Page 86 of Hunted, Season Three

“Of course,” leaves me.“What else?”

“Paper towel roll and duct tape and Woods needs to remove his shirt.”

“Naked Arts and Crafts time, Kid,” I playfully poke during my exiting.“Your favorite.”

Grumbles of unhappiness precede me promptly grabbing everything indicated.

Thankfully, getting the contraption taped together isn’t difficult; however, not laughing while Garcia arranges the questionable device on top of my fiancé’s bare chest definitely is.

At least until I see the deep bruises from where he was beat with a wrench.

How one spot looks to be protruding slightly more than the others.

I’ll kill ‘em.

I’ll kill ‘em all.

“Find his heart,” Demián calmly instructs, “once you confirm you can hear it beating andhowfast it’s beating, that’ll verify your little elementary school STEM project is working and that we can move on.”

Minimal movement of the clunky object as well as his ear against it is followed by a thumbs up.

“Find the lungs.You’re gonna listen totwofull respiratory cycles at the auscultation sites.”

“Huh?”

“The ribs spots on each side of his sternum,” his dad sighs in irritation.“Just start at the top of the lung on one side and then go lower.Then switch to the other side.We’re gonna do two rounds of this shit since you’re using DIYdisparates.”

I relocate my hand to give the back of Kid’s neck another small soothing rub with my thumb.“And what’s he listenin’ for?”

“Anything abnormal.Wheezing.Crackling.Gurgling.All these indicate you need to hang up this phone and get him to a hospital.”

We nod our understanding.

“Woods,” calls out the doctor, “I’m going to need you to do something you’re gonna hate me for.”

“What’s that?”

“Take in areallyfuckinggran aliento.”He demonstrates the level of breath he wants to see.“Repeatedly.”

“Fuckkkk,” grumbles the injured male.“Okay.When?”

“Now.”

Kid sucks it in, entire body straining against the evident pain, but he doesn’t complain.

Or speak.

Or flinch.

Or quit.

He simply lets my other best friend move the device around and examine the territory for what I am praying like hell isn’t there.

Because hecan’tgo to the hospital.

Not right now.

No.

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