Page 142 of Fury In Death
“Still right here.”
“So another two blockers before bed, two in the morning. Then she should be able to go back to one. Healing wands every two hours until she sleeps. I have a healing brace for the shoulder.”
Summerset held up a finger before Eve could protest.
“It will allow you more freedom of movement than the sling you’d refuse, and aid in reducing the swelling, the bruising. If you don’t trust me on this, Roarke will carry you off to a hospital.”
“I bloody well will.”
The cat, who’d sat on the top back of the couch, watching throughout, gave a low, rumbling growl. Eve understood he aimed that growl at her.
Outnumbered, tired, and since she’d heard spaghetti, hungry, she surrendered.
“Fine, fine. Am I done?”
“For the moment. You’ve a remarkable constitution, Lieutenant, and tolerance for pain. Anyone else in this condition would have been begging for what’s in the pressure syringe.”
He laid a hand over hers, briefly. “Follow instructions, and listen to the man who loves you. She’ll do, boy.”
“She will. Thank you.”
Roarke’s obvious gratitude made her feel petty.
“Thanks. It, all of it, feels better.”
“Follow instructions and it will continue to feel better. I’ll get that brace. Keep your shirt off until it’s in place.”
When he left, Roarke took her hand, pressed it to his lips.
“I’m sorry,” she said again, and he shook his head.
“I may have gotten more than I bargained for with you, but you’re what I want, what I need, what I love. I hate he did this to you, and yet—”
“You feel for him, too.”
“How could I not?”
“Roarke, I have to look at the recordings, look at all of them. Including what’s on mine. If seeing that makes it worse for you—”
“I’m entitled to see it. As the man who loves you, and as your consultant. You’re here, aren’t you? You came home to me.”
She shifted, eased herself to sitting. “I could handle a hug now if you’re careful with it, and if you need one.”
He wrapped around her, gently, laid his lips on hers, gently.
“I scared the cat.” She started to reach up to pet Galahad, but that brought an unwelcome twinge.
He slid down, rubbed against her.
When Summerset came back with the brace, he paused, and thought: The children are safe, at least for now.
“If you’ll take a moment, I’ll put this on you, show you both how it works.”
So she tolerated that, and had to admit, the shoulder felt better with it than without.
“I just want to do the updates, write the report.”
“You’ll eat first,” they said together.
