“You guys didn’t have to do all of this.”
“Uh, Jules?” Bridger says. “You’re my sister. You’re part of our family and community. Ofcourse, we’re going to do whatever we need to do to get you out of here as safely as possible. You’re going to be okay, and we’re not going to injure you any more than you already are. Blake’s still down here with all kinds of medical junk to help, too.”
“As soon as they get the wood separated from the ceiling,” Blake calls up, “I’m going to have to remove it and cover the wounds so you don’t bleed anymore. We’ll treat you for any infection at the hospital. Are you bleeding anywhere else?”
I swallow. “Before they went numb, my hands were bleeding from catching myself in the fall.”
Brooks growls next to me, and I try to offer him an encouraging smile.
“We need to warm her up better,” Blake says. “She’s still too cold.”
“If this goes as planned, we’ll have her out of here in less than thirty minutes,” Bridger tells him.
“I’m so scared,” I whisper. Brooks is still inching along, and he’s finally close enough to take my hand in his. He brings it up to his lips, careful not to hurt the scrapes on my palm.
“Blake,” I say loud enough for him to hear.
“Right here, gorgeous.”
I swallow hard, and Brooks squeezes my fingers. It’s warming up, and it feels good even though my palm aches.
Blake was always a flirt. I kind of love that we have a doctor in the family.
“This is going to hurt, isn’t it?”
Chapter Thirty
BROOKS
“Yeah, pretty girl, I’m not going to lie to you, this is going to hurt. Actually, I can work on getting an IV going and put some pain meds in it. I can also get warm fluids going. That’ll help warm you up. I’m going to run out to the ambulance, and I’ll be right back.”
“He’s smart,” Jules says as she glances over at me.Fuck, her eyes are still so scared. They were glassy when I first got up here, with cold and shock and fear. All of that is still there, but with me here next to her, she’s calming down a bit.
I hate that she’s in this filth. It’s so fucking dirty up here. I saw a squirrel run across the other side, and there’s definitely some feces up here.
I donotwant her anywhere near this mess.
“Blake will get you set up,” I assure her. “Baby, we’re going to burn this house down. We’re not going to live here. At the very least, I’ll sell it as-is.”
“You’re taking my house away?” Her beautiful blue eyes fill with tears again, and it’s almost my undoing. “No. Please, Brooks, it’ll be okay.”
“Baby, it’s so much work, and ithurt you.”
“It’s not the house’s fault.”
“I’m back,” Blake calls out. “Beck and Bridge are getting what they need to cut you out of there, so that gives us time to make sure you’re not in pain, sweet girl. Unfortunately, I have to put the IV in your foot.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter as Jules scowls.
“In myfoot?”
“I can’t reach your arms,” he reminds her. “It’ll be a quick poke, and then it’ll be over. You have great veins here.”
She grins, and then giggles. “Stop tickling my foot.”
“Keep flirting with my wife, and see where it gets you.”
I can practically hear him roll his eyes. “I’mtouchingher foot,” he says. “That’s involved in placing an IV. Okay, quick poke.”
