Page 9 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

I shake my head. “These people here with me are like my family. We can discuss this now.” He peers down at his clipboard reading from it before he faces me, no compassion in his eyes.

“Mr. Jones suffers from a broken leg, three fractured ribs, a concussion, and a ruptured spleen.” At his words, my stomach sinks to my toes and I collapse into Xavier’s waiting arms trying to hold back a sob.

He grips me tight as Dr. Smith drones on.

“We stopped the bleeding and repaired his spleen, but he wouldn’t wake up on his own.

He has a long recovery ahead of him once he wakes up.

We set his leg and his ribs are wrapped up.

He is being moved to ICU and I’ll send a nurse out to escort you up for a few minutes.

But only two people right now and for a few minutes. "

Ana speaks up when I don’t respond. “Thank you, Dr. Smith."

He turns and leaves us, going back through the doors he came out of without another word.

“What a dick.” I rant, finally finding my voice. Mia bursts out laughing at my statement.

“Only you, Izzy. Only you would think the doctor that worked on your dad is a dick.” Mia wipes the tears from her eyes. I shrug my shoulders.

“I just didn’t like him. He acted like it was a chore to tell me about Austin so, he is a dick."

Ana tries to hide her smirk. “Mouth, young lady."

I shrug my shoulders again, anger penetrating through my body. “Sorry Ana, but it’s true.”

“I know honey, but still, I have to try and curb your mouth.” Ana tries but fails at stifling a grin. “Your dad would have done the same."

James and Xavier are trying not to snicker at my outburst as Ana glares at them. They both take a deep breath, calming down.

James turns, “Izzy, we’re going to head home and be back tomorrow to see Austin. Give him our love when you go up there." He kisses my forehead and Ana does the same.

“Xavier, will you give her a ride home?” James turns to his son.

“Yeah, I’m not going anywhere,” Xavier answers, holding me tighter in his strong arms.

Mia hugs me around Xavier’s hold. “I’m going to go too. Call me if anything happens.”

“I will.” Xavier and I watch the three of them walk out the emergency room doors. Their heads are down, but some tension is lifted from their bodies. When they’re out of sight I turn to Xavier, ready to release him from his obligation to stay with me.

“You don’t have to stay. I’m sure there are other things you have to do."

Looking into my eyes, Xavier shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere,” he breathes, caressing my lips with the pad of his thumb. Just as he leans in to close the distance between us, someone clears their throat. Xavier lets out a frustrated breath.

“Miss. Jones?” I pull away from Xavier’s hypnotic stare and turn toward the same nurse I spoke with earlier.

“Yes?”

“Follow me, I’ll take you to your dad. He has been moved up to the ICU on the third floor for now. Once he comes out of the coma on his own and no infections settle in, we will move him to another, more private room."

“Thank you." We follow the nurse in pink scrubs to the elevator. She pushes the up button on the elevator, kindness in her hazel eyes.

“You’re welcome,” she says.

The elevator dings and the doors gently open. We step inside and she pushes the button for the third floor.

“I was here when they brought Mr. Jones in. I’m happy to hear he is doing better. I’ve been a fan of his for years. I normally don’t miss a Friday night race, but I had to work tonight.” she says trying to make small talk. I snuggle against Xavier’s side, holding on to him for support.

“Thank you. That means a lot to me that someone here actually cares.” The nurse turns her head toward me.

“Dr. Smith,” she states. “He does need to work on his people skills. He is one of the best surgeons we have on staff and he is great at what he does, but he doesn’t connect with people."

“Yeah, I’m sorry, but he is a dick,” I respond.

She tries not to laugh. “I hear that all the time, don’t be sorry for speaking your mind.

" The elevator stops, and the doors whoosh open. I hesitate to step out, memories of my mom being here before she died assault my mind and my feet are frozen to the floor. My tongue is sticking to the roof of my mouth and I can’t breathe. A panic attack is starting.

Xavier holds onto me tighter, grounding me, and giving me the strength to get out of the elevator. I release a deep breath and follow the nurse in pink scrubs down a long hallway and through another set of doors.

The smell of bleach is strong here and I shudder for a moment, thinking about my mom again. Xavier knows what’s going through my mind as his arm tightens around my shoulders and he kisses my forehead.

“It’s OK B, it’s not like last time,” he whispers in my ear.

This time my body shivers for a whole other reason. He’s making it hard for me to resist him. Xavier doesn’t let go of me as the nurse opens the door to a room and the beeping of monitors invades my hearing. She leaves us at the door as we slowly walk in.

We round the corner of the room and I see my dad lying on the bed, he looks so helpless.

Tubes and wires are hooked up all over him.

There is a tube down his throat and his hair is covered with a white bandage.

A machine is hooked up to the tube, breathing for him, and a bunch of wires are hooked up to his chest, monitoring his heart.

His lightly bearded face is pale, bruised, and swollen, and his left leg is in a cast. The doctor told me he was in a medically induced coma and didn’t come out of it, but I wasn’t prepared for this.

I lose it.

I sob uncontrollably, as Xavier holds me tight. I can feel his body shaking under my hands from crying too and I grip him harder. I bury my face in his chest and let the hot tears fall against his dark shirt.