Page 144 of Theirs to Corrupt

“Good. That’s what I want to hear.” Then he shines a small flashlight in her eyes. “Now look straight ahead and follow the light with your eyes.”

After a few moments, he switches off the light. “Your pupils are reacting normally, which is a good sign. How are you feeling otherwise? Dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision?”

“No.” Natalie shakes her head. “Just a little…rattled, I guess.”

“Totally normal after what you’ve been through. I’m going to check your vitals now, just to make sure everything else is where it should be.” He pulls out his stethoscope to listen to her heart. Then he wraps the blood pressure cuff around her arm.

As the cuff inflates, Natalie glances at me. “I really do feel fine.”

I have no idea what I’d do if she’d been seriously hurt.

A few moments later, he’s done. “Everything looks good. I’m not seeing any signs of a concussion, but I want you to take it easy for the next twenty-four hours. No heavy lifting, no strenuous activity.”

“Wine?” she asks. “I could drink a gallon.”

He grins. “That’s never advised. But a glass should be okay. I recommend some ice for the bump. Frozen bag of peas, if nothing else.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Even though there’s no concussion right now, I want you to monitor for delayed symptoms…a sudden headache, dizziness, changes in your vision, that kind of thing. If that happens, you need to get checked out.”

“Got it,” Arielle assures the man.

The EMT turns to me.

“I really am fine,” I tell him.

Pax’s gaze locks on mine. “Check her out.”

“Any dizziness, headaches, or nausea?”

The same thing Nat just went through. “No. Nothing like that.”

After checking my pulse, he pulls out his stethoscope.

Pax is right next to me, arms crossed.

A few minutes later, the EMT confirms everything I knew. “Heart rate and blood pressure are normal. No signs of anything concerning, but Agent Gallagher is right to be cautious. Stress can have an effect on the body.”

Even though I didn’t hit my head, he pulls out his flashlight again.

I blink as the light passes over my eyes, but it’s over in a second. “Pupils are reacting normally,” he confirms, standing up and offering his hand to help me up. “Everything checks out.”

I stand, feeling relieved that it’s over. “See, Pax? I’m fine.”

The EMT turns to Pax. “Same caution I gave your friend: if you feel any dizziness or notice anything unusual over the next few hours, call us.”

Pax finally unfolds his arms. Despite the reassurance, his eyes still hold concern.

As he leaves, Link rushes in, accompanied by Torin and Mira.

I see him before he sees me, and I take in the tense set of his shoulders, the barely contained fury in his eyes as he speaks in low, urgent tones with Pax and Inamorata. When his gaze finally lands on me, his face changes entirely.

“I’ll go call David.” Nat gives me a quick hug and leaves the room.

In three long strides, Link is sitting next to me, and he cups my face between his strong hands. “Are you hurt?” he demands, his voice rough with emotion.

“I’m fine.” Despite myself, I stay where I am, inhaling the scent of his confidence and drawing comfort from his strength.

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