Page 28 of Safe With Me

“Let’s do it anyway.”

They got to the end of the street and walked into the Arcade. A loud crash accompanied by screams echoed from inside. Pax and Steph rushed to find the victim. A young girl was on the floor beneath a pinball game whose front two legs had collapsed. Two huge men rushed over.

Pax said, “Steph, run and get the medical bag I filled last night. It’s in my office.”

“Of course.” She took off like a shot.

Pax addressed the men, both with shaved heads and deep brown eyes that were filled with concern. He knelt down next to girl. “I bet you hurt.”

“Ye-ah.” The base of the game lay across her thighs.

The men wore deep frowns. “This is our sister.”

“Lift this machine off her.”

The men raised up the machine and Pax gently pulled the girl to the side. She moaned but he had no choice in moving her. The men knelt down.

“What’s your name?” he asked her.

“Anika,” one man told him.

She said, “I hurt, Miles.”

The other gazed softly at her. “Hey, baby.”

“Hey, Enzo.”

“May I touch your legs?” Pax asked. She wore a skirt.

“Yes.”

Gently he felt her legs. The machine had dug into her so hard it caused two wounds.

“Can you move your feet?”

She did.

“Can you bend your knees?”

She did. “But it hurts.”

“I’m sure it does. Now take a deep breath and we’ll help you to sit up.”

Her brothers assisted her.

Again she moaned.

Steph arrived with his bag.

When he opened it, Enzo asked, “What’re you going to do?”

“Clean and treat the cuts. They’re superficial but we don’t want them to deepen or spread.”

He took out antiseptic and cleaned the wounds. Another moan from the patient. Each brother held one of her hands. Their dark brows crinkled with worry.

“This ointment will make it feel better.” He put on a salve.

Then he bandaged both legs.

---