Page 33 of The Cousins and the Brunette

The doctor’s kind face creased with concern. “You’re safe now, Miss Soto. Joel Porter called me, and not a moment too soon.”

Confusion swirled through my mind, along with the pain that radiated from seemingly every part of my body. “Joel? But...I don’t understand,” I croaked, wincing as I spoke.

Not only was I at the mercy of a Porter, but I was also indebted to one. The universe really had it out for me.

“Yes, Joel Porter. He said he found you on his doorstep barely alive.” He smiled. “I’m Doctor Davies,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal. You have a broken arm, a broken nose that I had to reset, black eyes, and three broken ribs.”

I winced, each injury making itself known as he listed them. “Sounds like I look as bad as I feel.”

I felt like I’d gone ten rounds with a freight train and lost spectacularly. My body was one giant, throbbing bruise, and my face probably looked like abstract art. So much for my roguish street charm.

A small smile touched Doctor Davies’ lips. “You need to stay in bed, get lots of rest, and eat plenty of good food. I expect a full recovery, but it will take time.”

“Thanks, Doctor.” I yawned, sinking back into the pillows. The effort of staying alert was already draining me.

“I have given you strong pain meds that should be kicking in now. And I’ll be back in a week or so to check on you,” he said, packing up his medical bag. “Take care, Miss Soto.”

Doctor Davies moved towards the door.

A surge of panic rose in my chest. I didn’t know where I was, why I was here, or what had happened after I’d passed out. The opulence surrounding me felt alien and unsettling. My fingers clutched at the silken sheets, seeking any form of comfort or familiarity.

This place, with its fancy trappings and soft bed, was as foreign to me as the dark side of the moon. Give me a ratty blanket in a dingy alley any day—at least there, I knew the rules.

“Wait,” I called out, my voice shrill. “Can you...can you tell Joel I’m awake?”

Doctor Davies nodded, his expression softening. “Of course. Try to rest now.”

The door closed behind the doctor, and I was left alone with my thoughts and the unfamiliar luxury of my surroundings. The tick of an antique clock on the mantle seemed to echo in the vast room, marking time in a world I didn’t understand.

Joel strode into the bedroom, followed closely by Sebastian and Braxton. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of them, relief and apprehension washing over me.

“Hey there, tough girl,” Braxton said with a grin, though concern flickered in his expression. “How’re you holding up?”

I forced a smirk, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs. “Oh, you know, just peachy. Nothing like a good beating to start the day.”

Sebastian stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Is there anything you need, Brynn? Water? More pillows?”

“A time machine would be nice,” I rasped, then winced as I tried to shift position.

Joel moved to the edge of the bed, gently taking my uninjured hand in his. The warmth of his touch sent an unexpected vibration through me. “Brynn, I...I’m so incredibly sorry,” he said, his voice soft, kind. “I never should have kicked you out to face Shoemaker alone. It was reckless and stupid of me.”

I swallowed hard, caught off guard by the tenderness in his touch and the sincerity in his voice. “Yeah, well...we all make mistakes,” I teased, unsure how to handle this softer side of Joel. It was unreal…

The pain in my side, however, was very real. I winced, reaching under the covers to feel bandages wrapped around my torso.

“We want you to know,” Sebastian said, his tone gentle, “that you can stay here with us for as long as you need. We’ll take care of you, Brynn.”

Braxton nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, consider yourself our honorary cousin. We’ve even got a ‘Get Well Soon’ banner ready to hang.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked rapidly, fighting back the unfamiliar sting of tears. “I...um, well, thank you.” I yawned, sinking back into the warmth of the bed.

I yawned again, the heaviness of sleep tugging at my eyelids. The warmth of Joel’s hand lingered on mine. I sank deeper into the plush pillows, my heart eddying with conflicting emotions all at once—gratitude, relief, and a stubborn thread of mistrust that refused to unravel.

“Get some rest, Brynn,” Sebastian said softly. “We’ll be here when you wake up.”

I wanted to protest, but exhaustion won out, and I felt myself drifting off. The last thing I heard was Braxton’s voice, uncharacteristically gentle.

“Sweet dreams, tough girl. We’ve got your back.”

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