I blinked with a nod.
The nurse’s hands were quick, taking off the bandages and tossing them in the trash.
“It could be better, but given the situation…” she trailed off.
“Still red and angry, but as long John doesn’t try to scratch at it again, the glue will hold, and I’ll leave the bandages off.”
“Are you going to behave?” Sir lifted a brow.
“Yes, Sir. I’m…I’ll be good.” My voice was weak. Both from lack of use and lack of anything to coat my parched throat.
“I know you will be.”
“In a day or two, if you can eat some solids, then the feeding tube can come out,” the doctor said.
The nurse and doctor said a few other things, but it sounded like a whole different language as my ears began to ring. I kept my gaze on Sir, begging him to pull me against him or let me sit in his lap—anything at this point.
“I understand the reasoning, but I don’t think it’ll be a smart one.” Sir wasn’t talking to me, but I tried to get my ears to hear him.
“Fine,” he sighed before turning back to me. Putting a hand on my cheek again, he leaned his forehead against mine. “These two kind of run the show right now.” He paused, letting the words stay in my mind. “They want me to step out so they can ask you a couple of questions. You are to answer them truthfully. Don’t tell them what you think I want you to answer.”
I nodded. I’d do whatever it took if he stayed right here with me.
“I’ll be outside that door,” he pulled away enough that I could see where he was pointing to. “I need to talk to April anyway, but I’ll be right there. You can see me through that window.”
“P-p-p-please don’t leave.”
“I have to. If not, they will have a polite police officer ask me to leave, and then I might be unable to get back in.”
I looked at him with begging eyes. I silently asked him to stay, not caring about anything else.
“Your friend will be right on the other side of the door,” the nurse said patiently. “It’ll only take five minutes if that.”
“You can see right through that window. I’ll be there. I promise.”
Chapter 34
Allister
Standing directly on the other side of the door, I watched with a broken heart as Dakota’s gaze didn’t move from mine. Not a single second did he let his eyes leave my face. It was as though he feared I would disappear at a moment’s notice.
I understood that feeling way too well. I knew he was safe here. No one would get to him. And if someone dared to try, they had to get through me first.
I didn’t like this idea any more than Dakota did. But it was all protocol. One that I knew would happen sooner or later.
The doctor would ask the boy questions about his safety while in my care. They’d want to know if I abused Dakota. They’d want to know if I ever raped him.
I knew the answers and knew without a doubt that Dakota would answer them. Eventually.
Giving him another small smile, willing his sad puppy eyes to stop begging me not to leave his side.
This was out of my hands.
“He’s awake, isn’t he?” April asked, stepping up beside me. I barely spared her a glance.
“Yeah. And terrified.” Not to mention bruised from head to toe. Some of it was his own doing.
The poor boy had panicked way too many times. Every time the doctor came in to check his vitals, he’d freak out. Which resulted in a low dose of anxiety meds being administered before the doctor could do anything.
