Page 58 of Ryder
“Can I take a look, Tori? Just to make sure you don’t need bandaging?”
“Small cuts,” she murmured. “Always small cuts. Hurts like a bitch, but you don’t lose too much blood.”
She said it like it was familiar to her. She saidalways. Jesus.
“All over her body,” I growled at doc.
“Jesus. Okay… Tori, are any of them serious enough to need bandaging?”
She shook her head, and then her eyes widened a little.
“I moved my head. Oh god… moving is bad.”
She lurched to the side, and threw up again, losing the water and the pills in one go.
“Jesus.”
“Look, I can’t give you anything else without knowing what he gave you.”
“He said it was engineered for him. Even if I knew the name, it wouldn’t help. It paralysed me, but left me conscious, and able to feel everything.”
“Fucker,” I cursed, my fists accidentally clenching around her hand. She shot me a look, blinking fast.
“Tori, I need to ask you something. It’s intrusive, but…” Doc looked serious as fuck, and like he really didn’t want to ask the question.
I squeezed her hand gently, wanting to protect her from what I knew he was about to ask.
“Doc...” When he looked at me, I just nodded, a single jerk of my head.
Tori shuddered, and I was glad I’d answered for her, and prevented him from actually asking that question in her presence.
“Asshole. He’s dead, yes? Tell me he’s fucking dead.”
I nodded. “Look, Doc, she’s cut up, but not bleeding anymore. Can I take her to my room, and help her clean up? I’ll watch over her all night. We can come see you again in the morning, but she’s had a bastard of a day.”
He frowned, turning to address his patient.
“Is that okay with you, Tori?”
She glanced at me, almost shyly.
“Yes. I trust him.”
Wow.She trusts me. A few weeks ago she raped me, and I swore I’d get my revenge on her. And now, the tables had beenturned so fucking viciously, that she’d been raped, and I was now her protector.
“Let’s get you up to my room, darlin’. Thanks, doc.”
She whispered her thanks too, and Doc handed me more paracetamol.
“In case she can keep them down later. Plenty of water to keep her hydrated please.”
I carried her to my room, passing by several of my brothers, who’d waited outside for us, their faces sombre.
“Taking her to my room. She doesn’t want to be examined.”
Reacher nodded, waving the others away.
“Tori, I’m Reacher.”
