Page 76 of Shattered

I shut my eyes, not wanting to see this.

“Sir, you need to leave while I examine my patient.”

“You’re not going to touch her. Get the fuck out of this room and get us another nurse.”

“We don’t swap nurses around here.”

Before Asher can rip his head off, I pry my eyes open, staring up at Brent, but he’s not looking at me; he’s glaring at Asher.

“Did you even read her chart? Do you know why she’s here? I know you didn’t, or you wouldn’t have come charging in here like that, grabbing at her. Get the fuck out, we want a new nurse. A female nurse.”

“I want a new nurse,” I say, and finally, Brent looks down on me. Hearing it from my mouth makes him fold, and his expression softens.

“Alright, ma’am. I’ll have a new nurse in here soon.”

“Thank you.”

Brent leaves, closing the door behind him. As I sigh with relief, I feel something shift on my chest. Slowly, with stiff movements, I pull up on the front of my gown to look down at my bare chest. An enormous bandage is covering my destroyed tattoo. It doesn’t hurt anymore, but I know what’s underneath. I glance down at my arm, finding blood being pumped into my veins.

When I begin to panic, Asher approaches me, pulling back the blankets. I’m on a small hospital bed, but somehow, he manages to squeeze in beside me. He uses the bed controls to lift the head of the bed and then pulls me straight into his lap. I can feel the back of my gown opening and my bare skin against his clothes. Initially, I resist, pained and scared. But when those strong arms close around me, they block out the rest of the world. I sink into his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

“You’re safe, Sunshine,” he whispers, making me sob. With that comfort, I can finally calm down, my pulse slowing to match his.

After another nurse checks on me, we’re left alone for a while. It feels like hours later when a knock on the door startles me out of my thoughts and makes me jump. The door opens, and another familiar face steps in.

“It’s nice to see those eyes,” Turner says.

He approaches my bed and places a heavy hand on my shoulder as he sits beside us.

“You came.”

He smiles softly. “Of course I did. I really wish you fucking people would stay out of trouble every once in a while.”

That would probably make me laugh on any other day.

“Do you want me to call your folks?” he asks softly.

“I’m not gonna die, am I?”

He actually smirks at that. “No. You’re over the hump.”

“Then no. They’re across the country, and they don’t need to see this.”

“What about your friends?”

That makes me pause.

“Edgar’s department was called to Asher’s house an hour ago as part of the investigation. He hasn’t said anything to anyone, but he’s scared, and he knows something happened and that you were involved. I told him you’re alive but haven’t said anything else.”

“Just tell them I’m fine. I’m not ready for all that.”

Turner nods. “Alright. How are you? Is there anything I can get you?”

I feel as small as a mouse as I voice what I desperately need. “I need to pee.”

“Need some help getting there?” Asher asks.

I nod, humiliated in the worst way. To my relief, they don’t look bothered as they move out of the way. Asher helps me pull the blankets back, and shimmy onto the side of the bed. My whole body feels as heavy as lead. They each hook an arm under mine, and I’m easily lifted to my shaky feet. Just when I feel the back of my hospital gown separate, they each grab a side to cover me, and I’m tied back up.

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