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“Lightning crotch? Oh, that’s rich.” The first man chuckles and the condescension dripping from it sparks my memories. I know who it is, and they’re definitely talking about me.
“Alright, Drew, I’ll take over Miss Holt’s care from here,” Dr. Lughan says.
Now, more than ever, I’m wishing Arlo would burst through the door to be by my side. Everything about Dr. Lughan gives me the creeps. And when Arlo met the man at the first prenatal appointment he attended with me, he agreed. Tomorrow’s supposed to be my second appointment with the new OB-GYN recommended by Arlo’s friend, Dr. Charmden. We both like Dr. Marcisi so much more, and he never gives me the ick the way Lughan always has.
“Miss Holt. I didn’t see you for a six month prenatal visit, and how here you are seven months along. I’d say this meeting is fortuitous, wouldn’t you? But a bit painful for one of us, yes?” Patronizing motherfucker.
“Would you please just tell me what’s going on?” I ask. I don’t have the bandwidth to play his games today. My crotch feels as if someone is jamming a souped-up bug zapper against my cervix while simultaneously punching my ovaries. And of course, I can’t forget the nonstop in utero tap dance on mama’s bladder that the baby has decided to do all day.
“I don’t recall you being this surly. That’ll need to be conditioned before you—” He pauses thoughtfully. “—reach your final destination.”
Before meeting Arlo, Dr. Lughan’s weird comments went right over my head. Like the wizard behind the curtain, things learned can’t be unlearned. Now that I’ve been around the Ghost Born men long enough to pick up on some of their suspicions about the trafficking problem, the things Lughan says have a much darker meaning. And his comments aren’t going over my head anymore.
“Please, doctor. Can you just tell me if the baby and I are okay?” I hate having to be polite to him, but I hate not knowing exactly what’s going on even more.
“You and the baby are fine, Miss Holt. Now, get up and come with me. Walking will assist with the symptoms, and now that you’re my patient once more, we have someplace to be.” He’s rough as he unhooks the fetal monitor and tosses it to the bed by my hip. His hand wraps around my upper arm, and he tugs me from the bed.
Before I know it, he’s ushered me through a labyrinth of hallways and into a parking garage beneath the hospital. I didn’t even have a chance to put on my clothes or grab my purse with my phone. I guess I can be thankful I was able to keep on my shoes when I changed into the hospital gown.
“Where are we going? This can’t be right. Stop, Dr. Lughan. Stop!” Even with my heels dragging and every effort I can safely make, there’s no pulling away from my creepy ex-doctor’s grip.
The side door of a van parked in a reserved stall slides open. Yellow light illuminates the gloomy darkness, and my worst nightmare becomes reality. Mark Benson leans out of the van. Rope in one hand and a roll of duct tape in the other. Lightning crotch, whatever it is, is definitely not my biggest problem now.
Chapter
Eighteen
ARLO
I must have done something remarkable in a past life. Instead of standing the emergency room waiting area, with my thumb up my ass, hoping for information about my woman, I’m here. Watching that walking dead man manhandle my woman toward the shit-stain cop, who hides behind his badge while selling women and children.
Pure intuition had me leading Ace down the ramp to the hospital’s underground parking lot. Logically, we should have gone to the surface lot in front of the emergency room. A rock in the pit of my stomach sent me in the opposite direction, and now, I’m glad I listened to it.
“On your six, Digg. Where do you want me?” Ace has lost every bit of the hostile attitude he’s been throwing at me for weeks. He may be young as fuck, but he’s rock solid when it counts. And right now, it does.
“See if you can circle the van before Doc Chucklefuck gets Frankie to it. Then, you handle the cop.” I know Ace is aware said cop is also Frankie’s ex, but the reminder of his badge is important. Benson will be handled, but not only do we need him alive for whatever information we can get out of him, but I don’t want to make Ace a cop killer. Hence, the reminder.
“Jax and Blake are on the way around. They’ll be here in three minutes.” Ace being rational enough to secure backup is no surprise. Right now, with my singular focus on getting Frankie away from her abductor, the kid’s level head is a real asset.
“Three minutes is two minutes too late. Disable the van if you have to, but neither of them leaves. Clear?”
“Cellophane.” He melts into the dimly lit cavern of the parking garage, and I trust him to get the job done.
From my angle, only Frankie’s profile is visible. Her features are tight with pain, but I don’t see anything else that would tell me she’s been harmed. All I can do is hope whatever the problem was has been solved, because what’s about to happen will make it impossible to bring her back around to the ER for help.
“Whoa, hey! A doctor! I bet you know how these garage levels are numbered. Can you help me, man? I’m so lost.”
I only met the guy once. Hopefully, he doesn’t recognize me.
I’m striding toward the him and Frankie as I fake being lost and frantic to find my car. The prick jostles her in his grip, attempting to look less like a kidnapper, I guess.
“Do I look like I waste my time in parking garages? I’m a doctor, for crying out loud.” Arrogance oozes from him. Even if he wasn’t a people-selling blight on humanity, he’d be enough of an asshole to piss me off.
I’m ten or so feet from him when a grunt followed by a heavy thump from the van behind him has him whirling with Frankie still tight in his grip. She loses her balance at his quick spin. I lunge forward the last few feet between us and snatch her up before her tangled feet take her to the ground.
“Who the fu—” Lughan doesn’t have time to finish the question before my fist connects with his jaw. Typical pampered prick, he hits the concrete ground. Out cold, glass jaw and all. Pathetic.
I’m unsure whether I wrap Frankie in my arms, or she wraps herself around me. Either way, it’s clear she’s safe and where she belongs, now. With me.
