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  “She must love you a lot and I can see how much you love her.” A hesitant hand patted his knee in an attempt to give comfort. “I don’t think it’s fatal, okay? I’ve seen victims in far worse condition make it. I’m sure she’ll pull through.”

  Moon knew he’d lose his mind if she didn’t. A commotion drew their attention as a male in a different uniform slowly eased into the room. Fear was etched on his face. “I’m a paramedic. Can we come in?” His attention shifted from Moon to Joy. “We want to help her.”

  A human female pushed against the male but he threw out an arm, holding her back. She met Moon’s gaze and paled, her fear apparent.

  “Help her,” he rasped. “I’m not a threat.”

  They eased into the room with their medical equipment. It was frustrating how fearful they were, as if he’d bite or attack them. It quickly became apparent that they wouldn’t get too close so he lifted Joy and scooted off the bed to lay her flat. He kept hold of her arm.

  “I’ve been applying pressure.”

  The female braved coming into contact with him first when she pressed against his side. “Please move your hand. I’ve got it.”

  He hated the sight of their gloves as they took over Joy’s care. It reminded him of Mercile. He backed away until his ass hit the desk to give them more room to work when they tore open packages from their medical kits.

  John drew his attention when he stepped to stand next to Moon. “She’ll be okay. They are starting fluids and will transfer her as soon as they stabilize her.”

  “Transfer her to where?”

  The human was tall enough to hold his gaze level. “She needs a hospital. The guy on the phone ordered me to keep you both here and said neither of you were allowed to leave. I know the NSO is sending a helicopter but if that were my wife, I’d wanted her treated as soon as possible. I’ll go with you both if you let them take her. We can ride with her in the ambulance.”

  It made sense and he didn’t want Joy to suffer. “I stay with her at all times.”

  “Nobody wants this to go bad, okay?” His voice lowered. “If they try to pull rank at the hospital, remind them that you’re New Species. I’ll back you up. We’ll say it’s a security risk if they attempt to ban us from following her into a trauma bay.”

  Moon glanced at him.

  John winked and raised his left hand, flashing his ring. “I get it.”

  “Thank you. Let’s take her to the hospital.”

  John gripped his mic. “We’re rolling with her.” He let it go to give orders to the paramedics. “You heard him. Get her stable and en route to the hospital.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Joy had a hard time opening her eyes. Her tongue seemed swollen and it was tough to wake. She tried to roll but a big hand pressed against her chest to hold her in place. She was able to finally shove away the haze and peer up at a dim light above her. A fuzzy shape blocked it suddenly. She blinked and stared into dark, beautiful eyes.

  She’d survived being shot by Douglas. The professional side of her wondered what had happened to him but she wasn’t naïve enough to question Moon about his fate. It had been a miracle she’d talked a Species out of killing someone who’d attacked with deadly intent. It only showed how much New Species had acclimated since their release. They’d learned to quash their tempers while using reason instead of acting on pure impulse.

  “Joy,” Moon rasped. “You will be fine. They said the bullet passed through your arm but you lost a lot of blood. It missed the bone.” His voice turned gruff. “The doctor said you were lucky but I don’t agree. You were shot. Luck would have been if the bastard missed you completely.”

  There wasn’t any pain but she chalked that up to really good painkillers when what he said struck her as hysterically funny. She laughed.

  Moon scowled. “What is funny?”

  “You.”

  “You’ve been shot. Do you understand that?”

  “Yes. I remember.” She tried to be serious but his expression kind of reminded her of an astonished fish. She laughed again. “You’re too cute.”

  His chin jerked up and he growled as he glared at something. “What is wrong with her?”

  “She’s higher than a kite,” a male voice answered. “They gave her the good shit. It’s normal. She’ll be dopey for a while. My wife laughed like a loon when she broke her leg and they gave her a shot for pain after she came out of surgery. You’d have thought she was drunk.”

  Joy turned her head to peer at the cop leaning against the wall next to her bed. He winked. She figured he was there to take her statement. That didn’t seem so funny. Poor Douglas. He might be beyond help. She felt guilty for not realizing how unstable he’d grown. She’d actually believed he was starting to become a more adjusted individual. Moon brushed her hair off her cheek and she looked up at him.

  Moon leaned in closer to peer into her eyes. “I am glad you’re feeling good enough to find humor in something. I can’t.”

  She reached up and cupped his face. She realized her fingers must be cold against his very warm skin. She hoped he didn’t mind. “You look like hell.” His hair was messy, as if he hadn’t combed it in a while and the whites of his eyes were a little red. “What are you doing here?”

  “Did you think I’d allow them to take you away without going to the hospital with you? I haven’t left your side.”

  She didn’t doubt it. Moon was honorable and protective of women. Two of the many traits she admired about him. “I meant here. Why did you leave Homeland?”

  “You left me again but this time I wasn’t unable to do something about it. I know how to read a map and looked up your address.”

  He’d come to find her. He had either been so angry he needed to yell at her because she’d left or he cared enough to come after her. “I went home to pack my clothes. I was coming back. I didn’t even have a phone number to call you. Didn’t you read the note?”

  “What note?”

  “I left it taped on the door in case you came back tonight. Isn’t that how you found out I’d left Homeland?”

  “No. I didn’t go back to human housing. You were planning to come back?”

  “I’d say so. Those suitcases on her bed were heavy.”

  They both glanced at the cop who’d spoken. He smiled.

  “I left a message too. I was planning to leave a message at the gate but there was a doctor there who said he was on his way to your home. I talked to him while they were searching my car. He offered to relay my message.”

  “Kregkor,” Moon mumbled then growled. He had to suppress the urge to hunt down and beat on the shrink.

  Joy turned Moon’s face toward hers so she could see his eyes again. “You thought I took off on you again, didn’t you? Did you come to my place to yell at me or to ask me to go back with you?”

  He licked his lips, hesitating.

  It hurt when she decided it had been anger that had driven him to seek her out. “I see. I know you have reason not to trust me but I was called away by my boss on an emergency. I had to go to my office. Someone broke into our file cabinets. Douglas admitted doing it but we didn’t know that at the time.”

  “Why did he do it? Did he say? Why was he at your condo with a gun?”

  She turned her head to answer the cop’s questions. “He’s a client of mine with emotional problems. I can’t tell you too much more. It’s a matter of confidentiality. I will highly recommend he be held on a seventy-two-hour observation though. I’m assuming he’s been admitted to the hospital too?”

  “He is. I’m guessing he’s lucky to be alive.”

  “It wasn’t luck.” Moon growled the words. “She didn’t want him hurt and begged me to tie him up. The bastard is here, Joy. The police have him in the emergency room restrained with handcuffs and he’s being watched closely by them. I was promised he would be sent to jail after the doctors are done giving him treatment.”

  The cop cast a knowing look at Moon. “The perp is still b