Page 158 of Fierce-Colson

They helped get Bella onto the bed, then lifted it up, wheeled her out, Tiff yelling to text her.

“Where’s her stuff?” he asked, thinking of that now. Bella would want her phone.

“Right here,” Tiff said. “I got it while we were waiting.”

He took the bag and put it over his shoulder, not caring it was bright purple with a flower Stanley cup hanging off the side.

The minute the doors shut on Bella, he hopped in his car, put his lights on and followed the ambulance to the hospital, hitting Marly’s number on the way. He didn’t expect her to answer, and she didn’t.

But he left her a message, told her what happened and they were heading to Duke.

He followed the ambulance into the bay, parked off to the side, not caring he shouldn’t be there at the moment. They wouldn’t tow him, not with the police plates, then he raced toward Bella so they could walk in together.

“Is Marly coming?”

“I left her a message,” he said. “I’m sure she’ll get here when she can.”

“What if I broke my ankle?” Bella asked, tears running down her cheeks more.

“Then you get a cool, no, sorry, Gucci cast.”

He saw a tiny smile being forced out between the pain filling her eyes. “Ha. I knew you knew the right words.”

“We’ve got it from here, Colson,” Izzy said. “You’re going to have to fill out paperwork.”

“Yeah, got it,” he said. “I’m not far away, Bella. I promise.”

He went to the nurse’s station, gave his name and explained what was going on. “Come with me. We’ll get her registered,” the nurse said.

He sat in the chair quickly, gave her name, pulled out his insurance card, gave his ID and all but his birth certificate, it seemed.

Twenty minutes later, after his knee actually ached from all the bouncing it was doing, he was on his way back when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out to see Marly calling.

“How bad is it?” she asked.

“Easily broken. My guess is they are going to decide if she needs surgery.”

“Do you need me there right now?” she asked. He could hear her moving papers around and opening drawers.

“When you can get here is fine. I’m sure we’ll be a while, but you reaching out is good.”

“I’ve got a meeting with Judge Carmichael in ten minutes.”

“Go. That’s important. I know it is. We aren’t going anywhere. I’ll keep you posted.”

“I’ll text Bella right now too so she knows I’ll be there.”

“She’ll appreciate it,” he said. “Go do your thing.”

“I love you, Colson. Tell Bella I love her too.”

“I will,” he said.

And he knew Marly would send that in a text.

Because the last few weeks the women in his life had gotten even closer.