Warrior Daddy (Montana Daddies 6)

“She said it was just a few scrapes a

nd a sprained ankle,” the woman said. “If I’d known she was ill, I would have tried harder. What do you think is wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Macca murmured. “How did you get these scrapes, sweet pea? This one looks like it’s still bleeding.” He tugged at the bandage she’d fastened around her right knee. “This should have already stopped. She had these injuries when she arrived?”

“Yes, that was about ten-thirty this morning. Why is it still bleeding? What’s the rash on her face?”

Gigi groaned. She was definitely having a flare up.

A large, cool hand was placed over her forehead. “She’s got a fever. Gigi, I’m going to pick you up, all right? I need to get you to the hospital.”

“No. No hospital.”

Macca turned to the woman and handed up his keys. “Could you go get my car and bring it around? It’s a white Ford. A rental.”

“Sure.” Kate raced out.

“I’m okay,” Gigi protested. “I don’t want to go to hospital.”

Macca brushed her hair back off her face. “Baby girl, you’re very sick. You need medical help.”

“N-no, I’m not. It’s a flare-up.”

He frowned. “A flare-up.”

“I-I have Lupus.” She didn’t know why she hated telling people. Mostly they look at her in confusion, having no idea what she was talking about. Then if she explained, they gave her looks of pity or worse, disbelief. Many of them tried to tell her it had to be in her head, even when she explained it was a recognized disease.

“Lupus? Okay. I don’t know anything about it. Is that why you have all those medicines that I found at my grandmother’s house.”

“Y-yes, did you bring them?”

“No.”

Despair hit her. Shoot. She was going to have to get new prescriptions for everything, which meant she’d probably have to visit her doctor since she’d skipped the last visit. Which meant taking several buses to get there. . .and everything just seemed so overwhelming right now.

“Hey, sweet pea. Hush. Don’t cry. I didn’t bring them because I’m bringing you back with me to my nan’s place. I’m so sorry about this morning. I should have given you a chance to talk instead of just yelling at you the way I did. That was inexcusable. I promise it won’t happen again.”

She’d heard that before. How many times had her father promised that he would never do something again?

“I know you have no reason to trust me, but I’ll prove that you can. I’m going to help you.”

“You. . .you don’t have to,” she said in a husky voice. “I can’t continue to live there. I just. . .I’d be grateful for my medicine and stuff.”

To her shock, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “God, you’re burning up, baby. Gigi, I’m taking you to the hospital. I’m not leaving you here. I’m going to help you. There’s no point in arguing. My mind is made up.”

She frowned. “Do people usually argue with you?” He seemed the type of guy who was used to getting his own way.

“Never.” He grinned at her. Damn. So cute.

He chuckled. “Cute, huh? Glad you think so.”

“Don’t go getting a big head,” she muttered. “I still think you’re a pimple bum.”

“I know. This pimple bum has a lot to make up to you. Starting now.”

“Your car is out front,” Kate said. Gigi felt bad about all the extra work she’d been for her.

“You’ve been no work at all, love,” Kate told her. “I just wish I forced you to get help earlier.”