West couldn’t wait to get to the hospital to check on his fiancée. As soon as his shift ended, he would see her.
Quinn had to be okay. She was a fighter.
He drove to his apartment in town and dropped off Rex. The dog looked up at him and whined, sensing West’s emotions. He hunkered down and patted Rex’s head.
“She’s going to be fine, boy. She’s going to be fine.”
Maybe if he said it enough times, it would be true.
Anxiety tightened his stomach. Driving to the hospital, West wanted to break every speed limit in town. Not possible. No one knew of their relationship. Had to play it cool.
Doors to the Red Ridge Community Hospital ER swished open. He flashed his badge at the front desk, asked for Quinn Colton.
The nurse barely looked up. “She’s still in the ER. Room three. But you can’t see her yet. The chief called, gave strict orders only family can be with her.”
The hell with that. “Who’s with her now?”
The nurse kept scribbling on a pad. “Her brothers.”
Maybe he was a stranger in town, and Finn Colton held the power with the hospital staff. But nothing would prevent him from seeing his love.
West ignored the nurse, went straight to the closed doors leading from the waiting area to the nurses’ station. A burly security guard narrowed his eyes.
“You have a pass?” the guard asked.
“The only pass I need.” He flashed his badge. “FBI. I work with Shayne and Brayden.”
“The chief said—” the guard began.
“Family only. We’re brothers in arms. I found Quinn in the rubble. Need to check on her.”
He stared down the guard and the man nodded. “All right.”
The security guard pressed the button and the doors swished open to admit him.
Smells assaulted him as he entered the treatment area. Antiseptic, bleach, sickness.
Death.
I’m sorry, West. There was nothing we could do.
Gritting his teeth against the memory, he arrived at room three, where the nurse said he’d find Quinn. Shane, her brother, hovered outside the curtained area.
“Why are you here? Finn gave orders only family is to stay with Quinn.” Shane gave him a suspicious look. “Shouldn’t you be on the scene?”
“I came to check on her.”
Shane turned more wary. “Brand, we’ll take care of interviewing our sister. She doesn’t need extra stress right now.”
Deep breaths. “How is she?”
Shane glanced at the closed blue curtain. Murmurs came from within.
“Brayden’s in there. She finally woke up.”
Well, thank the good Lord for that. “What other injuries?”
“Lacerations, left wrist may be broken, but X-rays aren’t back yet. Biggest problem is the head injury. We don’t have answers yet.” Shane folded his arms across his chest.
West paced, hooking his thumbs in the belt loop of his jeans. “Where’s the doctor? When will we know anything for certain?”
“A major car accident and the bombing have the hospital staff split. We’ll need to sit tight.”
West didn’t care if the entire town suddenly needed medical care. All that mattered was Quinn. “Damn it, what’s taking so long?”
“Cool it,” Shane snapped in a low voice, his stress and worry about his sister obvious. “If you want to be useful, go back to work and find this bastard who hurt my sister. You’re not needed here.”
“Yes, I am. She had a bad head injury.” He stopped, tried to peer past a slim crack in the curtains. “She has to make it. And if I get my hands on the bastard who did this, I’ll break his neck.”
Shane frowned. “What’s it to you?”
Telling the truth hadn’t been in the game plan. They’d wanted to keep their engagement a secret. But with two protective brothers, and a hospital staff who wanted to allow only family in to see her, he knew something had to give.
Still, he hesitated. “I’m the one who found her. Maybe even saved her. I’m concerned.”
Shane relaxed. But he narrowed his eyes. “You may be on the level. But still, you’re a fed.”
West didn’t care what he thought. He needed to see her. Now. “I’m going in,” he announced, as if the room were an active crime scene filled with danger.
Danger of a different sort now—because he was scared as hell of losing the woman lying on that stretcher. Shane started to protest. He ignored him.
Lifting the curtain with one hand, he stepped inside the room.
Brayden sat by Quinn’s bed. Her eyes were closed and a huge white bandage covered her head. Red stained the bandage. West saw red himself, red rage at the bad guy who’d hurt his woman.
Her left wrist was splinted, and she had a bruise and some cuts on her face. But she was alive, breathing. He watched her eyes flutter.
“She’s awake?” he asked.
Brayden looked as wary as his brother. “Why are you here?”
“Came to check on her. I found her.” West crouched down, staring at her too-pale face. “Where’s the doctor?”
“They had a trauma case come in. I’m supposed to make sure she stays awake.”
Relief filled him. Awake was good. From experience, he knew she shouldn’t fall asleep again until the medical staff felt confident she could hold a conversation, and her pupils weren’t dilated. The injury could get worse.
“What did you see when you arrived on scene?” Colton demanded.
West briefed him. “She must have been entering the building. Judging from the position of the detonator, the bomb went off on or near Tia’s desk.”
“If Quinn had been at Tia’s desk, she’d be gone.”
Nails and bolts churned in his guts. “How is she? Does she remember what happened?” West asked.
“Give her a minute, she only woke up a little while ago.” Brayden gripped her hand. “We’re still waiting on tests. But she’s alive. I wanted to question her soon as she fully wakes up.”
Finally Quinn’s lovely eyes opened. She moaned, and Brayden hastened to soothe her.
Colton didn’t know he and Quinn had dated. But what mattered most right now was the woman on the stretcher. West smiled at her.
“Hey there, sleeping beauty.” Maybe using his secret nickname for her would trigger a smile. “How are you feeling?”
Her hand went to the large bandage on her head. “It hurts.”
“I know. Must ache something awful. But it will get better.” He squatted down to eye level with her. “You’re going to be fine. Up to kissing speed in no time.”
Brayden frowned. Well, that would puzzle the guy, and he’d set things straight with the man later. All his attention zeroed in on Quinn.
And then his heart dropped to his stomach as she stared at him with no glimmer of recognition. “Who are you?”
His stomach knotted. The woman he adored and loved had no idea who he was. No memory of first meeting him. No memory of the laughs they’d shared, the stolen moments of togetherness, the lovemaking...
The fact she’d agreed to be his wife.
He was a total stranger to Quinn Colton.