<b>Chapter </b><b>172 </b>
Roman and Luca arrived at Metropolitan General just as the ambnces pulled into the emergency bay. Roman could already see ir’s car speeding
toward them.
“She’s driving like a maniac,” Luca observed, following Roman’s gaze.
“Can you me her?” It worried the shit out of him, and he would be reminding her that she was pregnantter. Right <i>now</i>, sister. Which he understood. If this had been his sister, he knew he would have done the same.
her first concern was her
They watched as the paramedics wheeled both gurneys through the automatic doors. Keira was sitting up on hers, arguing with the EMT about something, while Alexeiy t, eyes closed but clearly conscious.
ir’s car screeched into a parking spot, and she was out almost straight away. Sutton emerged more carefully from the passenger side, one hand protectively over her small bump. He was d they were together.
“Where are they?” ir demanded, rushing up to Roman.
“Just went inside. We saw you taking first ce for NASCAR Cup series and thought we would wait.”
ir didn’t hear his crack about her driving and was already moving, but Roman caught her arm gently. “Hey. Take a breath. She’s okay.”
For a moment, ir’sposure crackedpletely. Her blue eyes filled with tears she’d been holding back for hours. “I can’t… I need…”
Roman pulled her against him, letting her have this moment of vulnerability before she had to be strong again for her sister.
“I know. But she’s tough. They both are.”
Sutton reached them, with the same desperate worry etched across her face. “Are they hurt?”
“Alexei has a head injury, but he was conscious and talking. Keira seemed physically unharmed,” Luca reported, wrapping an arm around Sutton’s shoulders.
“Seemed?” ir pulled back from Roman.
“She was walking, talking, making her usual smart remarks to the paramedics,” Roman assured her. “But they’ll do a full evaluation.”
The four of them made their way through the emergency department doors. A nurse at the triage desk looked up as they approached. “Can I help?”
“Yes,” ir said immediately. “Keira Warner and Prince Alexei. Where are they?”
“They’re both being evaluated in the trauma bays. The doctor will be out to speak with you shortly.”
“Can we see them?” Sutton asked.
“Once the initial assessments areplete, yes. Please have a seat in the family waiting area.”
ir looked like she wanted to argue, but Roman guided her toward the chairs. While Luca did the same to Sutton. The waiting area was <b>a </b>study in ufortable beige, with motivational posters about healing and hope that somehow managed to feel more depressing than encouraging.
“This is bullshit,” ir muttered, pacing instead of sitting. “She’s been through enough without being poked and prodded by-”
Pregnancy was really messing with ir’s emotions. They seemed to be heightened.
“ir,” Sutton’s voice was gentle but firm. “They need to make sure she’s really okay. After what happened…”
Roman watched ir’s face, she’d been holding it together for hours, being <b>the </b><b>strong </b>one while her younger <b>sister </b>was <b>missing</b><b>. </b><b>Now </b>that Keira was <b>safe</b>, <b>all </b>those suppressed feelings were demanding attention.
<b>1/4 </b>
The hospital room was super cleanpared to the warehouse, Keira weed
clean white walls and the absence of that musty, dirt and grim of
their prison. She sat on the examination table, legs dangling over the edge, still wearing the torn crimson dress from the g that felt like it had happened in another lifetime.
Dr. Morris, a middle–aged woman with kind eyes and gentle hands, had been thorough but efficient. Blood pressure, temperature, checking f?r signs of trauma or injury, Standard protocol for kidnapping victims, she’d exined.
“Everything looks good so far,” Dr. Morris said, making notes on her tablet. “No signs from the restraints, but that should heal within a few days.”
Keira nodded, her fingers unconsciously rubbing at the marks the zip ties had left.
go
s physical trauma. Some minor bruising on your wrists
55oon?”
“Just a few more questions, and then we’ll get you discharged.” The doctor’s tone reprofessional, but Keira caught something in her expression that made her stomach clench. “I need to ask about your time in captivity. Were you… did anyone hurt you in any way that you haven’t mentioned?”
The question hung in the air, loaded with implications that made Keira’s cheeks burn. She knew what the doctor was really asking.
“No,” she said firmly. “No one touched me. Not like that.” It had been close if it hadn’t been for her fast thinking.
Dr. Morris nodded, but her expression remained serious. “I understand this is difficult<b>, </b>but given the circumstances, I’d like to perform a rape kit. It’s standard procedure for kidnapping victims, and it can help with the investigation–We don’t have to tell your family for now.”
“I said no one touched me,” Keira interrupted, her voice sharper than intended. Because someone had but not like that.
“I believe you,” the doctor said gently. “But sometimes victims don’t remember everything clearly due to trauma or drugs. They block it out. The examination would help us rule out-”
“I remember everything.” Keira’s hands clenched in herp. The problem wasn’t that she didn’t remember. The problem was that she remembered everything, including what had happened between her and Alexei on that narrow cot.
Dr. Morris studied her carefully. “Miss Warner, I understand this may be hard toe to terms with-”
“I said nothing happened.” But even as she said it, Keira realized that wasn’t entirely true. She needed to protect what happened. She was protecting Alexei, protecting what had happened between them, protecting something beautiful from being twisted into evidence in a criminal case. Then getting leaked to the press.
“The examination is non–invasive,” the doctor continued. “Just a quick check to ensure there’s no physical evidence of assault. It would put everyone’s
minds at ease.”
Keira’s mind raced. If they did the examination, they’d find evidence of sexual activity. Alexei’s semen would still be inside her. They’d see the slight bruising on her thighs from where his fingers had gripped her. They’d know she’d had sex recently.
And then the questions would start. The assumptions. When it came out the kidnappers hadn’t touched her. The only other person was Alexei. Media nightmare waiting to happen.
“No,” she said again, more firmly this time. “I don’t consent to the examination.”
Dr. Morris frowned. “Miss Warner, I understand you’ve been through a traumatic experience, but-”
“My answer is no.” Keira slid off the examination table, her bare feet hitting the cold floor. “I’m fine. No one hurt me. I want to go home.”
The doctor exchanged a nce with the nurse who had been quietly taking notes in the corner. Something passed between them that made Keira’s stomach drop.
“Miss Warner,” Dr. Morris said carefully, “you’re showing several signs that concern me. Defensive behavior, reluctance to allow examination, <b>emotional </b>vtility. These are often indicators that something happened that you’re not ready to discuss.”
“Or they’re indicators that I’ve just spent thirty–six hours locked in a warehouse wondering if I was going to die,” Keira <b>snapped</b>. <b>The </b>timeline was <b>a </b><b>guess </b>because she had no idea how long she’d been there. “Of course I’m emotional. Of course I’m defensive. That doesn’t mean I was raped<b>.</b>”
<b>2/4 </b>
<b>Chapter </b>172
“No <b>one’s </b><b>using </b>anyone of anything,” the doctor said calmly.
<b>“</b>Prince Alexei didn’t leave my side he can tell you the kidnappers didn’t do anything,” Keira interrupted. “End of story”
But she could see in their faces that they didn’t believe her. The defensive tone, the fact that she was refusing the examination it all painted a picture
that she couldn’t seem to erase.
Dr. Morris sighed. “I can’t force you to undergo the examination if you refuse. But I am required to note your refusal in your medical record, and given the
circumstances…”
“No, you can’t.” Keira agreed.
Dr Morris sighed and left the room.
“Family of Keira Warner?”
ir was on her feet instantly. “That’s us.”
Sutton was right beside her.
“I’m Dr. Morris. Good news first… Miss Warner is in excellent physical condition. No serious injuries, just some minor bruising and dehydration.”
“Can we see her?” Sutton asked.
“In a moment. I do need to discuss our standard protocol for hostage situations.” Dr. Morris nced around the group. “We typically rmend a full medical evaluation to check for any… assault or sexual trauma.”
The words hung in the air. Roman felt ir go rigid beside him. That hadn’t crossed their minds in all this. Rage built inside him. If he could get to the four men now, he would fucking kill them.
“Did she…” ir’s voice was barely a whisper.
“She says no. Emphatically no. But given the circumstances, we’d like to perform an examination anyway, just to be thorough.”
“And if she refuses?” Roman asked.
“We can’t force her. But it would be advisable, for both medical and potential legal reasons.”
ir was already shaking her head. “If Keira says nothing happened, nothing happened. She wouldn’t lie about that.”
“Sometimes trauma victims-”
“Don’t.” ir’s voice cut like a de. “Don’t you dare suggest my sister doesn’t know her own experience.”
Sutton ced a calming hand on ir’s arm. “What about the prince?”
“Concussion, but mild. We’re keeping him for observation, but he should be fine.” Dr. Morris looked back at ir. “Your sister is asking for you. But please, try to convince her to let us do the full examination.”
ir and Sutton were already walking toward the trauma bay doors before the doctor finished speaking.
Roman caught up with them. “Wait.”
They looked at him.
<b>“</b><b>Trust </b>your instincts about your sister?” He took ir’s hands, feeling them tremble slightly. “She’s been through enough. I won’t let them <b>victimize </b><b>her </b>again <b>by </b>not believing her<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>They </b><b>found </b>Keira in trauma bay three, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking pissed off.
<b>3/4 </b>
09:17 Mon<b>, </b>18 <b>Aug </b>
“ir! Sutton!” Keira’s face lit up when she saw her sisters.
ir crashed into Keira’s arms first, tears streaming down her face as she held her sister tight. “I was so scared-”
“I’m okay,” Keira murmured, stroking ir’s hair. “I’m right here. I’m okay.”
Sutton wrapped her arms around both of them, creating a cocoon of Warner sister group hug. For a moment, the hospital room filled with quiet subs of relief and whispered reassurances.
“Don’t ever scare us like that again,” Sutton said fiercely, pulling back to examine Keira’s face.
“I know.” Keira’s voice cracked slightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t exactly n on getting kidnapped. I mean it’s not like we aren’t a family on a soap show.” With everything they had been through.
ir cupped Keira’s face in her hands, “Are you really, okay? Not just physically. You-”
“I’m fine,” Keira interrupted, but something in her tone made both sisters pause.
Roman and Luca hung back near the doorway, giving the sisters their moment while keeping watch. Roman caught the subtle exchange of nces between his wife and Sutton. They both sensed something their youngest sister wasn’t saying.
<b>“</b>The doctor wanted to do some kind of examination,” ir said carefully. “She said you refused.”
Keira’s jaw tightened. “Because nothing happened. I told them–the kidnappers didn’t touch me. Prince Alexei was there the whole time. I’m fine I promise. But I would kill for a cheeseburger.”