Page 66 of Danger Close

“The 5’8” one with brown hair, I’d appreciate it if you left for me.” Why was she so damn amused?

“Done.” Cobra nodded as if they’d struck a bargain. “Beaufort is out front filling out papers for me. We’ll circle the wagons, get all Paradigm assets on this. I want those three men, and I want themyesterday.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” Charlotte got up. “I’m sure Mack is burning rubber to get here, so I’ll meet him at the entrance before he throws a tantrum like you. The poor medical staff won’t appreciate a second hysterical male.”

She left, passing a man in a white medical coat on his way in. The stethoscope on his neck, and the name sewn onto his jacket declared he was a doctor.

“Why isn’t she in the ICU?” I flinched at the letters. Cobra didn’t turn to face away from me, even though he was addressing the doctor. “She’s not going home tonight, obviously, so why hasn’t she been moved to a permanent room?”

The doctor coughed, “Mr. Guerro…”

Cobra stiffened, his hand tightened around mine until I winced. The doctor recoiled, probably intimidated by the storm in Cobra’s hazel-green eyes. Or maybe just by the sheer size of him. I swear he was a foot taller than normal, towering over the poor doctor.

“How old are you?” Cobra’s voice was low and threatening.

The man sputtered like a broken sprinkler.

“I asked you a question,Doctor Martin.”The way Cobra said his name did not hint at any kind of friendliness.

“I’m… twenty-seven.”

“For fuck’s sake. You’re a fetus!” Cobra waved him away. “Get the fuck out of here, and send in a grown up.”

“Sir, I assure you that I know what I’m doing—”

“What school did you go to?”

“W-what?” The poor doctor stammered so badly that I felt awful for him.

“Joe,” I reached out, clutching at his sleeve.

“What school did you graduate from, Pipsqueak?” Cobra asked, unmoved by my plea.

“I-I went to NYU G-Grossman… S-school of Medicine.”

The poor man.

“Hmm,” Cobra said, his voice slightly less hostile now. “That’s a top ten, so I’ll allow it.”

“Thank you… sir?” The doctor was confused if that was a compliment, an insult, or not. I wasn’t sure either.

“Get her into her own room, Doogie Howzer,” Cobra said, his earlier cooling of hostility disappearing once again. “You’re dismissed.”

“Joe, I’m okay, really.” I let go of his sleeve, my hands too tired to even cling to him. The need to protect the young doctor was strong. He was just a child. And if Cobra needed to redirect his anger at me, then so be it. I could take it.

Cobra turned to me. His face and body went from anger to desperation in an instant. Like he was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“Youmight be okay, Princess, but I am hanging on by a fucking thread.” He grazed the back of his knuckles against the side of my face. I leaned into it, as much as I could without worsening my injuries. “I’m going to make a phone call, and get your room situation handled. I’m going to call Trinity and —”

“No!” I shouted, and tugged on his sleeve. The fast movement pulled at something, and I winced as pain shot through my shoulder. “Please, don’t.”

“Don’t what?” he asked, perplexed.

“Don’t call Trinity. Don’t tell her. I don’t…” Panic was setting in. “I don’t want her to see me like this. Please. Don’t bother her. Not before her wedding.”

“Baby, she’s going to want to know.”

“No!” I said far too loudly, but I couldn’t hear myself over the sudden roar in my ears. “I’ll just leave. She’s used to that. I’d rather disappear than let her see me like… likethis.”