Free Marrying Mari by Elyse Snow Page B

the chart. “Dr. Taylor. Right now he’s in with another patient, but should be done soon.”
    “Will he come back here?”
    “I don’t know.” The nurse sighed and shifted her feet. In a kinder tone, she added, “I’ll put a notification in that you’re here, how’s that?”
    “Thanks.” Ethan flashed her a forced smile. “Sorry.”
    “I get it.” The nurse squeezed his arm. “But if she’s still in curtains, it’s not that serious. It’s a good sign that he left her here.” She squinted at the chart. “Lots of cuts and bruises but no collision. No head trauma. That’s good. Gotta go.” And with that, she sprinted toward the back.
    Ethan took his first deep breath since Amanda had poked her head into his office. He pulled out his cell and pressed another button.
    From the curtained area, Gabe looked out. “News?”
    Ethan shook his head. “The nurse said she’d tell the doctor we’re here, and that if Mari is in curtains, it’s not as serious as it looks. She said the chart said no head trauma.” The call connected, and Ethan turned his attention to the voice at the other end. “Greta? Hello. I’m at Bellevue, in the ER. A friend had an accident—no, not Gabe. Mariella Amorini. I just got here, and I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet, but I wondered if there was anything you could do? Taylor. I don’t know the first name. Looks like R on the chart. Thanks.” He disconnected. “Greta will check into it.”
    “Good.” Gabriel scrubbed his hands over his face. “So we wait?”
    Ethan shrugged. “I guess so.”
    They stepped back through the curtains, and Ethan replaced the chart.
    “Here, sit down.” Gabriel shoved him into the chair by her bedside. “I’ll go get you something to drink, a soda or something. Move the bike too.” He disappeared.
    Staring at Mari’s white face, Ethan sat quietly. He lifted his hand and touched her still fingers, lying on the cot beside her. Her breathing was regular, and she had a tiny frown on her forehead, between her brows. He smoothed it away with one long finger. She shifted, turning her head toward him, pushing against his hand like a sleepy kitten.
    The sounds outside the curtain faded away, all the voices and electronic noises. Ethan laid his whole hand against her brow and breathed. Closed his eyes and said a small, heartfelt prayer of thanks, as the tension drained out of him.
     
    Gabriel strode through the waiting room, cutting a path to the automatic doors. He didn’t notice, but hospital personnel and the patients who were capable of it ducked out of his way. A man, six two, in bike leathers, sporting dark glasses and a grim expression tended to make smaller folks stand aside. The fact that he never looked at one of them only made the crowd part more quickly.
    Some people breathed a sigh of relief once the automatic doors closed behind him.
    Several of the women hoped he’d come in again and sit down, just for the pleasure of staring at the stunning combination of his hard features and waving, golden hair.
    Outside, Gabriel moved swiftly and without hesitation toward the motorcycle he had carelessly parked and locked in a restricted space. Dedicated to some doctor, he noted without caring. Mounting the bike he keyed it on again, then, as it roared to life, suddenly slumped in the seat. Overwhelmed with the emotions that had driven him since Ethan’s call. Fear. Anger. Determination. Love .
    That was the kicker, that last one. Gabe realized, somewhere around 25th Street that he was in love with Mariella Amorini. A woman he’d known for about forty-eight hours.
    Yeah.
    He thought Ethan was falling, but somehow, Gabriel was already there.
    One day ago, his thinking had gone something like this: Yeah, I want a mate. Yeah, Ethan and I need a mate. A woman. To seal the deal with the Colony, to keep our lives our own, to live the way we want to. And yeah, a woman to have our children, to raise them and make a home. Fucking us regularly.