Page 111 of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad World

“Hospitals are boring,” Evan declared, his eyes glassy. “How about I just come home with you instead, Doc?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Dr. Mallory burst out laughing. “My dear boy, I’d eat you alive.”

Harris cocked his head, considering her. “I call dibs,” he declared.

“You can’t call dibs,” Evan complained. “She’smydoctor.”

“Technically,” Dr. Mallory said, “I’m Annabelle’s doctor.”

In his doped-up state, Evan had already moved on from the topic of who owned the doctor. He gave his brothers a soppy grin. “I love you guys,” he gushed. He didn’t wait for a reply.Instead, he announced to the room, “I’m a bloody hero!” He beamed at them.

“Yes, you are,” Noah said with a laugh.

From the small storage room in the corner of the large office space, a voice called out, “All done here, Dr. Mallory.”

Noah and the doc crossed to windowless closet where he’s spent his first night sleeping beside Annabelle. Now the room contained nothing but a couple of old wooden chairs. Annabelle sat in one of them. She smiled, and the tension inside him eased somewhat. That tension had been a constant companion since she’d gone missing, and it reared its head every time she was out of his sight. He suspected it would take a long time to convince himself Annabelle was okay when she wasn’t with him.

Noah crouched in front of her and placed his hands on her knees. “How’re you doing?”

She rested her hands on top of his. “I’m one big bruise. My knee, my cheek, my side—but at least there are no cracked ribs or broken bones.”

The sight of her blossoming black eye made him want to shoot Hanson in the kneecap all over again. Noah mentally smiled at the memory. The shot wasn’tabsolutelynecessary. Hanson had been shooting wildly after being disorientated by the flash-bang and would have eventually run out of bullets. But Noah decided winging him would speed things up a little. It had been one of his better decisions.

“Your head?” He reached up to tuck her tangled hair behind her ear.

“Clear now. Although I feel like I have a hangover. My head’s throbbing.”

Noah turned to the doctor. “Can she take something for that?”

“Of course.”

While she spoke with the paramedic, Noah focused on Annabelle. His gut clenched at the thought of almost losing her. And even though, logically, he knew she was safe now, he couldn’t seem to convince his emotions. Deep down inside, he was waiting for something else to go wrong. But worst of all was the overwhelming guilt. There was no denying he was to blame for every bruise that marred her skin. If he’d just been there…

“I should have checked the office more thoroughly,” he told her. “I should have looked inside the credenza. I shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that you’d been taken from the building.”

“You’re right.” She nodded solemnly. “And youshouldbe in all places at all times, seeing all things at once, and never, ever making a mistake. Oh wait, that would make you God.” She leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Shoulda, coulda, woulda. The three pillars of undeserved guilt. Everybody believed I was in that case; it wasn’t only you. But you came back for me as soon as you knew different. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But if I’d taken just a few minutes longer to lo?—”

She pressed a finger to his mouth to silence him. “Andifthe ADA hadn’t been in the Demons’ pocket, andifthe police had realized she was the mole sooner, andifEddie hadn’t been granted bail in the first place… There are so many ifs to fret over. But if you’re intent on practicing some self-flagellation, I’m sure one of the triplets could make you a nice little flogger to use. Logan seems quite handy.”

“Smart-ass,” Noah grumbled.

The doc approached them with a smile. “Take these.” She handed a couple of pills and a glass of water to Annabelle, who did as she was told.

Once finished, she set the glass on the floor beside her and spoke to her doctor. “Are we going to talk?”

“Do you want to?”

She glanced at Noah and shook her head. “Another day,” she said. “I need time for things to settle before I can find the right words.”

Dr. Mallory nodded. “What you really need is some care.” She focused on Noah. “A shower, clean clothes, a decent meal, and sleep. Lots of sleep. That’s my prescription.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The doctor moved closer to Annabelle and gently brushed a hand over her hair. “Your aunt would have been proud of you today. I know I am.”

“It’s hard to believe that I went outside. It was only a couple of steps, but I did it.”