Page 9 of Protecting Olivia

“Roger. Good ride,” Viper returned.

Viper rushed to jump out of the helicopter, Blue and Breeze quickly followed. It took me a moment longer, careful not to jostle Olivia more than necessary.

The moment we entered the basement of the barn, there was a fury of commotion. The team started to divest themselves of weapons and gear. Doc was already waiting with a gurney bed set-up. IV poles were pushed off to the side with hanging bags of fluid at the ready.

“Set her down,” Doc instructed.

“Don’t leave me,” Olivia whispered, with pleading eyes.

“The doctor is gonna check you out. I’m gonna give him some room,” I answered.

“Don’t leave me,” Olivia shouted.

I glanced at the doctor then my team, shocked at the vehemence in her tone. Viper gestured for me to stay with her, and the doctor’s lips flattened to two thin lines. I wasn’t sure if he was annoyed I’d be in his way or sympathetic to how frightened Olivia was. Either way, I didn’t give the first fuck if he was mad; there was no way I was leaving Olivia now.

“I’m staying right here, tesorino.”

I was not good at this; gentle, slow movements were not in my nature. In the field when I needed to deposit a man on a bed, I didn’t take painstaking care not to cause him anymore discomfort. I dropped and dashed. There was no time to worry if I hurt his boo-boo; I had shit to do and scumbags to kill. Sounded harsh, but that’s the nature of the beast. Combat and black ops is not a place for weakness or feelings.

I didn’t know how to do this, I wasn’t even this gentle with my ma. She was an Italian after all. The woman was tough as nails after raising two hellions for sons and a devil for a daughter. I didn’t think that woman had a touchy-feely bone left in her body. My ma was the strongest woman I knew.

As soon as Olivia was softly laid out on the bed, the doc went to work.

“Hi Olivia, I’m Dr. Westinghouse. I am the President’s personal physician. He asked me to take a look at you. Before we begin, I have to ask you if you want me to clear the room. I’m going to ask you some very personal questions.”

Was he nuts? Not one minute before, I promised Olivia I wouldn’t leave her side. There wasn’t a snowball's chance in hell I was leaving.

Olivia’s eyes came to mine, panic clearly written all over her face. “I’m not leaving her, Doc,” I told him.

“I want him to stay,” she answered.

I wondered if Olivia even remembered my name with all the trauma she’d been through. It was doubtful. She just didn’t want to be alone. But the way she turned to me before she answered the doctor hit me straight in the gut.

“Alright. Let’s begin. My apologies in advance for being so obtrusive. Did anyone touch you in a sexual manner?” Westinghouse asked.

Before Olivia could answer, I felt my heart rate spike, and for some reason that I couldn’t place, an overwhelming sense of protectiveness roared to the surface. A feeling so strong it shocked the shit out of me. I had never, not even with my sister or ma felt this strongly before.

“No one touched me like that,” she answered.

“Good. That’s good. Now why don’t you tell me where you hurt, and we’ll go from there.” Dr. Westinghouse smiled at Olivia.

Even though Olivia had told the doctor she had not been sexually violated, the feeling didn’t go away. I wished we had not taken out the crew that was holding Olivia so quickly; they deserved a slow and painful death for what they did to her.

Chapter Six

Olivia

It was hard to concentrate on all the questions the doctor was asking when Panther’s green eyes were laser focused on me. He looked like some sort of avenging warrior with the angry look on his face and his black military gear still on. I should’ve been scared, but I wasn’t. Having him next to me made me feel safe like no one would dare touch me. They’d have to get through my own personal protector before they could take me again.

“Well, Olivia, I’d say all in all you’re very lucky. You’ll need a round of IV antibiotics for the infection on your wrist and a few bags of fluids for dehydration. But nothing is broken. It will take a few weeks for the bruises to go away. You’ll need to start with very small, easy to digest foods every two hours for a few days until your stomach adjusts. You’re a tough cookie, young lady. You’ll be fine. Now, I know your mother wants to come down and see you. I was told that you wanted to clean up before she saw you. Normally I would say no, you’re too weak for a shower. But if you let Leo take you to the restroom and help wash your hair, that would be fine. When you come back, I’ll start your IVs and Pamela can visit you.”

“What? No, who is Leo?” I asked. I didn’t know who this Leo person was, but there was no way Panther was leaving me.

“I’m Leo, tesorino,” Panther explained.

“Oh.” I felt my cheeks heat. How embarrassing.

“It’s okay. It’s hard to keep all of our names straight.” He smiled. “Come on, I’ll help you clean up. Your ma brought you some clean clothes.