Page 37 of Harmless
“Because she’s a doctor.” If anything, that seemed to make Rori more focused on treating me. “If you’re not gonna turn around, I’m just gonna check your shoulder out this way.” She clicked on a pen light and stuck it behind her ear before proceeding to unwind the bandage at my shoulder.
“She the reason you’re a medic?”
“I’m not, really,” she said. “I know first aid and CPR, plus she taught me how to treat injuries in the field. None of my training is formal, except technically, I’m a phlebotomist. I’m certified to draw blood and stuff, but that’s about it.”
“How’d you get into that?” I watched her face intently as she spoke, taking note of her fight to keep her eyelids open.
She shrugged, inspecting my shoulder wound with the pen light. “Just something I did while trying to figure out what to do with my life.”
“And did you? Figure that out.”
“Nah. Kind of got interrupted by a talking bird telling me to come on this grand adventure.”
I smiled at her. How could I not? She was checking out my wound while trying not to nod off where she stood.
“Well, I gotta say, you’re pretty good at the whole ‘riding to peoples’ rescue’ thing.”
Rori snorted. “Yeah, ‘til I totally forgot to watch our asses and we got trapped for a hot minute.”
“Hey, it was your first time. And you still gave all these people their lives back.”
“Mmhm.” She rubbed her eyes against her upper arm and blinked several times. If her hands weren’t busy, I was certain she’d slap herself to stay awake. “Your shoulder looks good. Doesn’t look infected, and it’s healing up super fast, looks like.”
“Thanks, doc.”
She huffed at that and started wrapping a fresh bandage around the wound. “Make sure you have a real medic look at it in a couple of days. Speak up if you get a fever or it starts hurting more.”
“Andyoumake sure to get some rest. Your man will have my ass if you don’t, and he was just starting to like me.” I angled my head, looking up at her. “Don’t make me look bad, paloma.”
Rori started to laugh just as Torr returned to the garage. “You.” He pointed menacingly at her. “Come here.”
“Torr, seriously. I’m okagh—hng!”
While her mouth was open, he jabbed a slice of buttered and jellied toast between her lips. He had folded it in half to ensure the toppings didn’t go everywhere in the ensuing fight. “Chew,” he ordered. “Then swallow. Don’t worry, I’ve got water too.”
Rori rolled her eyes but obeyed, devouring the toast quickly in several bites. She even licked a drop of jelly off of Torr’s thumb.
“Good girl,” he purred. “Here.”
She accepted the bottle of water, acting like it was the last thing she needed, but she barely took a breath as she gulped the whole thing down.
“Was it necessary to be so dramatic?” she asked dryly when finished.
“With you, yes.” His hands went to her waist, where his fists curled into her leather jacket and pulled her forward. “Now, I’ve claimed a bed for you—”
“No, I don’t want a bed,” she argued. “Give it to someone from the canyon. I’ll crash on the floor or somewhere.” She angled her head toward me. “Let Santos have it.”
“Nah, Torr’s right. You take a bed, you deserve it.” I insisted. “I’ll find Devin, and we’ll figure out a place to crash. Don’t worry about us.”
“Thanks, dude.” Torr beamed in my direction before returning to look at Rori. “See? You’re outvoted, and you’re falling asleep on your feet. Go. Lie. Down.”
“Everyone else is tired too! Why are you two ganging up on me?”
“Because there’s still shit to do later, and you need to be sharp for it.” Torr picked her up by the waist, spun around, and set her back down facing the door leading into the house. “Like questioning that prisoner and figuring out what we’re going to do with everyone in the long run.”
He started to gently push Rori toward the door, but she stopped short. “Wait, Nella! I forgot! Where is—”
“Carter’s got her in the basement,” Torr said. “He’s got a 24-hour guard rotation on her, don’t worry. See what I mean though? You wouldn’t have forgotten about her if you were at peak energy.”
