“It’s definitely broken,” Sodie says, stepping out of the X-ray room. “This isn’t right, Jessica. There should be some signs of healing at this point, especially if you hit your handbeforeyou went out to meet those men.” He points to a computer screen hanging on the wall, displaying the X-ray of my hand. “You have a comminuted fracture in metacarpals three, four, and five. Moderately displaced in the third one.”
“What does that mean in English?” I ask, evading his prompt for the truth.
“It means, Jessica, that I am not that kid anymore who will heal you without question. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what happened.”
I study him. He looks like the same Sodie, except older, more mature. His vibrations and aura reveal his genuine concern. I have no reasonnotto trust him. So, I relent and tell him the truth.
A knock at the door interrupts us. Like a kid caught stealing, I want to hide from shame.
Carmen carries in a tray of delicious-smelling food and sets it on a nearby table. Christian follows her in the room. “Christian and I reviewed the footage. Jessica, did Alpha Marcus Greystone hurt you?”
I look to Sodie first. Will he tell them what I just shared, or will he let me continue with my lie? I test the waters. “I hit my hand before getting ready for filming. I didn’t think much of it. When he shook my hand, coincidentally, he grabbed my injured one.”
“Well, that explains why the fractures look the way they do,” Sodie replies, brows pulling together and nodding.
But Carmen doesn’t look convinced. “Fractures?”
“She has a mildly displaced fracture to the third metacarpal. With Jessica’s medical history, her bones tend to break easier than most shifters. If she fractured it when she initially hit her hand, a firm grip could have caused the displacement.”
“I see.” She stares at me, not hiding her suspicion.“And the fainting?” she asks Sodie.
“I took some blood samples. I should have more answers tomorrow. But based on my physical assessment and her reports of poor sleep and diet recently, I assume that’s the cause for her syncopal episode.”
Carmen taps her finger on the table. “Okay.” Then, she turns to Christian. “Anything you want to add? You saw the same footage.”
He grins. “Nope.”
Her long, manicured nails click, click, click. “So, I guess that’s your story?” I barely open my mouth to answer when she walks toward the door. “Let’s call it a night. We will resume filming tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I parrot. “Wait! No. I’m fine!” I slide off the exam table and step toward Carmen. “See? I’m fine. Sodie, tell her I’m fine...” I whip my head toward Sodie. My vision blurs, the room spins, and my body sways.
A firm hand grips my elbow. “You’re not fine.” Is that Christian? I gently rest my hand on my forehead.
“Like I said, I’m calling it.”
Someone picks me up and places me back on the exam table. I blink to clear my vision, only for a blinding light to flash in my left eye. Sodie shines a pen light in my face.
“You will eat, and when you are done, you will sleep. Dr. Parker, give her a sedative if you must. We’ll finish the introductions and meet-and-greet tomorrow, starting with Alpha Larson.”
I slap Sodie’s hand away. Did she say Parker? Sodie’s last name is Fields. Who the hell is Dr. Parker? I blink again, focusing on Carmen now that Sodie isn’t trying to blind me. The blurriness zooms in and out like a camera lens before it finally clears.
Carmen points at me. “Straight to your room when you finish eating. I mean it. Get some sleep! I don’t have time for more delays, and I hope I don’t need to remind you that we have a contract.” She raises one eyebrow for a moment before turning on her heel and firmly closing the door behind her.
I glance between Christian and Sodie. “Well, I don’t know about you two, but I think I just got a verbal spanking,” I snark.
Christian smirks. Sodie pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head.
I narrow my eyes and fold my arms across my chest. “Did she just call you Dr. Parker?”
He nods. “I guess this is where I finish the rest of my story.”
Christian frowns. “She doesn’t know your real last name? Or who you are?”
“I was getting to it when you walked in.” Sodie sighs and leans back in his office chair.
I point at Christian and then pivot toward Sodie. “You two know each other?”
They both nod.
