Page 71 of Lesson In Forgiveness

He’d weathered enough of her triggers to know what she was capable of and how to handle her crazy. Right now, her health took priority over his safety, and he was fully prepared to put his life in jeopardy to see to her wounds. “I’ll be fine.”

Jasper grunted unhappily, but turned and hurried away.

“Little tiger, I need you to listen to my voice. Put the gun down, yeah? I don’t know what the hell you’ve gotten yourself into, but it’s over now. Shooting me is gonna make this day the suckiest on record.” He edged closer, warily eyeing the gun. “You don’t need the gun. You’re safe. I’m here now; your brother’s here. We’ll keep you safe.”

Her lip curled with pain. “Don’t… need… a white… knight.”

“No, you need a fucking EMT, but you’re gonna be stuck with me for the time being.” Grit blew out a breath when she let the gun clatter to the floor. “That’s my girl. I’m going to pick you up now. We need to see where you’re hurt.”

A low, bitter laugh echoed in the tiny room, quickly changing to a choking wheeze. “Hate to tell you this, big boy… but I’m so fucked.”

“We’ll deal with it.” Crouching beside her, he shifted the weapon out of her reach, setting it on top of a blood-soaked jacket strewn over the floor. Unable to resist, he bent and brushed his lips over her blood-spattered forehead. “I’ve got you.”

She recoiled the instant his arm banded around her back. “Don’t.”

“We’re not staying on the floor forever, little tiger.” He eased his other arm under her legs and hoisted her into a cradle hold, rising as she cried out sharply. “Easy, Tabby. Just give me a second.”

It took thirty for him to carry her through to the bedroom and lay her down on the boring white sheets. With professional efficiency, he managed to strip her down to her underwear, barely refraining from spewing curses like vocal fire.

From head to knees, she was black, blue, purple, red. Contusions dominated her torso, while bruises and welts conquered her back. Open wounds on her arms were steadily oozing blood. “What the fuck did you do?”

Her good eye rolled. “Got suckerpunched to start.”

Fuck, he hated how labored her breathing sounded. As footsteps approached, Grit cupped her head in his hands, carefully feeling around her skull for any lumps or injuries. “Anything broken, little tiger?”

“My pride?”

“You won five-on-one and think you lost?”

“Got the shit beat out of me.” She grunted, hissing between her teeth.

That bastard Dominic deserved to spend an eternity roasting on a spit over the fires of hell, he thought darkly, keeping his hands gentle as he lightly probed her eye sockets, cheekbones, jaw.

Jasper strode to the other side of the bed, setting down a toolbox-sized med kit. The familial similarities were so damn striking when he was in Tabitha’s vicinity; there was no one who could deny their blood tie. “Kaufmann has orders to clean everywhere between the parking lot, the office, and here. Atticus is prepping the medical area back at headquarters.”

Faster than Grit thought possible—given her condition—Tabitha pushed him away and rolled to her feet. Air dragged audibly into her lungs as she faced the pair of them, broken body angled for a fight. “Not a chance.”

“Shut up, hellion. Let us help.” Jasper flipped open the lid and pulled out a pair of thin gloves, snapping them on. “This comes far too close to the time we found Bodie fucked up seven ways to Sunday, and the last thing I need today is a reminder of that.”

“I…” That tough little form swayed. “Don’t touch.”

Grit sighed and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her and caging her against him before her knees gave out. “I’m going to stay with you the entire time, Tabby. Jasper’s our team medic. He’s your brother. We don’t want to hurt you.”

“No, you just want… to drug me and… lock me away.”

“I won’t let that happen, little tiger.” He walked her backwards to the bed until her knees hit the mattress. Easing her down with the lightest touch he possessed, he touched the back of his fingers to her unmarred cheek tenderly. “Trust me, okay? Jasper’s going to give you the good stuff and you’re going to sleep away a few hours of pain.”

“I don’t need babying,” she snapped.

“Right now, you do. Take the relief, Tabitha. Just for a little while.” Grit caught Jasper’s signal from the corner of his eye. Setting his hands on her wrists, he pinned them to the mattress. “It’ll be over in a second.”

He felt her gather beneath him, trying to summon enough energy to override the pain so she could kick his ass. Just as quickly, she surrendered; through trust or simple exhaustion, he didn’t know.

“It’s only a low dose,” Jasper assured her. “Not enough to get addicted. Need to be careful until we know the extent of your trauma.”

“I’ve got you, little tiger.” Grit’s heart squeezed when she averted her face, turning away from her brother as he efficiently stuck her with the needle in her upper arm. He swore he saw tears shimmering in her eye before she closed him out.

In seconds, the tension holding her together fell apart, finally allowing her to relax. Releasing her wrists, he nudged her chin until he saw how slack the muscles around her eyes and mouth were; she was gone, far away from the pain.

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