Marie Ferrarella - M.D. Most Wanted стр 4.

Ever word took effort. Every breath was excruciating. But she couldnt stop. Dont stop. Youll die if you stop. The words throbbed through her head.

I know whereIm going to beonceWallacecatches up to me, she answered. Her eyes almost fluttered shut then, but she pushed them opened. Hell.

It had been a stupid, stupid thing to do. But all shed wanted was a few minutes to herself. To be free. To be normal.

Was that so wrong?

She hadnt seen that pole. She really hadnt.

Officer, the pole just jumped up at me, honest.

Her mind was all jumbled.

It would be so easy to slip away, to release the white-knuckled grasp she had on the thin thread that tethered her to this world of lights and sounds and the smell of disinfectant.

So easy.

But she was afraid.

For the first time in her life, London Merriweather was truly afraid. Afraid if she let go, even for a second, that would be it. Shed be gone. The person she was would be no more.

She was twenty-three years old and she didnt want to lose the chance of becoming twenty-four.

And she would. If she slipped away, she would. She knew that as surely as she knew her name.

More.

Stupid, stupid thing to do. Wallace was only doing his job, guarding your body. Thats what bodyguards did. They guarded bodies.

They hovered.

They ate away at your space, bit by bit until there wasnt any left.

Trying to fight her way back to the surface again, London took a breath in. The pain almost ripped her apart. She thought she cried out, but she wasnt sure.

London raised her hand and caught hold of the green-attired man beside her.

Doctor?

Orderly?

Trick-or-treater?

Her mind was winking in and out. Focusing took almost more effort than she had at her disposal.

But she did it. She opened eyes that she hadnt realized had shut again and looked at the man she was holding on to.

I dont wantto die.

There was no panic in her voice, Reese noted. It was a bare-fact statement shed just given him. He was amazed at her composure at a time like this.

She found more words and strung them together, then pushed them out, the effort exhausting her. She forced herself to look at the man whose hand was in hers.

You wont letthat happenwillyou.

It wasnt a question, it was a mandate. A queen politely wording a request she knew in her heart could not be disobeyed.

Who the hell was she?

Reese had the feeling that this wasnt some empty-headed joyrider the paramedics had brought to him but a woman accustomed to being in control of any situation she found herself in.

This must be a hell of a surprise to her, then, he decided.

No, he told her firmly. I wont.

He noticed the skeptical look in Jaimes dark eyes, but Jaime didnt command his attention now. The young woman did.

Hed told her what shed wanted to hear. What hed wanted to hear, too. Because, to do was first to believe it could be done. That was his mantra, it was what he told himself whenever he was faced with something he felt he couldnt conquer.

Just before he conquered it.

The woman smiled at him then. Just before those incredible green eyes closed, she smiled at him. Good, she whispered.

And then lost consciousness.

The next moment the rear doors burst open again. A man came running into the E.R. The unbuttoned, black raincoat he wore flapped about him like a black cape. He was at least six foot six, if not more, relatively heavyset with wide shoulders that reminded Reese of a linebacker hed once seen on the field. The man had looked like a moving brick wall.

So did this one. And he moved amazingly fast for someone so large.

Whos in charge here? he demanded in the voice of a man who was accustomed to being listened to and obeyed. The next moment, not waiting for an answer, the mans eyes shifted to him. Is it you?

Im Dr. Bendenetti, Reese began.

The man was beside him in an instant. His face was pale, his eyes a little wild. Reese had no doubt that the man could probably reach into his chest and rip out his heart if he took it into his head to do so.

This is Ambassador Mason Merriweathers daughter. I want the finest surgeons called in for her. When this is over, I want her better than new, Doctor. A good five inches taller, the man had to stoop in order to get into Reeses face. He did so as he growled, Do I make myself clear?

Threats had always had a negative effect on Reese. Now was no different. Disengaging his hand from the unconscious woman, his eyes never left the other mans face. Theyd brought the gurney to the swinging doors of room four. He waved the team that had clustered around the rolling stretcher into the room.

When the man started to follow, Reese blocked his way, placing his hand on the bigger mans chest. There was no way he was going to allow the other man into the room.

Youll have to wait outside while we decide whats best for her. Stepping inside, Reese turned away from the man and toward his patient.

The swinging doors closed on the mans stunned, outraged face.

Chapter 2

Theres no way youre going to keep me out, the man informed Reese, his voice commanding even more obedience than his presence.