Devil Takes His Innocent

by Emma Anderson

  As one of the officers went stumbling backward, he fell into the other nurse present. This coincided with a trolley of equipment being pushed into the cubicle by a trainee nurse. In the confusion, the prisoner somehow managed to get his hands on a scalpel from the trolley. Gabby heard a gasp of pain seconds before something sliced into her arm. Still she held on. Her decision was helped by the clanging sound of metal hitting the ground.

  The prisoner’s shouted expletives suggested that the officers had successfully restrained his arms. Her confirmation came when a hand landed on her shoulder, gently trying to ease her up. It was the officer whose nose appeared to be broken. His cheek was bleeding from the thin slice down it—a cut that no doubt would match the one on her arm. The officers made short work of attaching the leg cuffs to the bed as well, and Gabby took a deep breath and forced herself to glance down at her own arm. Blood poured from the deep gash and she gulped as a doctor swept the curtain aside and breezed into the room.

  Of course it had to be the one doctor in the whole hospital that Gabby didn’t like. His arrogance grated on most of the nursing staff’s nerves. Even in her injured state, he didn’t fail to live up to his reputation.

  “I was told the patient was ready to see me. Why hasn’t his wound been cleaned and a trolley prepared for me, Gabby?” the man complained. “I have other people to see. Call me back once my instructions are seen to.”

  With that the doctor walked out of the cubicle, allowing her the opportunity to truly assess the extent of the damage caused by the prisoner. It would seem that she and the officer with the broken nose had come out of the scuffle worse off. The other nurse tended to the officer, leaving Gabby to her own devices. Looking down at her arm, she attempted to clean the blood from around the cut. But still it kept coming. After several more bloody swabs landed in the rubbish bin, she finally acknowledged that she needed someone to look at her injury. Thankfully the doctor followed his usual habits and went to report Gabby and the other nurse to the head nurse, who in turn popped her head through the privacy curtains.

  “Everything okay in here?” Sharon asked before stepping into the cubicle once she noticed the injured officers. “What happened?”

  Gabby wrapped a bandage around her injured arm in an attempt to minimize the mess caused by the still flowing blood while Sharon checked over the officers’ injuries. They filled her in on what occurred, including the doctor’s reaction to the scene. With her bandage in place, Gabby went to make sure the other nurse was okay. She had taken quite a fall with the officer. Gabby was concerned that she may have hurt herself.

  She heard Sharon shouting out for other staff members right before she felt a hand on her shoulder. “I see Doc Up-Himself has once again displayed how far up his own ass his head goes,” Sharon said. “You did good, Gabby, from what I’m told, but now it’s time to take a breather and take care of yourself. Why don’t you go and let one of the other doctors check out your arm while I deal with the situation in here?”

  Nodding her head, Gabby allowed herself to be guided from the cubicle. She didn’t relish the idea of anyone looking at her arm other than Nikki. Gabby knew that anyone else would insist she had stitches, and that just wasn’t going to happen. Her fear of needles was well known around the department and often joked about. Like any other nurse, Gabby could give an injection, take blood, and insert a cannula ready for an IV, but when it came to her needing any of these, she ran the other way.

  As she made her way toward her locker, she ran into Nikki. “You sneaking out of here early?” her friend asked, right before she gasped. “Shit, Gabby, what happened?”

  “Can we talk about it later? Right now I just need you to clean this up so I can get out of here.”

  “I don’t know, Gabby. With the amount of blood leaking through that bandage, I would say it’s too deep to just stick a plaster on,” Nikki said sympathetically. “Let me go and get some stuff. I’ll take a quick look at it and then I’ll see. Hopefully we can just glue it or steri-strip it. How does that sound?”

  Gabby nodded and leaned against the wall, too numb with fear at the possibility of stitches to say anything. She knew her friend would only resort to that option if it was a necessity, but still she knew deep down it was more than likely the only option. She was losing a lot of blood from the wound.

  Gabby closed her eyes. Again, at her time of need she thought of Devil. She wanted to feel his arms around her, comforting her. Somehow, she knew he would make it all right. As her thoughts wandered to the man who had stormed into her life, she felt something on her arm. She went to swat it away but her hand was held.

  “No, Gabby, don’t. You need to immobilize this arm until we can take care of your wound.” Nikki’s voice broke through her daydream. “There you go, all done.”

  “What’s done?”

  “Honey, even without looking at the wound I can tell you’ll need stitches.” Gabby shook her head. “Yes, Gabby. Which is why Sharon just gave you a sedative. Now work with us and get into the wheelchair so we can get you to a cubicle.”

  Standing, Gabby stated, “No, I’m going home.”

  “Honey, you know as well as I do, once that sedative starts to kick in, you’ll be a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road. And I know you would never intentionally put anyone else in harm’s way.”

  “Damn it, Nikki, you know I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can,” Sharon said. “If you can throw yourself over a violent, mentally unstable prisoner who’s trying to escape, then you can handle this.”

  Gabby felt two sets of hands on her. One under her good arm, while the other set carefully hoisted her up under her armpit with a hand putting pressure on the still gushing wound. Gabby wanted to fight these two women, her fear demanding it, but her head had other ideas. It was spinning, making it hard for her to focus. It was too soon for the drugs to be working, but she knew she was losing a significant amount of blood from her wound. Add that to what Devil had taken over the last twenty-four hours, and her body was suffering. Her jumbled thoughts finally settled on Devil, and she closed her eyes and held on to the image. She tried to maintain her hold on him while nightmarish things were being done to her arm.

  Chapter Ten

  Devil sped to Gabby’s house, eager to fuck his woman. He knew Nikki was working a later shift, which meant they would have the house to themselves. When he pulled into the driveway, he discovered his mate’s car was not there. Deciding she must have stopped in at one of the shops on the way home, he waited. Half an hour later, his patience was wearing thin. He rang the men he had assigned to protect his mate when he was unable to.

  “Where are you?”

  “We’re still at the hospital, sir.”

  “What the hell do you mean still at the hospital? Gabby should have finished her shift over an hour ago.”

  “Sir, we have parked two spots down from her car. It’s still here in the lot.”

  After receiving that response, Devil ended that call and made another. This time he rang Gabby, only her phone went straight through to voicemail. Both frustrated and worried, Devil planned her punishment as he walked back to his car. Driving toward the hospital, worry quickly overtook his annoyance.

  Heading straight for the front desk on his arrival, he asked for his mate. He was then directed to the ER. Approaching the large nurses’ station, he once again requested to see Gabby. Before the lady behind the desk could respond, a scent hit his nose. It was one he knew well but didn’t expect to smell in the hospital. Following the scent of his mate’s blood, he came across Nikki struggling to get Gabby into a wheelchair.

  “What happened?” he asked, picking his overly relaxed mate up into his arms. He pulled her closer into his body as he listened to Nikki explain the events leading up to Gabby’s current state. “Does she need to stay?”

  “No, it was only a sedative to calm her. It should wear off soon enough and as long as someone’s there to keep an eye on her, it’ll be fine.”
r />   “She won’t be leaving my sight.”

  “As long as you’re sure,” Nikki said. “I’ll finish my shift and then get her prescription for antibiotics filled on the way home.”

  “Thank you, Nikki, for being here for her.”

  “I’ll always be here for her, Devil,” Nikki stated. “I’ll go get her things from her locker, as well as some extra bandages, just in case the wound bleeds through that one.”

  “My car?” came the slurred words from his arms.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have one of my guys drive it back to the house.”

  “Okay,” Gabby sighed before closing her eyes once again.

  As he waited for Nikki’s return, he took in his mate’s body. Apart from the large bandage on her arm and her paler than normal skin coloring, she appeared fine. So much so, she was currently snoring in his arms. He wasn’t oblivious to the many heads that came through the slit in the curtain. People were coming to check on his mate, of that he had no doubt. He could understand their actions, but there was no longer a need. She was his to watch over. She had no further need for anyone else to do so. Though he suspected Nikki wouldn’t agree with his assessment.

  As if reading the direction of his thoughts, Nikki reappeared carrying with her a bag. “Are you sure you’re okay getting Gabby’s car home? If not, I can ask someone here to help out.”

  Swallowing his growl at the idea of anyone other than his mate and himself driving Gabby’s car, Devil responded, hopefully in a tone that wouldn’t scare the already skittish Nikki, “Thank you for the kind offer, but I have men here. One of them can transport it home.”

  “What do you mean you have men here? Working at the hospital?”

  “In a sense,” Devil replied, kicking himself over his lack of tact. “Look, Nikki, I’ll be honest with you. I don’t trust Jeffrey. Nor do I trust Gabby’s half brother. Since she arrived home from her holiday, I have had men watching her, protecting her.”

  “She won’t like that.”

  “I know, which is why I’m going to ask you to keep it from her. I won’t allow her to place herself in harm’s way by trying to lose my men. Her continued existence has now become my number one priority.”

  “You’re lucky I agree with your take on Jeffrey and Grant, otherwise exposing your high-handed tactics would be the first thing I do when she wakes up.”

  “Thank you, Nikki,” he replied, bowing his head. “I will see you when you get home.”

  “Can I ask you something else before you disappear?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ll walk you to your car,” she said, holding the curtains open for him to exit. “Why do you call our rental property home, when I don’t doubt that you have a place you probably own?”

  “Your assumption is correct. But Gabby refuses to leave you at this stage, and I would never ask her to do so.”

  “Did she tell you why she feels the need to be near me?”

  “No, she hasn’t betrayed your trust, nor would I ask her to. But Judge and I picked up on your emotions the other night. Someone has hurt you. And you have both Judge and myself ready to hunt this guy down if ever you wish it to be.”

  With tears in her eyes, Nikki touched him for the first time. Placing a hand on his arm, she replied, “Thank you. The man in question is currently rotting in a jail cell.”

  “Alas, our fun will have to wait for another day,” he said, smiling down at his mate’s best friend. Now nearing his car, he added, “It’s my turn to ask the question. Why did you send the flowers I sent Gabby back?”

  “Because even though you were the first date Gabby had had in a long while, I accepted it when she said it didn’t work out. Besides, you were associated with Jeffrey, and I don’t trust that man’s motives. So I protected my friend by discouraging any further contact from you by rejecting your flowers and claiming not to know who Gabby was.”

  Reminding himself that Nikki knew little of the true reasons behind Gabby and his initial introduction, Devil was careful in his reply. “Thank you for telling me, Nikki. Though I would like to point out, Jeffrey Harrison is no associate of mine. He wanted something from me, something he failed to acquire. Now, I’ll see you at home. Hopefully your night won’t be as eventful as Gabby’s.”

  Devil watched the petite woman walk back toward the hospital entrance. He was pleased with the progress he had made with her tonight, he just didn’t like the cost to his mate. Nikki was a wary creature, though it would seem she had every right to be. He couldn’t imagine any reason to hurt a female. Of all the atrocious crimes he had committed in the name of the Gods, not one had been against a woman directly. He didn’t doubt that many had suffered by his actions, but still the blame lay at the feet of those he was charged with punishing. Had those people chosen to do right by those around them, then Devil and his brothers wouldn’t still be walking the earth. He conceded that people had a lot to learn, and they could learn it from his sweet, kind-hearted Gabby, himself included.

  ****

  Gabby woke knowing she was no longer at the hospital. Nowhere in that building did a soft, comfortable mattress exist. With that knowledge came questions. Was she at home? How had she got there? Was Nikki missing a shift to take care of her?

  “Are you okay, angel?” came the sexy voice of Devil. In that voice lay her answers.

  Slowly opening her eyes, her gaze met with his darker one. Responding to the concern she saw there, she replied, “Groggy. How long have I been out?”

  “A couple of hours.”

  “Really?” she said, trying to get out of bed. Devil stopped her. “I need to get up. If I stay here I won’t sleep later.”

  “I will help you sleep. Have no fear.” Immediately her pussy sprung to life, readying itself for Devil. He, in turn, shook his head. “You’ve been injured, there will be no playing until you are completely healed.”

  “But, Devil!”

  “No, angel, I have other ways of helping you go to sleep.”

  “How?”

  “Well, I think it’s time you heard my story.”

  Gabby’s interest piqued and her foggy mind cleared. “You mean you’re finally going to tell me your age.”

  Devil’s deep, throaty laugh sounded at her question. “As you wish, my mate, though I must warn you, I have no number to give you.”

  “What, you’re not sure of your age? Or you’re older than time itself?”

  “Listen to my story, and you will understand. But first drink,” he ordered, handing her a glass. Desperate to hear what Devil had to say, she guzzled the water down as quickly as she could. She handed the empty vessel back, raising her eyebrows.

  “Okay, I get the message. First let me ask, have you heard of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?”

  “Of course.”

  “What do you know of them?”

  “Only that they were symbols of the disasters that were meant to bring an end to all of humanity. And that they were known as Death, Conquest, War, and Famine.”

  “Correct, though I have another version of the Horsemen that you may be interested in.” Gabby nodded vehemently. “I can tell you of the one named Death. He lived in a time before time had a numerical number. He and his family farmed the land, growing only enough for themselves, as well as a little to sell at the markets. The farmer worked hard, ensuring he could provide for his family. One day, an offer was made on the land. It was a generous offer, but not one the farmer wished to accept, so he rejected it, explaining he wished to pass it on to his son when he was old enough. As payment for his honesty, the farmer, his wife, and son were placed in cages and hung from tall pillars. The farmer watched as his wife and son slowly starved to death, dehydrated and burnt by the sun’s strong rays. The moment before he breathed his last breath, the Gods appeared before him, offering him death, though not in the way he had thought. They were giving him a chance to claim retribution for the greed that caused the death of his family. He was changed into a vampire. No
amount of greed-fueled behavior could have killed him. When he asked why him, they responded that they needed people who understood and had experienced those things that humans both fear and perpetuate through their own actions. I, along with my brothers, were meant to be a constant reminder of what greed can create.”

  “By brothers, you mean Judge and the other two, don’t you?”

  “Yes. Though we share no blood between us, I view Judge, Viper, and Chaos as my kin. Our joint experiences made us perfect for the quest bestowed upon us.”

  “What of the stories?”

  “Like many myths, some are true, others fabricated. The one revolving around the Four Horsemen was created by us. For a long time our quest to punish greed was successful. That was until the idea of profits began to control the humans’ behavior. Their fear of the punishments delivered by us was overshadowed by what they had in their coffers. Rumors had always circled us, so we decided to start our own. Only this time, we chose our own names. Death, Conquest, War, and Famine are all brought about by greed. Over time, humans added to the myth, nurturing it with their idyllic beliefs and fears,” Devil explained.

  “So you’re okay with the evil portrayal humans have created around your names?”

  “The truth is, there’s a little bit of us in each of our names. Death is not foreign to me, just as conquering is something Viper is known for. His strategic mind and stubbornness have gained him quite a reputation. Judge and Chaos are just as suited to their other names as Viper and myself,” Devil said, grabbing her hand. “Together we have done things that many would view as the most heinous of crimes, in the name of our quest. I cannot now, nor will I ever, claim to be innocent. I would never declare that everything I have done was in the name of the Gods, because it wasn’t.”

  “Judge hinted at that when he asked me to give our relationship a chance,” Gabby explained, deciding that his honesty deserved hers.