought it was smart because they blew up all over again, pissed that I didn’t. It showed this was all about their egos and being pompous assholes, not us. I met the gaze of the officerwho screamed he was in charge, and he gave me a slight nod that he was on the same page as me.

Lovely.

I did a double take when Mum walked in, having thought she’d gone back to London.

“This is a situation with a patient’s family misunderstanding a situation and attacking a doctor, but if you want a problem with your family and the Clark pack of London, you have it,” she said loudly, authority in her voice. “I can be here to check on my son who was hurt or as the Alpha Mate of London.Your choice.”

People slowly went silent. Unlike wealthy, old-school vampire families, being the mate of a powerful shiftermeantsomething.

Something big.

And more importantly, they obviously believed Mum from the way the eldest of the family fell in line. They realized they couldn’t use their money and privilege because someone had a bigger card to play on that than they did.

She seemed content and nodded to Dr. Carpenter and Gerald. “I apologize for interjecting, but I realized a bit more here could alleviate stress on your day. Let me play nice with the head office and I will get out of your way.”

“‘Out of our way?’” Gerald chuckled. “I’m about to construct a shrine to you, Alpha Mate. This isn’t my field of law, so I appreciate the backup.”

“It is ours,” the woman I’d seen with Ellie a few times said. Alexis? Yes, Alexis Gomez who was the head attorney for Amanda’s Hope. She dipped her head to Mum before focusing on Gerald. “Ellie asked me to tag in since I handle these sorts of things better and it all centers on her anyways. She said you could handle billing since—”

Understanding immediately filled his eyes. “Of course. The hospital will pay the tab so it doesn’t cut into the non-profit funds.”

I snorted. “I’ll throw in some funds as well. The hospital probably would want most of this dismissed and not raise a fuss.”

“On the contrary, Clark,” Dr. Carpenter cut in. “We make a stink about these sorts of things more than any other hospital. And because of that we have less staff hurtoverany other hospital.” He waited until I met his gaze. “If you excuse bad behavior, you set the precedent for more of it.

“The fact UPS prosecutes people who clock delivery drivers and hospitals don’t do the same to those who hurt their emergency department staff is sickening. In pain ornot, people are responsible for their actions. Being drunk doesn’t forgive someone tearing up a bar and it shouldn’t an ED. Medication interactions are the only ones we let go with an agreement of treatment.”

Wow, that was much,muchbetter than any hospital I’d ever worked for.

Or heard of. It was just expected we accepted it as part of the job and I wasn’t even in the emergency department. But I’d helped out in between patients for more than my fair share of staff with bloody noses or beaten faces.

Glad there was at least one place that protected their staff.

I thanked Mum again and again, glad when the ranking officer was polite and thanked her as well before she headed out. I promised to update her and that I was fine.

But was she?

No. It was very clear that she wasn’t.