“Better?” I asked.
She looked at the bowl of food. “Could I have some?”
“You can have as much as you’d like,” King said from behind me.
Her gaze flickered over my shoulder, but she didn’t flinch. She just nodded softly before reaching for the bowl. And as I watched her get settled on top of the bed with a pillow in her lap, I perched on the edge of the bed.
Trying my best to provide some sort of comfort in a situation I had no experience with.
10
BRUTUS
She’s incredible.
King nudged me, and when I looked over, he had a scowl on his face. I didn’t even realize I was staring at her, but I couldn’t help it.
Anna was amazing.
I’d never seen her like that before. Comforting. Calming. Soft. I went back to staring, and not even a nudge from her brother ripped me out of my trance.
It wasn’t until King stepped away from my side and walked to the foot of the bed that the target of my attention shifted.
“It’s okay,” King said as he held up his hands when Charise looked up and gasped. “Just gonna stand at the foot of the bed. Is that all right?”
Charise watched him for a really long time before Anna spoke up. “If he comes close and you don’t want him to, touch his belly button. He hates that shit.”
“Are you kidding, Anna?” King grumbled.
Charise let loose a giggle again, and the look that washed over King’s face was equal parts elation and defeat. He gave her something that was crossed with a smile and a grin before he nodded his head, and he clasped his hands behind his back.
Standing sentinel, like a sniper in wait.
I wasn’t sure how long we all stood there, watching Charise eat her food. But eventually, she allowed Doc to come close. He slipped past me and used his doctor’s voice to speak with her, and I stood at the door as a fence. I felt the heat of some of the other guys that were in the safehouse, curious, but also ready to act if they needed to.
Charise flinched when Doc reached for her, though.
“It’s okay,” Anna said softly as she scooted a bit closer to the scared woman. “He just wants to make sure you’re cleaned up and okay.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“We both will,” Marla said as she sat down on the other side of Charise.
She wouldn’t let Doc take blood, which didn’t shock me, but she did let him give her a physical, which I was shocked about. There were a couple of things he notated, but otherwise, he didn’t say much.
“Any other allergies outside of dairy?” he asked.
“Not that I know of,” Charise said softly.
“All right,” Doc said as he stood and closed his doctor’s bag. “When you feel comfortable with it, I’d love to get some blood to run some tests, just to make sure you’re not carrying around an infection that you don’t know about. But you just let me know whenever you’re ready, okay?”
Charise softly nodded. “Thanks.”
Doc shook his head. “None needed. Let me know if you need anything. You can come see me anytime.”
“Thanks,” King said as Doc left the room.
Charise looked around before, again, shockingly enough, landing her eyes on King. She held out her bowl. “Could I have a little more?”
