“My mom and my dad taught me to fight. Mom’s family owns a series of martial arts gyms, and she’s amazing,” Nari said, keeping her gaze on Quan. It wasn’t as if he’d been all that involved in her life. “My dad is an ex-marine and he’s a tough guy. Hopefully you can meet him someday, Vaughn. He won’t like you.”

Vaughn apparently caught the tension because he edged toward the door. “All right. I should get back. Nari, take tomorrow off. If you’re feeling up to it, report to work on Monday.” He exited the room.

Quan shook his head when they were alone. “Must you be so emotional?”

Emotional? She’d just been attacked by a psycho in her own home. Her head hurt, her body ached, and she just wanted to crawl into bed and stay there for the next three days. “Please, Quan. You’re smothering me with your concern and kindness,” she drawled.

His chin lifted and irritation crossed his face. “This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t had to reassign you to that team for a brief time.”

“You’re blaming me for this?” she snapped, rearing up and then instantly regretting it as her left hip vehemently protested.

“Nari?” Angus ran into the room, blood covering half his face.

Nari froze. He came. For her. She focused on him. “What happened to you?” His shirt was torn, and it looked as if glass was stuck in the thigh of his jeans.

Roscoe ran in next and jumped from the door to the examination table, landing at the edge and sliding toward her.

“Roscoe,” she cried happily, grabbing him for a hug and burying her face in his thick fur. Tears finally filled her eyes, but she hid them, clinging to the dog like a little girl with a stuffed animal. She breathed in as he panted against her. She blinked away the tears before looking at the men again.

“Sir? You can’t have that dog in here.” A harried-looking nurse with wildly curly white hair hustled in. “No pets.”

Angus stared at Nari as if taking inventory of her hurts. “He’s a service animal and he’s a member of Homeland Security.” He didn’t look away from Nari, and his eyes burned an unholy green. “She’s Homeland Security; I was, but I don’t know who the guy against the counter is.” It didn’t much sound like he cared, but even in the moment, he remembered to hide the existence of the HDD.

The nurse faltered, and then noise came from the hallway. She threw up her hands and turned on her white tennis shoe to disappear out the door.

Angus limped toward Nari and reached for her chin, lifting it. “How bad are you hurt, sweetheart?”