to mention I could use my heels as a very effective weapon.”
“Your man is one scary human,” Wolf says over the radio. “Also, you forgot to put yourselves on mute.”
Slim blushes which causes both me and Hawk to laugh.
When the radios are muted on our end, we sit silently and wait for Wolf to make his move. His earpiece is set for open communication. Which means we can hear everything anyone near him says.
“Who the hell are you?” We hear.
“Hola, mi nombre es Lobo. Soy el asistente del Dr. Andrews. Depe ser el Sr. Hernández.”
“Wolf speaks Spanish?” I ask, shocked. “What the hell did he say?”
“He said that his name was Wolf and that he was the doctor’s assistant.”
“You speak Spanish?” I ask, equally as shocked.
“Some of us paid attention in school,” Slim teases.
“Do you speak English, hombre?”
“I do,” Wolf answers. “I’m sorry, I just heard you talking to your female in Spanish and I assumed it would be easier for you if I did as well.”
We hear a deep chuckle. “I see,” the man says. “Well, to answer your question, yes, I am Carlos Hernández. You’re new. How long have you been here?”
“I’m only here until the doctor’s regular assistant returns. He had an appointment and asked me to fill in for the day.”
“I see. Well, we have an appointment to see Dr. Andrews.”
“Of course, Mr. Hernández. If you would just follow me to a waiting room. Would you like a wheelchair for Mrs. Hernández?”
I burn with anger at not only hearing Wolf call her Mrs. Hernández, but with the fact that my woman is so close, and I can’t touch or see her.
“No thank you. And call me Carlos.”
“Of course, Carlos.”
“Just lay her on the bed and the doctor will be in with you shortly.”
A few minutes go by before Wolf speaks.
“She’s in the room and awake,” he tells us. “She looks rough, brother, I’m not going to lie. But she’s alive.”
“Did she recognize you?” I ask, desperate for any information.
“Are they here?” Someone asks on Wolf's end.
“They’re in room seven,” Wolf answers.
“Thank you, Wolf. I might need your help with her. I’m not sure if she’s going to need to be sedated or not. Just keep a listen for me.”
“Of course.”
We wait.
“You need to take some deep breaths, brother,” Hawk says. “Keep your mind clear.”
He’s right, of course. I’m a second away from kicking down the door and killing any fucker between me and my woman.
“She did,” Wolf finally says. “She’s hurt, I can tell from her eyes, but she smiled.”
That’s my girl. Tough as nails and stubborn to no end.
Wolf had to sign a paper when he was ‘hired’. It stated that he wasn’t allowed to speak about anything he sees, hears, or learns while working there.
Slim assures us, legally standing, that he should be fine. Wolf didn’t sign his legal name so it shouldn’t hold in court.
We’re hoping so anyway.
“Wolf, please join me,” we hear Dr. Andrews say.
“Next time something like this happens,” Slim says, clearly frustrated. “The person going it is wearing glasses with a built-in camera.”
“Hopefully, there will never be a next time,” Hawk says.
“Remember what you signed?” the doctor asks.
“Yes, sir,” Wolf answers. “Nothing leaves this room.”
“Mrs. Hernández has some marks made from a whip across her back. A few have become infected and we need to treat her with a series of antibiotic shots as well as a steroid shot.”
I don’t realize doing it, but I must have started running towards the building. Hawk tackles me to the ground and holds me there until I get myself under control.
“If she decides she needs out now, then we’ll get her out,” Hawk says. “But if you run in there now, you’re liable to get a lot of people killed.”
Damnit.
“I need you to clean her back and bandage it up,” the doctor's voice echoes in my ear. “I’ll go get the injections prepared.”
“You know the rules, doc,” Carlos speaks up. “I monitor every injection you give.”
“Of course,” doc sighs.
“As for you,” Carlos continues. “I have someone on the other side of this door. Do not leave this room until I return.”
“Yes, Mr. Hernández,” Wolf says calmly.
We hear the door open and close, but the room stays silent.
I fall to the ground next to Slim and wait.
“Wolf.”
I’m thrown back by the sound of Rachel’s voice. I’m overjoyed to hear it and know that she’s still alive. But she sounds tired. Almost, too tired.
“What are you doing here?” she asks. “Is Sammy okay?”
“Ink is fine,”