Page 73 of Raven's Claw
The room spun, and he bent over, emptying whatever was in his stomach into the bag.It took three bouts before he managed to stop, the ever-present jackhammer even louder.
Zain tsked when Kash tried to straighten.“Don’t even think it.You look like a damn corpse.Just… stay like that.We’ll be landing in a couple minutes.”
They were already at the hospital?
The machine shook, voices echoing around him, every word like a knife to his skull.He blinked, blacked out, then came to lying on a stretcher.He rolled his head enough to follow the rush of white coats past him.One straddled the gurney, pumping on Jordan’s chest, yelling for more blood and to clear an operating room.Kash grabbed the railing, but Chase leaned over him — got up in his personal space.
His buddy sighed.“I know it looks bad, but she’s in good hands.If anyone can bring her back from the brink, it’s this staff.And you breaking ranks and trying to stagger down the hallway will only add you to the critical list.”
“They can’t…” Why did talking hurt?Cause lights to flash behind his eyes as his stomach roiled, threatening to empty, again.
“I’ll make sure they do everything they can.You have my word.Just, keep your ass on this gurney.”
“I’ll make sure he stays put.”Foster appeared off to Kash’s right, arms crossed.Looking every inch the leader he’d always been.“So, don’t even think about testing me.”
Kash groaned.“Nyx?”
“There’s a twenty-four-hour emergency vet just down the road.Zain insisted on getting her checked.The vet’s doing some x-rays and running a few more tests, but she’s pretty confident it’s nothing serious.Just a few cuts and a pulled ligament in Nyx’s shoulder.Zain said he’d call if anything changes.I suspect he’s going to detour and grab her a cheeseburger once she’s cleared.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she was cheating on me with him.”
Foster laughed.“You know he sneaks her bacon every night, right?”
“At least, he doesn’t rub it on my pants like someone I know.Who still thinks it’s hilarious when she won’t stop sniffing my ass.”
“It’s the little things in life, Kash.”
“Right.”He closed his eyes, wondering how the light simply followed him.“Jordan…”
“Is gonna pull through.The girl’s a fighter.”
“She needs to know…” More pain, stabbing through his skull, pulling him under.
“You can tell her you love her once you’re both stable.Assuming you haven’t already.Either way, rest.We’ve got your six.”
Had breathing always hurt this much?Like fire burning beneath her skin every time she managed a small inhalation?
Jordan blinked, slivering her eyes open only to close them against the punch of light.The resulting pain dragging her down.The pressure held her under, finally allowing her to resurface minutes, hours, maybe days later.The light still bright but not blinding.
It took a while for the scenery to sharpen, a steady beeping sound adding to the headache arcing across her temples.She shifted her gaze, groaning when the entire room dipped.
A voice tsked next to her.“It’s way too soon for you to be conscious.Sleep, sweetheart.I’ll be here.”
Kash.
She wasn’t sure she said his name or if it just materialized in her head.But it soothed the edgy feeling prickling her skin.Lulled her back to sleep.
The light seemed duller, the pain less intense when she pried her eyelids open, again, that steady beep still teasing her senses.She managed to gaze at some of the room without it spinning.
A wide couch occupied most of the available space, a couple pizza boxes stacked on top of a makeshift coffee table.She looked to her right and froze.Kash sat in the narrow chair next to the bed, his hand lightly brushing her left arm.Long lashes rested against creamy skin, a scattering of bruises marring his face and neck.
She must have moaned or mumbled something resembling his name because he jerked awake, his gaze snapping to hers.She smiled, or at least, she tried, only one corner of her mouth lifting before she bit back a grunt, pain pulsing through her chest.
Kash sighed then leaned forward, taking her left hand in his.“I’d say, welcome back, but you don’t look like you’re quite here, yet.How’s the pain?”
She swallowed, coughing against the dry rasp of her throat before smiling her thanks when he offered her some water.“Where…”
One word, and she was exhausted.
