Page 16 of Sam's Salvation
A short pause came over the line. “Aud? What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
“Um, sort of.” She sniffed and swiped at her face. “I just—Can you come to Vegas? I don’t want to explain over the phone. But I need you,” her voice trailed off into a strangled whisper.
“I’ll be on the next flight there. Where do you want to meet?”
A wave of relief flooded her veins at his willingness to come to her aid without question. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll text you.”
“Okay. Are you safe at least?”
“For now.”
“Good. I—” He stopped, and a beat of silence passed.
Audra could tell by the soft grumble he made that he had more questions, but was holding back. She was thankful. Now wasn’t the time for her to answer anything. That was best done in person.
“If that changes, call me. I know people who know people. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Another tear slid free. “I know.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay,” she whispered, emotion clogging her throat. She swallowed around the lump and clenched her teeth. Her head injury was really messing with her mind. She wasn’t normally so emotional.
He said goodbye and hung up.
Audra lowered the phone to her lap. Several more tears trickled down her cheeks, both from relief that she had an ally she could trust and from the fear and uncertainty of the last few hours.
The door swished open and the nurse from earlier reappeared. “Okay, Ms. Carter. Let’s get you upstairs to a room. I bet you’re ready to relax and get some rest.”
“I’m not staying.”
The nurse frowned. “What? The doctor said he’s admitting you for observation.”
“He didn’t give me a chance to say no. I’m not staying. He said I have a concussion and some bruises, and that my scans are fine. I’m not staying,” she reiterated. “Please bring my discharge papers. And some clothes, since you cut mine off.”
“Ms. Carter, I highly advise?—”
“I am aware I’m leaving against medical advice. Please bring my discharge papers,” she repeated, giving the nurse a steely look. They’d have to chain her to the bed to get her to stay.
“Have the police cleared you to leave?”
“Yes.”
The nurse sighed. After another moment’s hesitation, she turned toward the door. “Give me a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The door swished shut behind the nurse, and Audra huffed out a breath. The woman was right about one thing: she was ready to relax. That wouldn’t happen anytime soon, however.
Twenty minutes after she left, the nurse returned with the doctor in tow. Audra clenched her teeth and met his polite smile with a glare.
She held up a hand before he could speak. “Don’t waste your breath. Just sign my discharge papers. Unless you’ve suddenly discovered an active bleed on my CT scan, I’m leaving.”
He sighed, the smile leaving his face. “You’re sure? It wouldn’t hurt for you to stay a night and let us watch you.”
“I’m fine.”
He pressed his lips together, then nodded. “Okay. I can’t force you to stay.” He sat down at the computer and logged in. With a few keystrokes and the addition of a quick note, he got up. “Your discharge papers are printing. If you feel like you’re getting worse, please come back and get checked out again.”