Chapter 5

It had been a quiet day. The locals moved out or hunkered down as the troops moved into the area, which meant no one was coming to the hospital. Chloe was filing paperwork in plastic bins to keep her mind occupied and her hands busy. It was a job everyone had been putting off for a while, so there was plenty to do.

Robert and Don had joined her. Robert leaned back in a chair with his feet propped up on the nurses' desk, and Don was sitting backward in a chair with his chin resting on his hands across the back.

Chloe was listening half-heartedly to their conversation about different surgery techniques that should be used and when. Mostly, Robert talked, and Don nodded as a captive audience because he had nothing else to do.

The other nurses were spread throughout the ward, doing housekeeping tasks here and there in between visiting sessions.

Chloe knew Juric was around. She could feel his energy. They hadn't seen Ms. Marks or Dr. Petrov recently, so Chloe guessed that they were with Juric. She had been doing her best not to think of him while she worked. Instead, she focused on her father and tried to devise a plan to see him.

"Of course, if the battle that is about to happen is as bad as they think it is going to be, we will be trapped here for who knows how long, and when it's over, there is a good chance they will send us up to the capitol.

Chloe's hands stopped as Robert's words registered.

"Where did you hear that?" Chloe asked, keeping her back towards the men.

Robert grinned because he had finally caught her interest. "Petrov mentioned it at breakfast this morning."

Chloe wondered if Juric knew Petrov was sharing information. Nadia and Alena must have been privy to the same information as well because of their previous whispered discussions about the troops in the area. Chloe frowned as she thought about whether she should tell Juric or not.

"Don't be frightened?" Robert said, standing and placing his arm around her shoulders. He had misinterpreted her frown to be fear and not concern. Chloe gritted her teeth at his inappropriate touch, ignoring the situation in hopes that he would back off.

"I'm not frightened," she assured him, continuing to file, hoping he would take the hint and drop his arm.

The door flap at the opposite end of the tent opened, and Ms. Marks, Dr. Petrov, and Juric entered.

Robert squeezed her shoulders, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "It'll be alright. I'll keep an eye on you," he assured her.

Chloe had to fight to keep from moving away from his embrace as she watched Juric approach, his eyes were cold as they looked at her and Robert. Chloe knew she didn't need Robert to look out for her because she had Juric on her side. He might be unhappy with her, but he would always watch out for her, of that she was sure.

"We must all talk and prepare a plan," Dr. Petrov said as they drew up to the nurses' desk.

Ms. Marks motioned for the other nurses to join the group, and Chloe took her chance to step away from Robert and toward the other nurses.

Dr. Petrov proceeded to tell them the information that Robert had just shared, and Chloe's face remained impassive as her eyes were glued to Juric, she was hoping to make him uncomfortable, but she should have known better. Juric had faced much fiercer enemies than a wronged woman.

"We need to set positions, especially for the nurses," Petrov said as he pulled out a clipboard that had everyone's names on it. "Nurse Marks, you will handle triage."

Chloe watched as the woman's eyes grew large at the thought, confirming Chloe's feelings that she was not a capable nurse.

"Won't I be needed in the operating room? Who will organize the nurses if I'm too focused on patients?" she hedged, doing her best to get out of it.

"I'll do it," Chloe softly offered, "that is if Nurse Marks doesn't mind." Chloe had hit the words nurse a little harder than she had intended.

Marks looked so relieved that she didn't appear to notice.

"You have enough experience?" Petrov asked with a raised eyebrow as he took in her appearance.

"Yes, I have over ten years of experience in emergency medicine at a level one trauma hospital," she assured him. "If you don't believe me check my references." Chloe was doing her best not to take it personally.

Petrov gave her one more glace before dividing up the rest of the duties between them.

As final instructions were issued and everyone dismissed, Juric walked toward Chloe.

"A minute of your time," he insisted and then continued past her toward the exit behind her, expecting her to follow him.

Everyone watched as Chloe sat down the papers she was still holding and followed him out into the sunshine.

He kept walking toward a tent where supplies were held, and then he moved behind it for what Chloe could only guess was privacy. Her heart rate kept accelerating as she watched his strong, broad back lead the way.

"Why are you here?" He abruptly stopped and turned to look down at her, his eyes were hard, and his voice was clipped. There was nothing left of the man she once knew.

Chloe looked at him, her green eyes shooting sparks. "I'm here to see my father." She crossed her arms in front of her, ready to do battle.

"Then why aren't you where he is? Why are you here?"

"Since no one was willing to help me see my father, I had to make due. This is what was offered, so I took it.

Juric eyed her in silence. "You understand what is about to happen here?" He crossed his arms, making his stance wide.

"I do," she confirmed.

"You know you will be in danger, and I cannot guarantee that I can keep you safe?" It was a warning meant to scare her.

Chloe breathed a silent sigh of relief. She had been right, he would keep her safe, but she couldn't let him know the relief that she felt. She had to present as confident.

"I don't expect you to keep me safe. I know you will because of your high regard for my father, but I don't expect it, and I won't hold it against you if you don't."

He made an almost guttural sound in the back of his throat as he stepped towards her, placing them toe to toe. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him. He was in her space, sucking all the oxygen from her lungs. At least, that was how it felt since she was unable to catch her breath. He was so close she could feel the heat and anger rolling off of him.

"Does DeGraff know you're here? Does your father? Do others know who your father is?" His eyes were so close, his lips only a few inches from hers. It took all she had to remain focused on the conversation.

"Yes, no, and no. They also don't know that I can speak Russian. I am playing my cards very close, just as you and father taught me." She kept her eyes glued to his, and they silently watched one another.

When the tension was overwhelming, Chloe spoke. "Dr. Petrov is not the soul of discretion. I knew about his announcement before he made it from multiple sources." There the weight of that was off her shoulders.

"I'm aware." He wasn't going to say any more on the subject.

"Does he know my father? Do the nurses know my father?" Chloe asked.

"Everyone knows your father, remember that. If you get in a tight spot, use it to your advantage. Both sides respect him and his work." Juric's eyes scanned the area around them, alert for eavesdroppers and threats, but he didn't step away from her.

It was useful information, and she nodded her thanks that he had shared it.

"I don't like you here," he said bluntly.

"I know, but it's your fault I am here. If you had sent my father to me at least once over the last twelve years, I wouldn't be here now." Chloe felt the need to defend herself.

"I didn't force him to stay, Chloe." His voice was low, and her toes curled at the sound of her name on his lips. She could remember him saying her name in just such a voice under different circumstances. "Your father has been free to come and go as he likes. He didn't want to leave."

Chloe flinched at his words. Was he saying that her own father didn't want to see her?

He must have seen the hurt in her eyes, which was why he reached out, placing his hand around her neck while resting the base of his palm on the top of her chest and his thumb in the hollow of her throat.

The contact made Chloe gasp, partly because it was unexpected but also because it was as if he was branding her with his heat. He had to feel her racing heart under his thumb.

Juric looked at his thumb and slowly stroked it back and forth across the delicate skin at the base of her throat, where he could see her pulse beating while Chloe waited in suspense for his next move.

"You're so delicate, I could snap your neck in a second, as could any man here." His voice was rough

It was not what she suspected him to say.  "I wouldn't let a man get close enough to do it," Chloe asserted.

"From what I just witnessed, that's a false statement," Juric said, dropping his hand.

Chloe remembered how Robert had pulled her close, and she couldn't suppress the rush of heat that infused her cheeks.

"That wasn't welcomed contact, and he most definitely didn't have his hand around my throat," she assured him.

"And what I just did was welcomed? I could have easily hurt you," he asked in disbelief.

"You would never physically hurt me, Valentine, and your touch is always welcome." The treacherous words were ripped from Chloe's throat as she admitted to herself it was true.

Juric's eyes snapped back to hers at either the sound of his name or her admission, but she couldn't be sure which one. They stared at each other for a moment longer.

"Can you do the job you've been assigned?" he demanded, changing the subject.

"Yes, talk to Silas if you don't believe me." She crossed her arms again.

He looked her over once more, but what he was thinking was a mystery.

"Watch your back." His voice was hard again.

Chloe nodded and then watched as he turned and walked away. She slunk to the ground when he was out of sight, her back against a pole. It felt as if she had run a marathon after less than five minutes in his company. It also felt like she was among the living again, but she hated the fact that Valentine Juric was the only one who could make her feel that way.