It took an extra couple of seconds for him to move, although he didn’t seem to want to.
“The nurse is paging the doctor,” April said right before I entered the room. At least she knew I’d be asking that next.
Once in the room, the one light above the bed was on. I had to step around a blue curtain before a gust of pained air blew from my lips.
Dakota.
Sitting heavily on the too-low chair, I took him in. Or as much as I could see.
His neck was covered in white bandages. Fingerprint bruises covered both cheeks.
He was even thinner than before.
“Oh, sweet boy.” I picked up his cold hand, finding more bruises decorating his arm. And what looked like a colossal bruise up further by his elbow.
What the hell did he go through this time? How much could he endure and still be alive?
To hide my tears, I laid my head on his hand.
I’d never wanted him out of my sight again. I needed him more than air.
I was just as bad as those monsters, then. I wanted Dakota. I wanted everything he had to offer me willingly.
I had failed my charge.
Rule number something right there, broken like a line in the sand.
Moments later, as the door opened, I had to pull my head up and shut off all thoughts. It wouldn’t take much to make me freak out, and I didn’t want to be kicked out.
“Afternoon,” the doctor said, looking up from the chart in his hands. “Doctor Joye. I’m John Brown’sdoctor today. We’ve run some tests. Not all results are in. But first, as you can see, Mr. Brown is exceptionally underweight due to several things. He has an IV with fluids and a feeding tube. Multiple bruises over his entire body. Cuts, which were cleaned up, on his hands and ankles. The worst was the cut along his throat and the tearing of his anus. All are stitched up.
“Broken ribs, multiple fractures that have healed over years worth of abuse along all parts of his body. No concussion or brain bleeding.” The doctor looked down at his chart. “Blood tests aren’t fully back, but there were drugs in his system. Until we can confirm what drugs those are, his pain levels will have to be taken care of with over-the-counter medication. Although, he came in with what appeared to be an IV hook-up, which had been taken out either on the scene or on the way here. So that gave this man a fighting chance.”
“How soon will the rest of the blood results be in?” April asked, taking notes of everything that the doctor said.
“A few hours.”
“Why hasn’t he woken up yet? How long has he been here?” I shot out, panic coating my answers.
“There are many reasons why he hasn’t woken up, sir. Brains can do funny things like this to protect the rest of the body. John has been through a traumatic experience, and he needs as much rest as he can get.
“To answer your second question, he’s been here for about three hours now. There hasn’t been much of a change since he was admitted. His heartbeat has been at the same rate. That’s a good thing, by the way. Means his pain isn’t high.”
April asked a few more questions as I tuned them out. Keeping hold of Dakota’s hand, I just stared at him. I took every part of him that I could see in, bruises and all.
Chapter 33
Dakota
As long as I didn’t move, I knew there would be less pain. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t tied up at the moment. I knew once I moved, Jeffery would be aware, and he’d be back to hurt me more.
And possibly not alone.
A tear trickled from the corner of my eyes, sliding to my ear.
I tried to breathe in, and although it wasn’t so hard to breathe, the air got caught in my lungs for a moment.
Taking stock of my body, I could move my toes. One hand was warm, and the other was cold. That was a bit odd, but I let that thought pass.
