Chapter 2

"You're in a gang?"

Bear winced at the shrillness in Tessa's voice. "No, I'm in a motorcycle club. There's a difference."

"I've seen Sons of Anarchy," she snapped at him. "There's not much of a difference."

Bear had never seen the show, but he'd heard his brothers make references to it.

"We aren't criminals," he told her. "We aren't involved in drugs or guns or anything illegal. We own legitimate businesses around town. You know the bar Demon on the Rocks?" Tessa nodded mutely. "We own that. It's managed by two of my brothers, Ghost and Ranger. We recently acquired the Harley-Davidson dealership. We're in the process of re-branding it. Our grand opening is set for next month. Also, do you know the art studio on Main that supports Down Syndrome?" Again, Tessa nodded. "My brother, Lucky, owns that. He's the artist."

Tessa was small, but damn did she pack a lot of feelings into that little body. Christ, it was so sexy to watch her get worked up. Bear had no intention of purposefully pissing her off, but man he was already looking forward to the makeup sex.

He wondered if the break room door locked.

"Why would Carlos hand you a gun?"

"I'm licensed to carry, for one," Bear told her truthfully. "For another, someone meant to kill that girl tonight. They meant for me, or whoever was in the road, to run her over. If it gets out that she's alive, they might come looking for her. She's a witness and old enough to give reliable testimony."

"He said he was going to put a deputy on her. Then he changed his mind when he learned you were going to be here. Why?"

"Because I'm better trained than any of his deputies." He wasn't bragging…much. "I told you the night we met I was a Marine. Did ten years before I got out."

"And who is ‘you-know-who'?"

He couldn't tell her it was the interim sheriff. That would only lead to even more questions that Bear couldn't answer. "Would you believe me if I said Voldemort?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, which had grown at least a cup size since he'd last seen and played with them. Damn, he couldn't wait to get his hands on those luscious globes again. He casually wiped his hand over his mouth to check for drool.

She lifted a hand and snapped her fingers in front of his face. She'd caught him looking at her tits. He smiled unapologetically. It was his doing after all that they were the size they were now, and he was a bit proud of that fact.

"There are some things I can't tell you," he told her in all seriousness. "I would have preferred Carlos not mentioned it in front of you at all. You and I are still getting to know each other. Just please believe me when I say that my club is…invested in protecting this town and its residents. We used to work very closely with Sheriff Longhill and are working on an understanding with Sheriff Hannigan. Carlos is like a liaison between us."

Bear didn't like the white lie, and he wasn't proud of it, because he also couldn't admit during their reunion that the club knew but had no evidence that their current sheriff was dirty.

Tessa's phone went off. She looked at it before saying, "The girl's still in surgery. I need to pee and grab something to eat. Can we put a pin in this for a bit?"

"What do you want to eat? I'll get it for you."

Tessa pointed to the fridge behind him. "I brought my food. I was unaware I'd have company so, unfortunately, I didn't bring enough for three."

Bear smiled at her sass. "Don't worry. I'll survive. Go pee, I'll get your food out."

She looked like she was going to argue and then changed her mind. She left for the unisex bathroom across the room.

Bear opened the fridge and pulled out the lunchbox with Dr. Fisher across the top. Fisher. He'd seen her last name on her lab coat when she'd walked into the exam room before. It occurred to him that she only knew him as ‘Bear'.

He pulled out a jar of pickles, a jar of olives, two slices of bread in a ziplock bag, a container of cream cheese, and a container of peanut butter. He had no idea what her meal was supposed to be, but he had a feeling he wouldn't have eaten it regardless of whether she had brought enough for him too.

Full of apprehension for what he was about to witness, Bear set the food out. He went into a cabinet and found a paper plate, a knife, a spoon, and some napkins.

Tessa came out of the bathroom. She licked her lips at the sight of the food. "Your kid is about the size of an apple right now. It's hard to believe he eats so much."

"My cub's following in his father's paw prints," Bear smiled proudly. "I've been known to eat a couple of pizzas on my own in a single sitting."

She gagged. "Ugh. I'm not due to throw up for another couple of hours. Please don't make me do so now when I'm about to eat."

Bear didn't comment that she was compiling cream cheese, peanut butter, pickles, and olives into a single sandwich, making him want to throw up. "How's your morning sickness been?"

"Not bad," she said as she worked on her concoction of grossness. "At first not at all. I was noticing smells mostly. I was nauseous but not vomiting. It wasn't until I hit about six weeks that I started. Eight-thirty every morning like clockwork. I get off work, I get home, I shower, I throw up, and then I go to bed."

Bear chuckled. "Sounds like you got a routine down."

She shrugged, self-conscious. "I was about eight weeks when I finally worked up the nerve to go see OB upstairs to confirm what I already knew. You'd think I'd know how badly this place gossips. Wasn't even back down to the ER when I had people congratulating me on my pregnancy."

He winced. "I remember. I only worked here for about two years after getting my degree. I was a medic in the Marines, so it didn't take long for me to get my credentials. I figured the ER was the best place for me to work after being a combat medic, but I found it wasn't for me. I needed less chaos to settle my demons."

"Where do you work now?"

"Sanderson's. It's the assisted living facility over on Conrad. I work with hospice patients both in-house and out-patient."

"That takes a lot of heart." She took a big bite of her sandwich and moaned.

Bear tried not to gag. "I love it. I'm still working around death, but it's a different kind than when I was with the Marines."

"I get it," she said around a mouthful. "It's not often, but we get people who come here to die. They know it's coming, and they just don't want to be alone."

"The night we met, you made a comment about your dating life and your work schedule. I assume you were referring to being a doctor and your chaotic and sporadic shifts?"

She nodded. "At first, it was my residency. Then I became an attending. I love my job and I don't feel like I should work less or harder just because I'm dating someone."

"You shouldn't."

"Right, but the guy I'm seeing usually thinks I should." She shrugged offhandedly. "Just leads to bad relationships."

Bear shifted in his chair. He reached over and took hold of the front legs of her chair. Then he dragged her over between his wide legs. "Dr. Tessa Fisher, you work as hard and as long as you feel you need to. It won't affect me or my feelings for you. We'll figure out our schedules with the cub. Maybe I'll take time off work and be a stay-at-home Papa Bear until he's in grade school." Bear shrugged and smiled. "We'll figure it out. More importantly, we'll figure it out together. Don't think that just because you're the Mama Bear that I'm going to make you take care of the house, me, and our cub."

Her jaw quivered. She looked down at the half-eaten sandwich in her hands. "You talk like we're a couple. We're not. We're two strangers who made a baby?—"

"Stop right there. If it wasn't for that damn disgusting sandwich, I'd be kissing you right now, Tessa. I want you. I want to be in your life. I want to date you. I want us to pick up where we left off in that motel room before I stupidly left to get us breakfast without leaving you a damn note to say I would be back."

She let out a laughing sob. "The sandwich really that bad?"

"That's not food, honey. That's an insult to food. I don't know how you're eating it because I'm about ready to puke watching you eat it."

She gave him a wicked smile. "Just wait until it comes back up again at eight-thirty."

"Fuck," he groaned. "I really need you to go brush your teeth so I can kiss you."

She laughed. "Can I finish my sandwich first?"

He sat back with a pout and crossed his large arms over his wide chest. "Fine…"

She took another bite and smiled at him. With her mouth full, she said, "Thank you, Papa Bear."

He smiled affectionately at her. "Anytime, Mama Bear."

It was aroundthree in the morning when the girl woke up. Bear was sitting outside her room when he heard her moan. Tessa was in with another patient. It was on the other side of the emergency room entry doors from him, so he was okay she wasn't in his sights.

"Page Dr. Fisher," he called down the hall to the nurse's station. "Room five's conscious."

The girl's prognosis wasn't good. The OR had been able to repair the arterial bleed, but she'd lost a lot of blood. Her organs were showing signs of failure due to lack of blood flow as well as severe dehydration and malnourishment. Her spleen had ruptured mid-surgery and had to be removed. Her bladder had been punctured and she'd been leaking urine internally. She had a total of seven broken bones, two sprains, and a dislocated shoulder. An OB surgeon had had to be summoned from another hospital to come assist with the extensive vaginal damage. There were signs of trauma to her anus as well. Her bloodwork showed traces of ketamine. Her body was littered with old and new bruises.

It was a miracle the girl was even alive.

Bear was aware that his size could frighten her. She was in an unknown setting. He didn't want her to regain consciousness with his large form standing over her and freak out.

"You're safe," he called to her from the doorway. "You're in the hospital. The doctor is on her way."

Her mouth was moving, but Bear couldn't make out what she was trying to say. They'd placed her on her stomach with a pillow under her torso. Her face was half hidden by shadow and half by the pillow.

"Can I come in? I'm a nurse."

It was weak, but she nodded.

He entered. "I didn't hear what you said, sweetie. Can you repeat it?"

"Water," she croaked out.

"I have ice chips for you. I can't give you water until your doctor examines you."

She opened her mouth. Her lips were cracked and dry. The nurses had put some medication on them too.

Bear slipped a couple of ice chips into her mouth. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Bree." Her lips shook and tears ran down her cheeks. "Who are you?"

"You can call me Bear. I'm the one who found you on the road. Do you remember that?"

She shook her head.

"How old are you, sweetie?"

"Fourteen."

Fuck, she was older than they'd thought. She was so small to be fourteen. His heart broke for her and the horrors she must have survived. Bear felt a small hand on his arm and saw Tessa standing next to him.

She leaned over so Bree could see her. "Hi. My name is Dr. Fisher. How are you feeling?"

"Am I going to die?" She asked it so matter of factly, like she was inquiring about the weather.

Bear heard Tessa swallow hard. "You were hurt really badly, Bree. We're doing everything we can to help you and to make you strong again."

It took a lot of courage in Bear's opinion to be an honest doctor. He could tell the reality of the girl's condition hurt Tessa and yet she still didn't lie to her.

Bear had lied to more than one solider who'd died on his watch. Soldiers were brave until they couldn't be anymore. Kids who had no business in war, but the law claimed were old enough to die for their country. He'd never forget the day a twenty-year-old kid had stepped on an IED and blown both of his legs off. He'd asked Bear if he was going to die. Bear had looked him in the eyes and swore to him that he wasn't, that Bear was going to fix him up, and then he was going home to see his girl again.

And he had gone home. Only it was in a casket with an American flag draped over it.

Bree shook her head. "I don't want to be strong. I just want it to end."

Fuck. No fourteen-year-old should be talking of ending their life. No fourteen-year-old deserved to know the kind of pain and suffering that led to the desire to end their life.

Tessa cleared her throat. Bear couldn't see her face, but he was sure there were tears in her eyes. "I swear to you, Bree, your suffering is over. The police are here. Whoever did this to you will never get to you again."

"Yes, he will." Her voice cracked. Bear offered her another ice chip. "Can I sleep now?"

Tessa nodded. "Yes, of course. Do you want pain medicine? You're due for another dose soon."

Bree shook her head. "It doesn't really hurt."

Tessa and Bear waited for her to fall back to sleep before walking out of the room. They shut the door behind them. Tessa took off her glasses and covered her face with her hands. Bear took her into his arms, not caring who saw.

After a couple of minutes, Tessa stepped back and wiped her eyes. "That girl is in a lot of pain, and not all of it is physical. And the fact that she thinks ‘he' will still come after her?"

"Typical victimization," Bear said softly. "Your brain makes the monster bigger than what they are, keeps them in a perpetual fight or flight response. Whoever did this wanted her dead. You don't throw someone out of a speeding vehicle into oncoming traffic because you're hoping they survive."

She lowered her voice. "Carlos might have been right to leave you that gun."

"I need you away from the front doors tonight, Mama Bear. I have a clear view of them from here. Please don't go past me without talking to me first. I know this is an ER and things happen fast but, if he's coming in, he's coming in those doors. Main entrance is locked up for the night. There's only one egress point."

Bear thought about it for a moment and decided to send a message to his brothers. He needed help. He couldn't protect Bree and watch Tessa and his cub with her moving around. Plus, he wanted his cut. He'd left earlier without it because he'd been planning on traveling outside of the VDMC's territory.

Fuck. He'd forgotten he'd left that night with the intention of hooking up with some stranger to get Tessa out of his head. What a total clusterfuck that would have been. What if Bree hadn't been thrown out of the van to stop him from leaving? What if he'd decided to go to Demon's and hookup with a patch bunny? What if he'd just said fuck it and hooked up with one of the Honeys and had not even left the clubhouse tonight?

He'd never have been reunited with Tessa. He'd have never known about her pregnancy. It might have been months or even years with his little cub running around town and Bear not even knowing he was his.

Holy fuck. It was unfathomable.

Even though it was after three in the morning, he got immediate replies from Cage and Angel. He was surprised when Lucky replied he could come too. Lucky was an active and loyal club brother, but his availability revolved around his son's schedule. With Harper now in the house, Bear supposed that would change.

Still, Lucky was healing from his burn wounds and Harper would murder both of them if Lucky irritated his feet more.

He told Lucky to stay home and asked Angel or Cage to come. He didn't want to take both of them out of bed when only one should be needed. Then again, someone had to be driving the van while someone in the back did the pushing…

It might not be one guy coming for Bree.

He sent another message.

Bear: Changed my mind. I'll take both of you if you're willing.

Cage: Just gotta send my Honey packing and I'll be there.

Angel: @Cage, you're gross. Please shower. @Bear, on my way.

Bear: Thank you. Bulldog dropped my sled off outside. Can one of you grab my cut and the keys?

Angel: On it.

Cage: Why would he leave your keys in your bike?

Bear: You know how hospitals freak him out.

Bulldog: Asshole. Last time I do you a favor.

Pumpkin: @Bear, I'm up too. Do you need me?

Bear: @Bulldog, love you. @Pumpkin, only if you want to. I doubt I need any of you. I'm just being cautious.

Bulldog: Did you fill Carlos in like he asked?

Bear: Fuck.

Bulldog: Dumbass.

Bear: I've had a lot on my plate, dick!

Angel: 5 minutes out.

Ghost: Don't text and drive.

Angel: Bite me.

Steel: How the fuck do I turn on the Do Not Disturb setting?

Bulldog: It's the power button on the side of your phone.

Steel: Thanks.

Bear: Why are all of you awake?

Ghost: Closing up the bar. I'll be there after.

Bear: Seriously. 2 of you is probably overkill. I don't want to cry wolf.

Ranger: Don't you mean cry BEAR? Get it?

Angel: @Ranger, you're not funny. Well, kinda. @Bear, got your cut keys. On my way in. Parking lot looks clear.

Bear: Dark panel van was what they used before but who knows if they switched vehicles.

Angel: Guy smoking under gazebo. He's in scrubs, could be a decoy.

Bear: Not sure these guys are that sophisticated. They threw Bree out of a van remember. They're not exactly cloak and dagger types.

Keys: Found the girl. Name is Brianna Lynn Faux, 14. She's a foster kid in the Massachusetts system. Went missing 2 years ago, reported by her foster mom. Police report claims she was a runaway.

Bear: Fuck. Did you send it to Carlos? He was thinking this was a closer to home situation.

Keys: Can't rule anything out at this point.

Steel: Are the two connected? Do I need to contact Juan Castillo?

Keys: I'm not saying they're connected, but I'm also not saying they aren't. I need more time. Gut says no though.

Keys: Fuck, I hate this. Who could do something so awful to a kid?

Keys: I'll forward what I have to Carlos now and keep him updated.

Steel: @Bear, keep her safe.

Bear: Easier said than done, Steel. She's hurt, bad. Docs are doing their best, but it doesn't look good. Her organs are showing signs of failure.

Bear: There's only so much trauma the human body can take.

Steel: Fuck. Keep me posted.

A hand on his shoulder drew his attention to Angel. She was the only female member of the club and preferred to be included in the generic ‘brothers' versus make it gender specific. Angel was former Army and a total badass. She owned Inked Ya, the only tattoo parlor in town. She was five-eight with short spiky hair and more ink than skin showing.

Angel was also a fierce protector of women and children.

She handed him his cut. Bear nodded his thanks and threw it on. Since the club had been formed almost six years ago, Bear had been proud to wear the leather cut. He was the club's Road Captain, which meant he planned the routes and outings of their club runs. Though he was an officer, Bear did not get a vote when the executive board was making decisions. He was the seventh officer and the tiebreaker if needed. On occasion, if an officer could not make Church, he could transfer his vote to Bear.

Angel poked her head into Bree's room. "Poor thing."

"We need to keep an eye on her to protect her, but also for suicide watch," Bear told Angel softly. "She made a comment about ending it."

Angel closed her eyes, her face pained. Bear noticed she was rubbing her right wrist absently with her thumb. It wasn't the first time he'd seen her doing that. With the tattoos covering her, he couldn't see her skin and wondered if perhaps she had a telling scar or two there.

Stepping away from the doorway, Angel moved to Bear's other side. "We know nothing other than at least two tangos?"

Sadly, Bear nodded. "It happened too fast. I didn't catch a license plate or the model. And it was far too dark for me to make out the driver."

"I'll protect her," Angel vowed, as Bear knew she would. "No one will touch her while I'm here."

With Bree covered, Bear was free to guard Tessa. He looked around…wherever his Mama Bear was.

Tessa stoodon the other side of the nurse's station. There was an open chart on the computer in front of her, but she wasn't paying attention to it. A woman had walked into the ER a couple of minutes ago and had gone straight to Bear. He was still outside Bree's room. She handed him a black vest, which he put on. Tessa noticed the woman was wearing a similar one.

She also noticed how the woman freely touched Bear, and he made no moves to stop her. The woman's tattooed hand was resting on his forearm and Bear just let it. Tessa's eyes narrowed.

Despite Bear's promises and their flirting earlier, they weren't a couple. She had no rights to Bear. She might be carrying his baby, but that didn't mean anything romantic or permanent would develop between them. She kept trying to remind herself of that. And yet, she'd love it when Bear had touched her before, his kiss on her cheek, his hand at the small of her back, his crowding her as he made promises about their future…

Tessa couldn't let herself fall for this man. Not before she knew she could trust him. They had a permanent connection between them now. As long as he remained in their child's life, they would be around and interact with each other for the rest of their lives. She couldn't fall for him if it was all just meaningless words on his part. It would be painful and awkward to be around him, and any future women he might be with, if she developed feelings for him that were unreciprocated.

And yet, as Bear nudged the tattooed woman with his shoulder, Tessa found herself walking over to them without making the conscious decision to do so. She wasn't even sure she exited out of the chart she'd had open on the computer, which was a big mistake if caught.

As Tessa neared, Bear turned and smiled down at her. He did not, however, reach for her or touch her in anyway.

"Oh good, I wanted to introduce you. Angel, this is Dr. Fisher. She's Bree's doctor until she's admitted upstairs in the morning. Dr. Fisher, this is Angel. I called her in to help keep an eye on Bree. Don't be surprised if you see others around here with Via Daemonia cuts on either."

Dr. Fisher. He'd called her Dr. Fisher. That was her name. She was proud of her title. She'd earned it through sweat and sleepless nights. So why did it bother her so much when Bear introduced her as Bree's doctor? He hadn't called her his Mama Bear. He hadn't referred to her in any familial sense.

Did he not want this woman to know she was pregnant with his baby? He'd been fine letting Carlos know—he'd seemed proud in fact when he had. Yet he had not told this woman.

Why?

Did this woman mean something to Bear? Even if they weren't dating now, that didn't mean they didn't have a history. Perhaps she was an ex and he still had feelings for her?

Angel held out a tattooed hand to Tessa. "Good to meet you, Doc."

It took her a moment before she was able to raise her own hand to grab Angel's. She was surprised how calloused Angel's hand was. This woman was not a stranger to hard work.

Angel dropped her hand first. "Don't worry about your patient, Doc. I'll keep her safe. I'm retired Army Infantry. No one's getting past me."

Tessa believed it. The woman was a head taller than Tessa. She was lean but muscular with a physique Tessa was quite jealous of. She stood strong, sure of herself. She was not someone Tessa would want to meet in a dark alley unless she was on Tessa's side.

She glanced up at Bear. Though she had never seen it, she was sure there was a scary side to Bear too. Where Angel radiated strength, Bear had an air of calm about him. She'd never refer to Angel as a teddy bear.

Tessa cleared her throat, realizing Angel was waiting for a response. "Thank you."

Angel nodded once and then went inside the hospital room where Bree slept.

Tessa felt Bear's lips at her ear. "What put that scowl on your face, Mama Bear?"

Tessa didn't want to feel warmth at the nickname, but she did. Why was he willing to call her Mama Bear when it was just them but not in front of Angel?

When she didn't answer, Bear took her hand and pulled her down the hall. He pressed her back into a corner. "Tell me."

Tessa felt so foolish. It shouldn't matter how he'd introduced her to Angel. Maybe she could blame this on pregnancy hormones and he'd drop it. "I've just been having some crazy mood swings with the baby and all."

He wasn't fooled. "Tessa, honey, please tell me."

Damnit. She let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine! Why did you introduce me as doctor to Angel?"

For a second, she thought he was going to make a joke, but then he kept his face serious. "You mean because I didn't call you ‘Mama Bear'? Were you thinking I was ashamed of you or our cub, Tessa? Were you thinking I didn't want to introduce you to any of my brothers as mine? Because if you were, you're wrong."

"Then why?—"

He cut off her whine—yes, it was a whine and, no, she was not proud of it—with a kiss. It was quick, yet intense. He had to nearly squat down to reach her.

"I couldn't be more proud or excited about our cub. The simple explanation as to why I didn't tell Angel about our cub or that you're mine is because there are certain people, mainly my parents and my best friend, who I owe it to to tell first. Remember how you said this place gossips? My brothers are worse. All it would take is a single text from Angel that I knocked up the sexiest doctor in the state and they'd be down here throwing you a baby shower in the nurse's station. I just need to talk to my parents and Lucky first. They deserve to hear it from me and not from one of those knuckleheads. I promise you, by this time tomorrow, I'll be shouting from the rooftops that you're mine and you're having my cub."

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her tears from falling. She used the collar of her lab coat to wipe them away from under her glasses.

"I haven't told my mom yet either."

"Do you want me to be there when you do?"

Tessa shook her head then nodded then shook it again.

Bear chuckled at her indecision. "My parents are in Florida right now. They're weird and are like the opposite of snowbirds. They love the winter, so they go down to visit their friends and vacation during the summer. But I can guarantee you my mom is going to be thrilled. She's been on me since I turned eighteen to give her grand-cubs."

Tessa let out a sobbed giggle. "Are you ever going to call it a ‘baby'?"

"Why? He or she is my cub. ‘Baby' is so generic. You could have had anyone's baby, but instead you get to have my cub."

Tessa laughed, and he smiled in return. "You shouldn't be so adorable, but you are."

"And you, Mama Bear, are beautiful." He leaned down and kissed her again. She appreciated he kept them short and quick because they were at her workplace, but also wished they were anywhere else. She remembered very vividly how he was able to pick her up and lift her to his lips.

"I should get back to work." She didn't want to, but she needed to. He was too distracting and tempting.

Tessa only hadan hour left of her shift and so far no monsters had come through the emergency room doors to get to Bree. She was counting down the minutes until she was off shift. Her feet were killing her and her back ached. She also was hungry but had eaten all her food. She was going to need to start bringing more with her. This was the second time she'd run out. Apparently, Bear's cub had inherited his father's appetite.

She was doing final checks on all her patients. She'd had five more walk-ins. Two were waiting for admission and three had been discharged. With Bree, that was three total for upstairs. Not a bad night. She'd had busier, she'd had slower. A small-town hospital didn't see a lot of traffic at night like big city hospitals did. She much preferred the slower pace of her ER than where she'd done her residency in Philadelphia.

As she went into Bree's room, she saw Angel was standing with another man near the window. She hadn't met this one before, though he also wore a cut. She'd learned earlier from a very offended Bear that it was a cut, not a vest.

There'd been a string of Via Daemonia members in and out since Bear had messaged them three hours ago. So far Angel was the only one who'd stayed since arriving. Tessa had been introduced to Cage, who looked like he should be on the cover of romance novels or a runway; Ranger, who was so pale and had hair so blonde it appeared white that she would have thought he had OCA, or albinism, if for the fact that he'd served in the military and had blue eyes; Pumpkin, who swore he hated pumpkins in all shapes, colors, and forms; Ghost, who had bright red hair and was covered in freckles; and Demo, who was missing three fingers on his left hand.

Each time, Bear introduced her as Dr. Fisher. He kept their conversations professional and didn't touch her around them. Carlos had shown up about twenty minutes ago and Bear had left her to go speak with him while she finished her rounds.

Angel looked over at her as she entered. Her smile was friendly, but her eyes said she'd interrupted something.

"Go get yourself a cup of coffee," Tessa encouraged. "I'll only be a minute. I just need to check her wounds and see if I need to adjust her medications. My nurse will be in in just a moment too."

Angel and the other club member looked at each other then started walking to the door in silent agreement. "Thanks," Angel told her. "Shout if you need anything. I'll be keeping an eye on the door."

"The cafeteria opened at six. You can go down and get yourself a real cup instead of that brown sludge that comes out of the vending machine."

Angel nodded. "Thanks. I'll see who else is around who can watch the door."

Tessa shut the door behind her. Bree was still in the same position as the surgeon had ordered. So far, her legs had been unresponsive. If the surgery had been successful in repairing the nerve damage to her spinal cord, they needed to keep as much pressure off the area as possible.

Tessa was untying Bree's gown when she stirred. "No…" She moaned, pitiful and painful.

"Bree, it's okay." Tessa walked around the bed so the girl could see her. "My name is Dr. Fisher. Do you remember me? You're in the hospital."

Bree swallowed. Her breathing slowed but was still short. Tessa glanced at the monitors behind her. They'd been muted while Bree slept. Her oxygen levels were low, her pulse high. Tessa had also noticed a yellowish tint to her skin that hadn't been present before. Tessa needed to order another blood test to check her bilirubin level. With the damage to her liver, it wasn't out of the realm of possibilities that she would become jaundice.

"Badge."

Tessa turned back around at Bree's weak voice. "What was that?"

"He has a badge. Silver star. Thought my foster mom had been in an accident and he was going to take me to her."

Tessa didn't like how slurred Bree's words were becoming. She pulled out her phone to call pathology as well as to see if there was a gastroenterologist present in the hospital this early.

"He's got a tree tattoo on his left arm, scar above his eyebrow." Tears started streaming down the girl's cheeks. For the first time in her career, Tessa froze as she listened to Bree's words. Her fingers had stopped typing on her phone. "He raped me. I tried to fight but he'd drug me and chain me up. It was…easier when I didn't fight." Her voice broke with shame. "He started renting me out to his friends. Sometimes for just an hour and other times for days. It…hurt. It hurt so much."

Bree turned her face into the pillow. "I don't know how long ago but he sold me for real. Said I was too old now for him. The new guy, the one who bought me, he wanted me for a snuff film."

Tessa covered her mouth as she gasped out.

"He makes porn videos, bad ones. They…" Her voice started to get lower in volume. "I think they thought I was dead. I don't remember what happened. I lost consciousness during the video…"

Bree fell asleep again. Tessa still stood there, frozen. This girl was fourteen years old. Fourteen. She'd been raped, beaten, sold, and worse. What fourteen-year-old knew what porn was, let alone what a snuff film was? Tessa squeezed her eyes together, trying to get past the sadness and rage burning within her. Whomever could do this to a little girl deserved to die a slow and horrible death.

She rested her hand on her baby bump, vowing then and there that she would never allow any harm to come to her baby.