Chapter 3 - The Medical Haven
Twenty minutes later, Julian was waiting outside the hospital trauma bay in his surgical scrubs.
When he saw the choke marks around my throat and the blood in my hair, his jaw set into a lethal, granite line. Without a word, he scooped my frail body into his arms, carrying me past the triage desks directly into a private examination suite.
Within an hour, trauma nurses cleaned my lacerations, conducted CT scans of my skull, and applied soothing medication to my bruised trachea.
Julian sat on the edge of the hospital bed, holding an ice pack against my temple.
"Your skull is intact, but the contusions around your neck are severe," Julian said, his voice trembling with suppressed fury. "Mia, this is felony aggravated domestic assault. You cannot go back to that house."
"I have no intention of going back, Julian," I replied, pulling my phone from my bag and handing it to him.
Julian pressed play.
Arthur's enraged roar filled the hospital room: "Your brother needs that money more than you need your life!" followed by the concussive sound of my head striking the wall and Cynthia's callous warnings.
Julian’s eyes darkened with absolute resolve.
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He picked up his phone, dialing his personal attorney, Marcus Sterling—the top criminal prosecutor and civil litigation specialist in Phoenix.
"Marcus," Julian said into the receiver. "I need you at the hospital with protective orders, a forensic accountant, and the chief of police. We are putting Arthur Hayes behind bars."
