head injuries,” the nurse replied with a polite smile.
Savannah sat down in the chair, resigned to the full treatment. “I’m fine,” she told the nurse.
“That nasty gash on the back of your head says otherwise.”
Savannah couldn’t argue with that. Especially since she had no idea what the back of her head looked like. Plus, her shoulder was really starting to sting. She wanted to look at that spot, but the pain in her head was pretty overwhelming right now.
She allowed the nurse to bring her into an examination room. A doctor was already there, waiting for her.
“Looks like you had a rough night,” the doctor commented, gently examining the gash at the back of her head. “I’d like to get…”
“No!” Savannah gasped. When she looked at the woman, she sighed. “I’m sorry, but I can’t afford any expensive tests. In a few weeks, I’ll have money and health insurance. But right now, I only have the bare minimum.”
The doctor smiled gently. “I promise that your insurance, even the bare minimum, covers catastrophic care like this.” She wrote something on the chart. “CT Scan and then let’s clean up the gash, see if she needs stitches. The arm scrap should be okay, I’ll prescribe some antibiotic ointment. The nurse will clean out the wounds.” The doctor smiled reassuringly at Savannah and walked out of the exam room. Over the next hour, Savannah was poked and prodded and put through a huge machine for a scan, all the while, praying that the hospital accepted payment plans. Yeah, the big guy had said that she shouldn’t worry and the doctor had assured her that even her minimal insurance would cover the expense. But Savannah lived in the real world. And in her world, she’d have to spend many hours fighting with the insurance company, convincing them that they needed to cover the costs of this hospital visit…only to have them eventually push the costs to her. Savannah was powerless in this world and insurance companies…they had all the power.
A long time later, she was wheeled back into the exam room, exhausted and discouraged and in so much pain, she almost felt sick. Then Gaelen stepped into the room next and the pain disappeared. Savannah swallowed hard as he came closer.
“You’re not to worry about the expense. It’s been taken care of,” he told her, his voice like rough sandpaper. In contrast, his thumb, when he touched her cheek, was gentle and soothing. “I promise. We’ve already called your employer and told him what happened. He said don’t worry about coming in on Saturday or Sunday.”
Savannah groaned. “I’ll be fine. Plus, I need the money.” She whispered that last part, ashamed to admit it to a man of obvious wealth. “I know that probably isn’t something you have to think about. But I count pennies. If I go two days without pay, I won’t be able to pay my rent.”
His eyes darkened and his thumb caressed her cheek again. “My lawyer has already contacted Mr. Brisbane. The man will pay for what he did to you tonight.”
“Brisbane?”
The man smiled. “John Brisbane is the name of the man who attacked you. He’s an investment broker at one of the big firms here in town. He’s pretty well off and is going to pay heavily for what he did to you. I guarantee that my lawyers are more shark-like than anything Brisbane can afford.” Gaelen’s thumb slid over her cheek again, sending more sparks of awareness, his hazel eyes dark and sparkling with barely contained fury. “I’m going to destroy him.”
Savannah’s hand crept up, covering his. She’d thought to move his hand away from her cheek, but instead, she pressed his hand against her skin. “You’re a dangerous man, aren’t you?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” he replied honestly. “But you don’t have to fear me. I’ll protect you.”
She leaned into his hand, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Then she inhaled and sat up straighter, ignoring the pain in her head. “I can protect myself,” she replied firmly. “And I need to go.”
The doctor reappeared with a nurse, the nurse loaded down with supplies to clean Savannah’s wounds. “We can’t release you until a relative arrives. Someone who can watch over you tonight.”
The nurse moved behind Savannah and started cleaning her head wound. Whatever the woman was doing, it felt really good!
Then the doctor’s words penetrated and Savannah blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry but I don’t understand. Why do I need someone to watch me? I’m