Diggs shifted and then slid out the back, holding her in his arms as he walked across the driveway into the mansion. “I will,baby.”
She felt the soft brush of his lips against her temple as he carried her through the house. There were sounds, new smells, and then they were going down. Even though her eyes remained closed, she knew they were going back into thelab.
“What happened?” Melissa’s voice reached Audra’s ears, sharp andconcerned.
“She may have a concussion. I don’t think she has any broken bones but you need to checkher.”
“Audra, can you open your eyes?” Melissa asked in a gentlevoice.
Audra managed to peel her palms off her face and cracked her eyes open just enough to see that they were in one of the smaller private labs. It looked more like a hospital room than a research facility. Melissa was staring thoughtfully at her, her white lab coat draped over her shoulders. Diggs was still holding her in his arms, and had sat on the edge of the bed with her cradled crossways in hislap.
“That’s good. Very good. This may cause you some discomfort, but I need to check your pupils, okay?” Melissa pulled a small flashlight from her pocket and clicked iton.
Audra winced but nodded her head yes. Melissa quickly flashed the light in each of her eyes, then Audra ducked her head against Diggs’ shoulder as soon as she was through, pressing the uninjured side of her face against hisskin.
“That was a good response, but I’d like to get a quick CT scan to make sure. After that, we need to get you cleaned up so I can do a fullexamination.”
It hurt too much to open her eyes right now and Diggs must’ve sensed that because he answered for her, “I’ll take her. Can you do the scan rightnow?”
“Yes, followme.”
Audra heard Melissa walk away and then felt Diggs carrying her from the room. The shades of light changed through her eyelids as they left the room and went into the hallway and then back into a dark, quietroom.
“I’m going to lay you down for just a minute so she can scan you. I’ll be right over there if you need me.” Diggs eased her onto the cold hard surface and Audra immediately curled onto her side, shivering. The pain and cold threatened to swallow herwhole.
* * *
Diggs spit out a curse.“Melissa, where are the blankets? She’sfreezing.”
“Cabinet, in the corner.” Melissa stayed behind the low wall gearing up the CTscanner.
Diggs rushed across the room and yanked three blankets from the corner cabinet, piling them on top of Audra’s shivering body. Her clothes were soaking wet and she’d been through enough trauma to put anyone inshock.
Once he had her completely covered he leaned down. “Okay, I’m stepping away now. This will be over in just aminute.”
He went around the half wall to stand beside Dr. Averton, shielding his body from the radiation. She didn’t even glance his way. She ran the machine and watched as Audra’s scans read out on the screen. “What happened toher?”
Diggs crossed his arms and spread his feet in a shoulder-width stance, staring through the glass as Audra’s shivering form disappeared into the scanner. “They tied her to a chair and beather.”
“How much of it did yousee?”
“Enough.”
Melissa cleared her throat. “Was she…violated?”
Diggs’ entire body jerked. “No. I don’t think so. They were trying to get information from her.” The thought of any man hurting Audra in that way sent a swirling rage of violent fury rushing through his insides, unlike he’d ever felt before. He wouldn’t have just coldly assassinated the men at the house if that had been the case. That would’ve been tooeasy.
“Okay, I’m through with the scan. Carry her back to an exam room while I read theresults.”
Diggs moved around the corner and had Audra in his arms in seconds, squeezing her tight against his chest. “I’m here. I’ve gotyou.”
He moved them back into their initial exam room and turned all the lights down except for the small table lamp in the corner, trying to ease her headache as much as possible. He settled back in the small bed, despite the mud and filth covering them both, and held her. Telling himself over and over she was alive, and that was all thatmattered.
A few minutes later, Dr. Averton returned, and the semi-relaxed expression on her face allowed Diggs torelax.
“No concussion or headtrauma.”
Diggs blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Thanks.”
