Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Once we got to Haven, Pippa met us and we all made our way to the lift and a large apartment on the third floor. I walked alongside her and Tonio where Tessa could see me if she opened her eyes. Her skin looked gray under the fluorescent lights, her breathing shallow, her eyelids only half open as she drifted between consciousness and whatever hell the drugs were dragging her through.
Soft, dim lamplight cast the walls in a warm glow that somehow made everything feel more homey. A handmade quilt in faded blues and purples lay folded at the foot of the bed -- donated, Hannah had explained, by a woman who’d spent three months at Haven last year. On the nightstand sat a pitcher of water with a slice of lemon floating on top.
Tonio set Tessa in a comfortable chair next to the window and then, with a careful gentleness I never would have guessed he possessed, he helped her out of the filthy fleece hoodie before wrapping a blanket from the back of the chair around her. He knelt in front of her, whispering something only Tessa could hear. She nodded at him with barely a movement of her head. Tonio brushed his thumb along her cheek in a lingering touch before standing and, leveling me with a look, walked back to the door and slipped outside. The room was quiet again except for the thin, hitching sound of my sister’s breath.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Once the door shut, Pippa and Hannah helped me get Tessa undressed. She asked softly to take a shower and I stayed with her. I had to do most of the work because she was so weak and out of it, but I simply shucked my clothes down to my underwear and climbed in with her.
Once we’d finished and put on clean clothes. I brushed through her hair, being as gentle as could and still get her tangle free. Through it all, Tessa obeyed me passively.
When I opened the door, Pippa helped me guide Tessa to the bed where we urged her to sit. I watched as she eased back gingerly to sit upright but with her legs outstretched in front of her on the bed. She still looked half drugged. Whatever they’d pumped into her system at Vossberg’s restaurant had its hooks in deep.
Nadine approached Tessa. She also had a quiet manner that could put a person at ease.
“Hi, Tessa. Pain’s not going to get all up in your space.” She gave my sister a gentle smile. “But, if you don’t mind, I’d like to look you over. Make sure we catch any major injuries. Once you’ve had a few days to rest, hydrate, and heal, we’ll do more extensive tests if you want. Is that OK?”
My sister nodded tiredly.
Nadine led the exam with Pain offering instruction but mostly making sure Nadine had what she needed. They put ointment on Tessa’s wrists where whatever bindings they’d used on her had cut into her skin.
Nadine wrapped a bandage around each wrist. “Just tonight. That way the antibiotic ointment can stay on as long as possible. After that, unless there are spots bleeding, you don’t need to bandage it.”
I sat on the bed at Tessa’s side through it all. Pain did a brief exam, looking into her eyes and taking her pulse. He pinched the back of her hand gently and the skin tented for a couple of seconds before going flat again.
“She’s dehydrated,” Pain murmured, looking at Nadine. “Tessa? Can you drink water? Is your stomach OK?”
Tessa nodded her head slightly, then cleared her throat. “I can drink, but I’m still nauseous from the drugs.”
Pain held her gaze before speaking again. “I can give you IV fluids and medicine to help with the nausea. It’s your choice. If you want to drink first, I can give you some under the tongue meds. You don’t have to choose the quicker, more invasive option unless you want to. You have a choice.”
I wasn’t sure if Tessa would accept his help or not. Honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
She nodded. “Tonio said you would offer me the choice.” Was that what he’d told her earlier? “I appreciate the thoughtfulness.” Her words still slurred, but she sounded more alert than she had been before. “I’ll take the IV. And whatever you think will help me and make me comfortable.”
Pain looked up at his wife, and I swore I saw a sheen of tears in his eyes.
Nadine smiled down at Tessa. “You’re being very brave.”
“I’m really not,” Tessa whispered.
Nadine explained they wanted to give her a bag of fluids before they did anything else. After that, they’d give her some medication for nausea that wouldn’t make her sleepy. They also wanted to give her some IV antibiotics in case of any nasty unpleasantness. Tessa said she didn’t think she’d been raped but admitted she couldn’t be sure. Again, they laid out her options and I could tell Tessa was grateful to have choices.