One
Doctor’s Orders…
“This is bullshit,” I protested, feet digging into the linoleum floor. “Just stop for a second and let me explain.” My old Converse sneakers streaked across the surface, followed closely by an annoying squeal that reverberated throughout the all-too-silent E.R. The sole nurse at the entrance looked up from her perch—spared me no more than a single glance before turning her attention back toward the screen in front of her. “All I ask is for five minutes.”
Another yank and the cop walking me in stumbled a bit. “Cut it out,” he spat out from between clenched teeth, his hard brown eyes daring me to make another uncooperative move. His hand on my arm tightened, finger nails dug in, and I winced at the force he used to push me forward.
Asshole.
“Officer Anderson, I ask that you reconsider.” Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before turning to look up at him from beneath my long lashes. “This isn’t necessary and you know it. I’m fine.”
“Didn’t know you’d acquired a medical license within the last hour,” he replied, using the same saccharine sweetness I’d put into my tone. “I must have a genius on my hands tonight.”
“Didn’t know I’d been arrested by a Broadway reject,” I sneered back, glare in place which did nothing to deter his next move. With a flick of his wrist, my arm had been twisted into an uncomfortable position. Caused me to place some weight on my injured foot and I bit my lip hard—fought to keep in the cry of pain that wanted to be released.
“How fast you flip the script, kid.” How the fuck was I still a kid at twenty? “One minute the shy and sweet, doe eyed blonde, to a bitter shrew the next.” His hot breath met the back of my neck and I shuddered. The man was getting far too much enjoyment out of my misery.
“How exactly am I a shrew, Officer?” The malice in my tone couldn’t be hidden and he seemed taken a back for a second. A second where I saw past his ridiculous “I’m saving you” narcissism and the hero complex he donned.
“Walk.” Instead of acknowledging my question, he pushed me a few steps forward and paused in front of the hospitals reception desk. Arms still handcuffed, he turned me around and kept his eyes on mine while speaking to the nurse. “Need someone to examine my detainee.”
“I’m fine, dammit.” At my interjection, his nails dug in deeper and I winced. “Let me go.”
Thunderous eyes narrowed and the horrible mustache over his lip twitched. “Are you?” he snapped back, tired of my never ending sass and defiance—dared me to deny that I wasn’t in any kind of pain, more so than the one he was causing. “Because from what I saw and the position you landed in, I’d say you were hurt. More than hurt, but too stubbornly proud to admit or accept the help you’re being offered.”
“What happened to my legal right to deny medical attention?”
“You lost that the moment I arrested you, Nora.” Turning my body away from his, he undid my handcuffs and took a few steps back. His low chuckle met my ears and I tensed. Anger spiking, while I brought my hands up and rubbed at the slight red skin where they’d been. “You’re under my care and as such, I will not take any chances. By. The. Book.”
Celebrating my twenty-first birthday in the hospital was not high up on my list of priorities.
“Are you seriously not going to let me go?” Exasperated, I made to take a step toward him. Brown eyes narrowed, he glared into my blue ones. Made me pause and instead, I had to settle for a hand on my hip. “It wasn’t that big of a deal...just an end of semester thing.”
“You call vandalizing the school nothing? What were you—”
“It wasn’t the entire school, just the art department.” At my interruption his nostrils flared and this time, I took a step back. “Our teacher expected this, its tradition with all the kids taking his course.”
“Then why run?” he
Doctor’s Orders…
“This is bullshit,” I protested, feet digging into the linoleum floor. “Just stop for a second and let me explain.” My old Converse sneakers streaked across the surface, followed closely by an annoying squeal that reverberated throughout the all-too-silent E.R. The sole nurse at the entrance looked up from her perch—spared me no more than a single glance before turning her attention back toward the screen in front of her. “All I ask is for five minutes.”
Another yank and the cop walking me in stumbled a bit. “Cut it out,” he spat out from between clenched teeth, his hard brown eyes daring me to make another uncooperative move. His hand on my arm tightened, finger nails dug in, and I winced at the force he used to push me forward.
Asshole.
“Officer Anderson, I ask that you reconsider.” Taking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before turning to look up at him from beneath my long lashes. “This isn’t necessary and you know it. I’m fine.”
“Didn’t know you’d acquired a medical license within the last hour,” he replied, using the same saccharine sweetness I’d put into my tone. “I must have a genius on my hands tonight.”
“Didn’t know I’d been arrested by a Broadway reject,” I sneered back, glare in place which did nothing to deter his next move. With a flick of his wrist, my arm had been twisted into an uncomfortable position. Caused me to place some weight on my injured foot and I bit my lip hard—fought to keep in the cry of pain that wanted to be released.
“How fast you flip the script, kid.” How the fuck was I still a kid at twenty? “One minute the shy and sweet, doe eyed blonde, to a bitter shrew the next.” His hot breath met the back of my neck and I shuddered. The man was getting far too much enjoyment out of my misery.
“How exactly am I a shrew, Officer?” The malice in my tone couldn’t be hidden and he seemed taken a back for a second. A second where I saw past his ridiculous “I’m saving you” narcissism and the hero complex he donned.
“Walk.” Instead of acknowledging my question, he pushed me a few steps forward and paused in front of the hospitals reception desk. Arms still handcuffed, he turned me around and kept his eyes on mine while speaking to the nurse. “Need someone to examine my detainee.”
“I’m fine, dammit.” At my interjection, his nails dug in deeper and I winced. “Let me go.”
Thunderous eyes narrowed and the horrible mustache over his lip twitched. “Are you?” he snapped back, tired of my never ending sass and defiance—dared me to deny that I wasn’t in any kind of pain, more so than the one he was causing. “Because from what I saw and the position you landed in, I’d say you were hurt. More than hurt, but too stubbornly proud to admit or accept the help you’re being offered.”
“What happened to my legal right to deny medical attention?”
“You lost that the moment I arrested you, Nora.” Turning my body away from his, he undid my handcuffs and took a few steps back. His low chuckle met my ears and I tensed. Anger spiking, while I brought my hands up and rubbed at the slight red skin where they’d been. “You’re under my care and as such, I will not take any chances. By. The. Book.”
Celebrating my twenty-first birthday in the hospital was not high up on my list of priorities.
“Are you seriously not going to let me go?” Exasperated, I made to take a step toward him. Brown eyes narrowed, he glared into my blue ones. Made me pause and instead, I had to settle for a hand on my hip. “It wasn’t that big of a deal...just an end of semester thing.”
“You call vandalizing the school nothing? What were you—”
“It wasn’t the entire school, just the art department.” At my interruption his nostrils flared and this time, I took a step back. “Our teacher expected this, its tradition with all the kids taking his course.”
“Then why run?” he
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