King Maker (King Maker 3)

Her eyes rolled up in her head and she began to fall. I stepped forward and caught her in time. Fear coiled around my heart like a well-tied knot.

Cradled to my chest, Bailey was unresponsive. My phone buzzed. I ignored it while I set Bailey down on the bed. I watched for the rise of her chest before I felt her head, not sure what I was seeking. My brain had short-circuited and I acted on instinct. I propped her head up and turned her to face one side. I retrieved a blanket from the closet to cover her with.

I pulled out my phone to make a call when it rang in my hand. Confused, I stared at it a second longer when a knock came at the door. It all made sense when the knock and the phone rang at the same time.

As another firm knock came at the door, I opened it and answered the phone at the same time. “She’s fine. I’m going to call a doctor now.” I told both the guy at the door and the one on the phone.

The guy at the door waited, while a voice on the phone said, “Sure thing, boss. When you didn’t answer your phone after I saw you on the security cam, I sent someone over to help.”

Once I hung up and the guard was stationed outside, I knelt in front of Bailey and stroked my knuckles down her cheek. She looked so vulnerable and innocent. It was hard to deny my feelings for the lass when my heart thundered at the prospect of losing her. Was it possible for me to get past what happened between her and Turner? It wasn’t like I’d see the guy every day to be reminded.

“Bailey,” I said gently. She didn’t stir. I selected a contact on my phone.

“Griff, send a doctor.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Bailey passed out,” I said.

“Is she breathing?”

“Yes, you eejit. I would have called 999 if she wasn’t.”

That was our emergency number, not 911, which was an absurd number in the first place. It was infinitely easier to dial 999.

“Do you know how to check for a pulse and heart rate?”

“Since when did you become a doctor? Just get one here.”

“I’m doing that. But it could help to find out if she’s sick or maybe weak from drinking or not eating.”

“She appears to be breathing normally,” I said after watching the rise and fall of her chest area.

“She isn’t warm either,” I said after placing the back of my hand to her forehead. “She feels fine.”

“Did she eat anything tonight?”

“Wouldn’t your security team know that?” I snapped.

“Right. Someone should be there soon.”

It felt like forever. Bailey had stirred but refused to wake up. She slapped my hands and told me to go away.

At least she was talking. Griff couldn’t get someone here in time, so he had a doctor call me. We went through all the same questions.

After confirming with Griff, I was able to tell the doc, “She did eat and she’d been drinking,” I added, thinking everything I could tell him might help with a diagnosis.

“Is it possible that she passed out because of alcohol?” he asked casually, but he also sounded cautious like he expected me to be offended by his question.

“Anything is possible, but she was talking to me normally before she threw up. Our conversation got a little heated, then she passed out,” I admitted.

“You might not know the answer to this question, but do you know when her last period was?”

“No, I don’t,” I said, sounding dead as my mind raced, not liking where this was going.

Bailey’s head moved. “It looks like she might be coming to.” I felt hope and not the frenzy from before.

“Do you know if she’s using an oral contraceptive? That might rule out that possibility.”

“She is on the pill. Let me check her purse,” I offered.

I’d caught sight of the small bag when I put her down. I reached for it on the night table. I invaded her personal belongings again and came up empty. “They’re not in here.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean she isn’t on them. Some women don’t keep them on their person. Is she still waking up?”

But I knew better. Everything she had was here. When she moved her head, I decided against searching her room. She could answer the question better than anything I found or didn’t find.

I stared at her. “She stopped moving her head.”

“If she doesn’t come to in another few minutes, try to rouse her again. If she doesn’t wake up then, take her to the emergency room. How long has she been like this?”

I checked the time. “Twenty minutes or so.”

“Without seeing her or knowing her history, my best guess is exhaustion or she’s pregnant. If she’s consumed a lot of alcohol, she might have alcohol poisoning. She would have likely still shown signs of intoxication. If you think it’s at all possible that alcohol is a factor, I suggest going to the emergency room right away.”