The Enforcer - Kelli Callahan Page 0,6

should be by soon too.” He says over a shoulder, and I hear the scuff of a leather Jakeet, being lifted from something and the familiar sound of it creaking over his strong, broad shoulders.

Looking around the room, I sit in silence before raising my hands up and holding them in front of my eyes. One of them is wrapped up in a bandage, probably from all those doorknobs that I had to test and grab. The other seems relatively unscathed from what my blurry eyes can discern. Sliding my hand around, I feel the IV and follow it to the pole. I don’t like the idea of being tied down. And I want to find Diana. I have to make sure that she’s okay.

Sliding my legs off the bed, I rise and then sit back down quickly. They feel shaky and weak and for a moment, I wonder if it’s possible to lose muscle tone after sleeping for four days. Forcing myself back up again, I stand, inhaling deeply, I run my hands down my body. I feel the hospital gown and wires.

“Well this won’t do,” I mutter, cringing as I use my bandaged hand to remove what can only be an oxygen sensor from my finger. I drop it to the ground. As the machine begins to beep frantically, I pull the IV from my arm. I groan in pain while dropping the needle to the floor. I can’t wait for a nurse. I have to see her now.

Fumbling down the hall, I blink hard while trying to find my vision. It occurs to me that I have no idea what room she’s in.

“Diana?” I say, and hear rapid footsteps approaching.

“Sir, you really need to lay down.”

“Oh my god, I had no idea you were awake,” A small woman says, and I push past her. “Sir, please. Do you need to sit down? You need to rest. Oh my god, you’re bleeding. Did you pull the IV from your arm?” she exclaims.

Ignoring her, I continue down the hall. “Diana?” I say again.

“I need help over here,” The nurse cries.

“Don’t bother,” I say over my shoulder. Walking forward and sliding my good hand along the wall. “Diana!” I shout as the woman behind me races forward while jogging beside me as I take long strides in the hall. “Diana!”

“Sir, please. If you can just sit down for a moment, I promise, I can help you find whoever you’re looking for.”

“I’m looking for Diana,” I say. “I’m not going to rest or do anything until I find her. Do you understand?” I say, doing my best at intimidatingly towering over the pink blur.

The blurry nurse falls silent for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Come on,” she says, taking my elbow lightly. “I’ll show you where she is, then we really need to get you taken care of and checked out by the doctor,” she says.

I don’t like the idea of being told what to do but I suppose I don’t have much choice right now. “Thank you,” I say, forcing myself to be grateful and polite.

“This way,” she says, leading me down the hallway another 15 feet.

Knocking at the door, she pushes it open.

“Diana. You have a visitor.”

I hear fabric rustling as I step closer, blinking hard, trying to see her lovely face.

“Diana,” I ask, uncertainly.

“Jake,” she whispers.

“Yes,” I say to her, relieved to hear her voice.

“I haven’t seen you since the wedding,” she says, as a nurse leads me near the bed.

“Ya,” I say, it’s been a couple of weeks. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing well, thanks to you,” she says.

“Ma’am,” the nurse interrupts.

“If you wouldn’t mind giving us a couple of minutes,” Diana responds to the nurse.

“Alright. But then I really have to come back. He’s not supposed to be up like this,” the nurse says.

“I understand,” Diana replies. “Thank you so much for bringing him here.”

I hear the woman’s footsteps disappear as Diana reaches forward and places her hand on my arm.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she says slowly, her voice sounding thick.

“It’s alright,” I nod.

“I don’t know what happened,” she says. “I was in the tub, and I guess I fell asleep. When I woke up there was smoke everywhere, and I couldn’t get out. I tried, but I passed out. If it weren’t for you, I would be dead right now,” she whispers, squeezing my forearm gently.

“I’m glad I found you,” I say.

“Diana?”

“Yes?”

“When I found you, there was a chair door propped up