In the Dark by Marliss Melton

Author:Marliss Melton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: United States, United States - Officers, Contemporary, General, Romance, Romantic Suspense Fiction, Suspense, Fiction, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780446614924
Publisher: Forever
Published: 2005-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION

26 SEPTEMBER ~ 11:03 EST

"WELCOME BACK, LIEUTENANT."

LUTHER PRIED HIS STICKY EYELIDS OPEN. HE FOUND HIMSELF IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE A HOSPITAL RECOVERY ROOM. THE STERILE SPACE WAS CRAMMED WITH IVS, TUBES, AND MEDICAL IMPLEMENTS BLEEPING AND BEEPING AWAY. IN FACT, ONE OF THE IVS DRIPPED INTO HIS OWN LEFT HAND. HIS RIGHT ARM WAS BOUND TO HIS CHEST. HE COULDN'T FEEL ANY PAIN, SO HE SUPPOSED HE WAS DOING FINE.

"I'M REXANNE," SAID THE LARGE BLACK WOMAN CHECKING HIS PULSE. SHE HAD JOWLS LIKE A PIT BULL'S AND HAIR GROWING ON HER CHIN. HE WONDERED WHERE HANNAH WAS.

"HOW ARE YOU FEELING?" SHE ASKED IN A NO-NONSENSE TONE.

HE TRIED TO SIT UP. HE COULDN'T AFFORD TO LOITER HERE.

"OH, NO. UNH-UH!" REXANNE HALTED HIS ASCENT WITH A MAN-SIZED HAND. "YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE JUST YET GIVE YOURSELF A DAY OR SO."

"I NEED TO CHECK OUT" LUTHER INSISTED; JAGUAR'S ARTICLE 32 HEARING WAS TOMORROW.

REX RAISED PENCILED-IN EYEBROWS AT HIM. "THOSE PELLETS MAY NOT HAVE STRUCK ANY VITAL ORGANS, BUT YOU HAVE TWENTY-TWO STITCHES THAT WILL TEAR RIGHT OPEN IF YOU MOVE TOO FAST. I’VE DEALT WITH YOUR KIND BEFORE," SHE WARNED HIM, HER DARK EYES BULGING. DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT LEAVING THIS HOSPITAL UNTIL THE COMMANDER GIVES THE ALL-CLEAR."

LUTHER CLOSED HIS EYES AND WAITED FOR HER TO GO AWAY.

"OF COURSE, YOU'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT SHOT" REX ADDED ARCHLY. "AS SOON AS YOU'RE UP TO IT, AN OFFICER FROM PATIENT SAFETY WILL BE IN TO SEE YOU."

LUTHER CRACKED HIS EYES OPEN. "WHERE'S MY CHIEF AND THE GIRL THAT WAS WITH HIM?" HE DIDN'T LIKE HAVING HANNAH OUT OF HIS SIGHT ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY.

"WE ONLY LET FAMILY INTO POST-OP," THE NURSE INFORMED HIM. "THEY'RE WAITIN' IN THE ROOM WE'VE SET UP FOR YOU."

"WHAT'LL IT TAKE TO GET ME OUT OF HERE?" HE ASKED TESTILY.

TO HIS HORROR, REXANNE PURSED HER LIPS IN A SLY, CONSIDERING MANNER. "I'LL LET THE COMMANDER KNOW YOU'RE FEELING BETTER," SHE SAID, JOTTING DOWN HIS PULSE. SHE MOVED AWAY AT LAST, AND HE BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF.

WHAT SEEMED AN ETERNITY LATER, NURSE REX WHEELED HIM DOWN THE HALLWAY TOWARD A ROOM. THIS MILITARY FACILITY, UNLIKE THE ONE NEAR HOME, HAD YET TO BE RENOVATED. IT STILL TOUTED HANGING HALOGEN LIGHTS AND THE INFAMOUS DARK GREEN TILES THAT HAD BEEN PUT INTO EVERY SQUARE FOOT OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY FIFTY YEARS AGO.

THE NURSE PIVOTED HIS GURNEY EXPERTLY THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR. HE WAS RELIEVED TO SEE WESTY CONKED OUT IN THE LOUNGE CHAIR. HANNAH WAS SLEEPING ON HIS BED.

SHE SAT UP AT HIS ENTRANCE, TOO GROGGY TO CONTAIN THE LOOK OF MELTING RELIEF SHE SENT HIM. "LUTHER!" SHE CRIED. HE GLIMPSED A SHIMMER OF TEARS BEHIND THE LENSES OF HER CROOKED GLASSES. MAYBE IT WAS THE PAINKILLER COURSING HIS BLOODSTREAM, BUT HER CONCERN LEFT HIM FEELING GOOD ENOUGH TO JUMP FROM THE GURNEY AND RUN A 5K.

"OUT," REX COMMANDED, ORDERING HANNAH TO EVACUATE HIS BED.

WESTY ROLLED TO HIS FEET, LOOKING SHAGGIER THAN EVER WITH HIS HAIR MUSSED AND HIS BEARD POKING OUT LIKE A PINCUSHION.

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