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was some fucker took a knife to her. Sliced her open. Probably willing to do even more to her if she hadn’t managed to get away. He didn’t know the story but if she managed to get away from a man with a knife she must be smart and resourceful. What the fuck? In the world as it should be, she shouldn’t have to worry about men with knives.
    Metal was all about making the world a safer place, a place where beautiful young women didn’t have to dodge knife-wielding fuckheads.
    “Metal?”
    Jacko’s low voice jerked him back to reality. He wrestled his emotions back into his combat box. No place and no time for emotion when dealing with wounds.
    His kit was well organized and he got what he needed without looking.
    Felicity’s eyes hadn’t left his face. He was her lifeline and he wasn’t going to let her down.
    “Okay, honey,” he said. “I’m going to disinfect the wound and bind it up, then we’re going to a place where we can reinfuse you and stitch that slice up. Okay?”
    She grasped his wrist with both hands. Her hands were ice-cold. He kept a frown off his face as he held her hand, surreptitiously putting a thumb on her pulse. A thready fifty beats per minute. Blood pressure very low. They had to get going.
    “No…hospitals,” she gasped. “Can’t…leave a trace.”
    “No hospitals,” he agreed, pulling on latex gloves. She’d already made that clear and he’d already factored in that whoever had sliced her was still out there, looking. The fucker would never get his hands on her again. “No trace. Now hold still just a second, this might sting.”
    Her face scrunched when he disinfected the wound, but she didn’t make a sound. Good girl.
    “So, Felicity,” he said calmly, “it is Felicity, isn’t it? That’s what Lauren called you.”
    Try to keep the patient engaged, try to ask simple yes or no questions.
    She nodded.
    “That’s a pretty name. Felicity. Sort of means happiness, doesn’t it?”
    She nodded again, huge sky blue eyes unblinking.
    “Well here’s the deal, Felicity. I’m going to apply some coagulating powder on the wound and then bind it up. I understand you don’t want to go to a hospital, you’re afraid the guy who attacked you might find you. He will not find you. And even if he does, Jacko—that’s the mean-looking guy over there—and I have your back. You’re safe with us, I promise. But we need to take you somewhere where you can get a blood transfusion because you’ve lost blood. Do you know your blood type?”
    “A positive,” she whispered.
    “Good girl,” he said. “If we know your blood type we don’t need to use plasma, we can use blood directly. And you know what? I happen to be A positive too, so if where we’re going is low on your blood type I can donate. I’m really healthy, don’t worry about anything.”
    She was watching him so very carefully. Listening hard with every organ she had, it seemed. Not just her ears but through her skin and eyes. She nodded. “Okay,” she whispered. “Gotcha. No worries.” Then she rolled her eyes and tried to grin at him.
    Oh God. Beautiful and brave. With a sense of humor.
    He taped gauze over the wound then wrapped it, the best he could do if she didn’t want to go to an official hospital. It would hold until they got to where they were going.
    “I’m going to carry you to my vehicle, is that okay?”
    She nodded, blue eyes big with fear.
    Metal slid his arms under her and rose easily. She weighed nothing, certainly less than the heavy rucksack plus heavy medic bag he carried into battle.
    “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “Promise. You’re safe now.”
    “No such thing as safe.” She closed her eyes.
    Lauren had her coat on. “Where are you taking her?” she asked.
    This was tricky. Jacko knew, but nobody else in the company did. Manuel’s clinic was a secret. Manuel wasn’t going to appreciate having outsiders brought along. However, Felicity would be reassured by Lauren’s