CUL-DE-SAC (On The Edge Book 1) (19 page)

CHAPTER 21

Xan was on the phone since the moment they
left the club and from bits and pieces Catalina understood, he now knew who the
winner of tonight’s fight was, but she was not sure what he was going to do
about this tidbit of information.

And it worried her.

He also learned his friend’s whereabouts
and now they were on their way to Saint John’s Health Center. Xan answered
several calls, ignored others and judging from the lines of tension bracketing
his mouth, all of it was only putting more strain on him.
“It’s a good hospital, you know,” she said in order to break the silence, but
he just gave her a look that told her his thoughts were miles away.
“Saint John’s Health Center. Their ER is very efficient and cordial. I was a
part of a committee raising funds for their cardiac department once. The entire
staff I met seemed very helpful and capable,” Catalina explained and was
surprised to hear him chuckle. “What?”
“Nothing, I just can’t believe I know someone who talks about raising funds and
charity so casually.” He shook his head and Cat bristled.
“You make it sound so ridiculous, but those things do help.”
“Maybe, but from my experience the hospital should put a big fat dollar sign on
their entrance door. It is a good place for people with deep pockets, otherwise
their care leaves a lot to be desired. I guess average patients are a step
lower on the hospital’s importance scale than someone who is a pillar of the
respectable community.”

She wanted to argue the point; she even
opened her mouth but snapped it closed almost at the same instant.

Was it worth fighting over? Catalina asked
herself and the answer was no. Because she wasn’t naive enough to think they
lived in the world where every citizen had equal rights.

And money was always opening more doors
than its lack.
“Do you know his family? Anyone you could call and let them know what happened
and where he is?” She asked, instead of defending the system that was faulty
and wrong.
“I know only about his ex-wife but there is no love lost between them.” He
shrugged and Catalina thought he seemed closed off and uncooperative once more.
“You don’t need to get involved in it; I can still drop you off at your place,”
he said and she wondered if he was offering her the out because he didn’t want
her to be a part of his world any more than she already was, or if he was just
being… considerate without any ulterior motive.
“I’m fine, Xan, thank you. What is his name? So far I only know he was the one you
fought the night I came to Cul-de-sac and that people referred to him as
Dragon.”
“Noah. Noah Michaels.” It didn’t make much sense but saying his name out loud
was making it all so much more real, Xan thought.

He would rather be anywhere else right now
than speeding through the night toward the hospital. He didn’t want to think
about Dragon’s condition, didn’t want to imagine himself in his place, but his
mind had a will of its own and kept bombarding him with all those things he
preferred not to consider.
“Well then, let’s learn about Noah’s condition,” she said when Xan parked his
car in front of the hospital.
“Cat… I appreciate your company; you didn’t have to come here with me,” he said
and she smiled.
“Of course.”

This time she reached for his hand and was
glad he took it instantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It wasn’t, but she thought she was adapting to it surprisingly fast.

The ER was full of people, but then Xan had
never seen one that was empty. Some were waiting patiently, others pacing
restlessly, and he thought he could relate to the latter because patience had
never been his way.

He glanced at Catalina, thinking that now
he was going have to learn it and do it fast if he wanted to give this…
thing
between them a chance.

He didn’t do relationships, but he wanted
her
and that was taking all choices out of his hands. Ceding the reins didn’t hold a
particular appeal to him; it equaled vulnerability in his eyes, but in this
case he was ready to risk it.

He should have been focused on learning
about Noah’s condition but instead he found his gaze following Catalina’s every
step.

He swore low under his breath and grim
understanding dawned on him when he realized he didn’t like the way her slender
legs were exposed by the bright light coming off the artificial lamps of the ER,
while not so long ago he was admiring the very same thing in the seclusion of
the club.

Xan frowned telling himself he had never
been possessive toward any woman and that was what suited him perfectly. He had
no intentions of changing that, but he still regretted not having a jacket he
could cover her with.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

He shook his head, deciding it wasn’t the
right time or place to answer this loaded question.
“Hello, I was wondering if you could help me. Our friend was brought here not
long ago and I would like to learn about his condition.” Catalina smiled at the
visibly tired and irritated nurse at the front desk.
“What’s your friend’s name?” The woman asked.
“Noah Michaels.”
“I can tell you he was admitted but any other information can be given only to
his immediate family,” the nurse said after running her fingers over the
keyboard.
“Of course. Could you please tell me his doctor’s name? I don’t think it would
be against the rules?” Cat smiled sweetly and Xan decided it was a good thing
she was doing all the talking because he could barely stop himself from rolling
his eyes at what he considered an utter waste of time and bullshit.
“Doctor Abra Mallory,” the nurse told them after checking the information in
her computer.
“Thank you so much for your help.” Catalina was as polite and collected as
ever.
“You know they will tell us shit since we are not his family, right?” Xan
looked at her when they stepped away from the front desk.
“I thought you didn’t back down?” She winked at him and he chuckled because the
little witch was teasing him, thinking herself safe in the public place.

He felt the need to prove her wrong so he
bent his head and brushed his lips over her ear.
“I don’t, that is why I am going to be your first lover,” he whispered, and
should have withered under the shocked and reproachful look she sent him.

He wrapped his arm around her waist
bringing her closer under the shelter of his body.
“So… you know Doctor Abra Mallory I take it?” He asked conversationally and
Catalina wondered how he could switch moods and topics with such ease.
“I’ve met her once or twice.” She took out her cell phone and scrolled down her
contact list, dialing the number after finding the right one. “Hi Abra, it’s
Catalina Bennett. I have a favor to ask…” She started and Xan looked after her
when she walked away continuing her conversation.
“Abra said it’s a very busy night but she agreed to meet us down here in a
moment,” she told him after hanging up.

And all of it didn’t take her longer than a
few minutes, Xan thought, knowing it was more than likely he would have been
still running in circles if he were here by himself.
“Cat…” He shook his head unable to express his thoughts or gratitude since he
was not used to it.
“It’s okay. Let’s wait until we hear from her.” She smiled softly and a moment
later her smile brightened when the doctor joined them.

Xan couldn’t estimate her age but if he had
to guess, he would have placed her in her late thirties or early forties. Tall
and lean with dark hair tied at the nape, she was the quintessence of a
competent specialist.

She smiled at Cat and gave him a measuring
glance, raising one of her eyebrows which he roughly translated as surprise.
“Catalina, I didn’t have time to congratulate you. Maxwell fell in love with
your photos during exhibition and he wants to talk to you about a session. I can’t
tell you any details since he is trying to keep it all a secret.” She rolled
her eyes and the line of her lips softened under the weight of a smile.
“Well, your wedding anniversary is fast approaching; I would think it has
something to do with that. I would love to hear his ideas.”
“I will let him know, thank you. Now, about your friend… paramedics weren’t
very specific about where they found him but the guy took a heavy beating…” She
hesitated and looked at Xan, his bandaged hand. “Did you have anything to do
with it?” She tilted her head.
“No.” He said, not surprised she took him for someone who could have given
another person this kind of ass whopping.

Apparently Catalina was appalled by doctor’s
suspicion.
“Abra!”
“I had to ask.” The woman raised her hands in pacifying gesture. “The same as I
need to ask: are you in some kind of trouble, Catalina?”
“Of course not! The man you admitted is our friend and we would like to learn
about his condition. He doesn’t have family nearby and before I call them I need
to have something I can give them.”
“Fine, he is conscious but suffered a concussion, three of his ribs are cracked
and we were worried about his right kidney due to severe bruising. Turned out
it was just pounded and he is experiencing hematuria.” She counted down.
“What is that?” Catalina asked.
“Blood in his urine,” Xan said and the doctor narrowed her eyes on him once
more.
“That is correct.”
“Is it… serious?” Cat frowned and looked at Xan.
“Depends, but should be temporary and at least it is not painful, right
Doctor?” He held the woman’s gaze without blinking.
“Correct again. I would say he will experience severe pain but overall his
condition is not very bad. He is young and otherwise healthy but we are keeping
him for observation.”
“Can we…”
“No visitors, Catalina. I’m sorry but I’ve already bent rules which I would
have never done under normal conditions. Please excuse me, but I have to get
back to my patients. I will tell Maxwell to give you a call.” She smiled at
Cat, ignoring Xan and left them hurriedly after glancing at her pager.
“I’m sorry Xan,” Catalina said.
“Why? News is not that bad.”
“No, she was rude and it was uncalled for.” She looked apologetically at him as
if she were responsible for her acquaintance’s behavior herself.
“Come on, Kitten, she is a doctor. I am sure she saw many things and fast
assessment is a requirement in her job.” He shrugged because it didn’t affect
him in the least.

It didn’t even register as annoyance in his
book.
“She was wrong in her judgment this time.”
“Was she? She took me for who I am. Let’s get you home.” He took her hand in
his, half expecting her to pull away from him.

The fact she didn’t still managed to
surprise him.
“Alex…” Cat started when they were driving away from the hospital and he wasn’t
sure he would like whatever came after the beginning like that.
“Just ask.”
“What are you going to do about the other fighter?” She turned in her seat
looking at him.
“What do you think I will do?” He couldn’t wait to hear her answer.
“If I knew I wouldn’t ask you. What did you learn?”
“His name is Dorian Carrey aka Gray and he is fighting for… another club. He
wasn’t even supposed to be there. It wasn’t his fight. It wasn’t Dragon’s
either; he took my spot,” he explained.
“So it could have been you in this hospital.”

He didn’t miss her flinching.
“I appreciate your trust in my skills,” he smirked but wasn’t offended. “Told
you, my fight was supposed to be with someone else. Plans were changed the last
minute.” That was the truth and he knew Tony did this on purpose, yet he still
had a hard time believing in his motives.

After all these years he shouldn’t have been
surprised by literally anything Tony did anymore, Xan thought, but this was a
new low even for him.
“This really wasn’t the way I wanted to spend this night. I’m sorry it panned
out the way it did. And I really appreciate what you did at the hospital.”
“I know, you told me already,” she said absently and he wondered why she was
pulling away from him right this moment.

Catalina couldn’t rid her mind of bloody
images, but instead of Noah’s face she kept seeing Xan’s. His knowledge about
Dragon’s injuries was a telltale on its own and it was painfully obvious he had
suffered plenty himself.

Then why was he purposefully putting
himself through it again and again?

He didn’t strike her as an adrenaline
junkie, didn’t seem in desperate need of money either.

What other reasons could there be?

She didn’t know, just like she didn’t
expect him to answer her fully if she dared to ask him that.
“What are you thinking about?” Xan asked when he was walking her to her door.
“I am glad you were not in the ring tonight, no matter the opponent,” she
admitted and he didn’t even attempt to temper his reaction this time.

He pulled her roughly against his body,
placing his hands on her buttocks. He didn’t care how soft the material of her
dress was because it still felt abrasive compared with the delicacy of her
skin.
“What are you doing to me, Cat?” He asked her, not really expecting any answer.

What was
she
doing to
him
? She
wondered, absorbed by the way their bodies were taking over each time they came
together.

His mouth hovered above hers and he was
giving her a chance to push him away but she wrapped her arms around his neck
and the remaining threads of his noble motives disintegrated as if never there.

She moaned when his tongue swiped over her
lips, flicked past them and licked over her own. He let the fingers of his
healthy hand weave into the heavy length of her hair, but there was no need to
hold her in place because she seemed perfectly satisfied with having him
wrapped so tightly around her.