Page 66 of Tainted Love

I watch him as he lays the open case out on the bed. There’s a syringe inside, along with a small vial of purple liquid.

“You’re a doctor?” I ask.

“Not exactly,” he says. “School was never really my thing, but I’ve had more practical experience than your average doc and everything else is posted online.”

I stare at him, confused but intrigued. He’s younger than Dante by a few years, I’d guess. Just as handsome and charming, too. His dark hair falls over his eyes as he slides the cap off the needle.

I flinch. “You’ve done this before?”

Elijah smiles, bringing out a few of his more playful features. “You’re in good hands, Lucy. I will admit, however, that I have more experience with removing bullets and stitching knife wounds in our line of work, but blunt force trauma should be a piece of cake.”

He pushes the needle into the vial and fills it with the dark purple color. I stare at the needle as he walks to the corner and pulls the stool out from underneath the vanity in the corner to sit down on next to me.

I keep still but my pulse spikes in my chest. I’ve never liked needles… or anything sharp for that matter.

“What line of work is that? Snake Eyes?”

Elijah pauses.

“Dante told me some things,” I say.

“You’ve known him for two days and he told you about Snake Eyes?” he asks.

I nod, watching his face carefully as bewilderment crosses his eyes.

“Yes,” he answers my question. “I work for Snake Eyes.”

“Lilah, too?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Don’t let her hear the surprise in your tone,” he warns me with a chuckle. “It pisses her off when people don’t think she can do her job. My sister may be small but she’s very, very scary. In fact, she’s one of the best agents they have, or had.” He shrugs. “I guess we’re all unemployed now.”

I twitch, torn by fear and curiosity. “Cool,” I say.

He shows me the needle. “I want to inject you with this. It’ll numb your leg so I can take a better look at your knee.”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing to worry about. Just a very mild anesthetic commonly used on… large animals…”

“It’s a horse tranquilizer?”

He smiles. “It’s a horse tranquilizer — but my own special serum with none of those wacky Ketamine side effects. It’ll keep you lucid. I need you to talk to me while I inspect the damage, okay?”

I squeeze the bedspread, staring at the large needle with nervous apprehension. “Okay…”

“You won’t feel a thing unless I want you to.” His voice rolls down my back, soothing and confident. “I promise.”

I look at his hand, solid as a rock. He definitely has experience. I doubt Dante would have left us alone if he didn’t trust him.

“Go ahead,” I say, trying desperately to keep my voice from shaking.

“I’ll inject you four times—”

“Four?!” I jerk away, clanking my cuff against the bed.

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