“Any dizziness or headaches?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Nausea?”
She hesitates.
“I threw up.”
Jerry nods once. “Not surprised. Your pupils show signs of a concussion.”
Ashlynn tries to sit up a little and grits her teeth.
“She has three fractured ribs too,” Parker tells him.
Jerry nods, producing a pen and pad from his bag.
“I was drugged, too,” Ashlynn says softly. Her hands fidget in her lap, eyes cast down as if she’s embarrassed. “Pretty sure it was in a syringe. He put it in the side of my neck.” She rubs the spot gently.
Jerry’s eyebrows raise, and my blood boils. I assumed that’s what he had done when I saw the footage of them coming off the elevator, but hearing it has me feeling homicidal.
“I’ll draw some blood and do a tox screen,” Jerry says. “That, and the concussion, explain the nausea.”
He scribbles something on the pad, then pulls out what he needs to draw a vial of her blood. When he’s finished, he places everything carefully in his bag and stands. He crosses the room and hands me the piece of paper.
“This is for the pain and nausea. Nothing too strong. As you can see, concussions and heavy medications don't mix well.”
Cole comes to my side, holding out his hand.
“I’ll go take care of that,” he offers, and I give him the paper. He exits quickly, the penthouse door shutting softly behind him.
“The bruising and concussion should resolve in a couple of weeks. I can remove the staples in seven days. Her ribs will take longer, about six weeks.”
I nod.
“Light sensitivity and headaches are to be expected. The most important thing is that she needs to rest. If she throws up again, call me.”
“Thanks, Jerry.” I shake his hand.
“Of course. I’ll call when I find out what he gave her. The fact that she’s awake and coherent so soon after tells me it was mild, but I’ll let you know.”
He brushes past me, shaking hands with Nick and Elias, then Maverick, then he exits.
“We’re going to head out too,” Elias says, referring to him and Nick. “Going to get back up to the warehouse.”
They say their goodbyes, both men hugging Ashlynn carefully, telling her they’re glad she’s home and safe. They don’t say okay, because we all know better. She’s anything but. She’s been holding it in, but I know what’s coming. She was attacked, drugged and kidnapped. She was traumatized. I can see it in her eyes, in the way that she doesn’t speak. How right now her gaze is vacant on Nick and Elias’ backs when they leave.
She’s going to fall apart.
The door shuts, and Maverick walks over to the couch.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s let her get some rest.”
Parker looks over at Ashlynn and smiles as she grabs her hand.
“I’ll come over tomorrow,” she tells her. Then her eyes find mine, and I nod.
“I’m probably just going to sleep, there’s no reason to–” Ashlynn starts and is cut off by Maverick’s laugh.
