I’ll leave you alone, okay?”
Rees was fighting, swatting at Amy’s efforts to get the cuff on him. He coughed again, clenching his
handkerchief. “I’m absolutely fine, never better.”
Snod saw that Ephraim was still gawking, stepping up beside him and asking quietly, “You’re acting
like you’ve never seen a woman before.”
“I’ve never seen one like her,” Ephraim replied honestly, unable to keep the awe out of his voice. He
saw Amy struggling with Rees, quickly offering, “I could hold him down for you.”
“That’s, uhm, sweet of you, but I think I got him,” Amy chuckled nervously, wrangling Rees’ arm in
and checking his blood pressure. Frowning at the result, she removed the cuff with a hiss of air.
“Just dandy, see?” Rees coughed.
Amy ignored him, clipping a small pulse oximeter to his finger and moving the stethoscope against his
chest to listen to his lungs.
“Fiiiine,” Rees insisted. “See? Perfectly fine.”
“Mr. Everhart,” Amy said urgently as concern creased her brow. She grimaced at the pulse ox
reading, and she clearly didn’t like what she was hearing in Rees’ chest. She pulled the stethoscope
off, blinking at him worriedly. “How long...”
“I’ve known for a few years,” he replied quietly. “Keep your trap shut, doll.”
Snod quirked a brow, asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Fucking nothing! Now, don’t we have something really fucking important to do?” Rees said sharply.
“Like, need to leave right now important?”
“You need to go to a hospital,” Amy said firmly. “I don’t know how you’re walking right now, much
less breathing.”
“I am fueled by spite, Chanel, and Mountain Dew,” Rees drawled.
“I am going to call an ambulance,” Amy said, reaching for her phone. “I’m sorry, Mr. Everhart. This
is for your own good.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Rees groaned. He turned his head, calling out, “Hey, Athaliah! Got any more
handcuffs in there, darling?”
“Sure do!” Athaliah replied.
“Hey, Dumbo,” Rees quipped at Ephraim. “Wanna help me cuff the pretty lady to the bed?”
“What?” Amy squeaked.
