Page 104 of Death Wish

“We’ll make this as fast as possible.” He glanced at Sam. “Ready?”

She tugged on a pair of gloves and nodded.

He handed her one bag of saline and took the other for himself. “Do your best to hold still, sweetheart.”

Her hands gripped the rubber covering.

“Let’s do this, Sam.”

Ten minutes later, the wounds were flushed, and Simone shuddered, her face dotted with perspiration.

Sam patted Simone’s knee. “You’re doing great, Simone. Hang in there a little longer.”

After checking to be sure Simone was still numb, Jesse handed Sam one of this stitch kits. He looked at Simone. “Here comes the fun part.”

She wrinkled her nose. “More fun than flushing saline through the wounds?”

“Afraid so. You’ll feel tugging but you shouldn’t feel pain. If you do, tell me and we’ll give you more Lidocaine. Ready, Sam?”

“Yep.”

“Front first, then we’ll turn Simone to her side.”

“Got it.”

They worked in tandem to stitch the entrance wounds together. When they finished, Jesse looked at Simone. Tears streaked her cheeks. “Do you need more Lidocaine?”

She shook her head. “Just finish it.”

Taking Simone at her word, Jesse nodded at Sam and together they rolled Simone to her side. They quickly stitched the exit wounds and covered both sides with bandages.

After rolling Simone to her back, Jesse and Sam propped her up on an incline and covered her with a sheet and blanket.

“Need me for anything else?” Sam asked.

“No, thanks. Appreciate the extra hands, Sam.”

“Any time. I’ll check on you after a while, Simone, but you’re in excellent hands with Jesse.”

Simone gave a wan smile. “I know. He’s the best.”

When Sam left, Jesse grabbed two packets of capsules from his bag and opened one of the remaining bottles of water. He handed Simone two capsules from each bag. “Antibiotics and pain meds.”

She swallowed the capsules without argument and settled back against the pillows. “Will you stay with me?”

“Absolutely. Rest now. I’ll be here.”

Jesse cleaned up the medical detritus while Simone drifted to sleep. After he finished, Jesse pulled up a chair beside the bed, wrapped his hand around Simone’s, and settled down to watch over her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SIMONE WOKE TO pain and heat. Although she could do without the pain, thank you, the heat was a welcome change from the chills she’d had after being shot.

She opened her eyes and glanced around the jet’s small bedroom. No Jesse. Had he stepped out for a moment?

What was the unfamiliar weight across her middle? Simone glanced down to see a muscular arm wrapped around her and realized Jesse was behind her.

“How do you feel?” he murmured in her ear.

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