Page 23 of Fracture

“Thanks to Vinnie.”

“Yeah.”

Karli bagged and taped up Lorelei’s cast. Karli started the shower and helped Lorelei get her bra off before leaving the bathroom so Lorelei had some privacy to finish undressing and take her shower.

Lorelei used her crutches to get close enough to the shower to use the bars on the wall. She put her back to the water and hopped into the shower, doing her best to keep her cast out of the direct stream. The handicap bar on the wall allowed her to keep her balance while the water ran over her body and soothed some of the aches she had.

The longer she stood there, the more tired she felt. The day took more out of her than she realized. Days stuck in a hospital bed meant she didn’t do much. Her energy levels were low, but she wasn’t putting out any either. Sitting in a vehicle wasn’t taxing, but it was more than she’d been doing.

And she was worn out.

Lorelei washed herself and used the shampoo Karli gave her to clean her hair. When she was done, she turned off the water and Karli came back in.

“Do you have your towel?”

“No. I can’t reach it.”

“I’ll grab it and bring it over. I should have thought of that before. Sorry.”

“We’re figuring this out together.”

Karli chuckled and draped the towel over Lorelei’s back. Karli helped Lorelei move away from the water on the floor and dry off. “I found some clothes that should be okay for you to sleep in. Do you want to go to the bedroom and get dressed?”

Lorelei nodded and yawned. She wrapped the towel around her body and used her crutches to move to the bedroom. Karli used another towel to dry the bag, then removed it from Lorelei’s leg before helping her into her clothes.

When she was dressed, Lorelei swung her feet up onto the mattress. She winced when she tightened her muscles and her ankle let her know she was still injured. Six to eight weeks in a cast was going to be tough. “How in the hell am I going to do this for two months?”

“It’ll get easier. And I’ll come over every day to help you. Or you can live with Cade and me. That offer will always be open.”

“I know.” Lorelei felt guilty for choosing to live with Vinnie instead of her cousin. Especially after what Karli said at dinner.

“I need to stop trying to talk you out of staying with Vinnie. I apologize. You feel a connection to him. Aside from the obvious attraction, you trust him. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m not going anywhere. And I’m thankful he’s willing to stick around and make sure you feel safe.”

“Me, too.” Lorelei chewed on her lip. “Is it weird he’s the only one I feel completely safe with?”

“No. Not at all. You’ve been through something traumatic, and your brain is protecting you. Vinnie is a good man.”

“Okay.” Lorelei’s eyes were closing.

“Do you want your painkiller?”

“Yeah. I almost forgot.” Lorelei made a move to get up, but Karli told her she’d bring it in.

Karli came back with one pill only. “I don’t want you to get up during the night and forget you took it, so the rest are out in the kitchen.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Get some sleep.”

Lorelei nodded, falling asleep before she could ask where Vinnie was going to sleep, and if he would stay with her.

6

“What do you mean she’s alive?” the boss asked. “That was not what I told you to do. You were supposed to find out what she knows, who she told, and take care of her.”

“I did. I thought I did. She was almost dead when I dropped her at her apartment. I don’t know how the hell she survived,” Benjamin said. He toyed with the stupid ring he wore on his pinky. A sure sign he was nervous.

The boss scowled. This never would have happened if she were a man. They always followed her father’s orders to the letter. But with her, they thought close was good enough.

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