Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
It took only a few minutes to get his bag. He moved the surgery site out of the cave, where he could control the environment a little better. He had Keys lay his patient in the chopper, where he immediately went to work.
His type of surgery wasn’t exactly the same as if he were performing as a neurosurgeon in the hospital, but essentially it was close. He used his mind to drill the three tiny holes in her skull and then create an opening in the dura, the membranous covering of the brain, to drain the hematoma. In the hospital, his patient would be under general anesthesia. Because he was using psychic surgery, the process was cleaner and he could control how invasive he had to be.
He was meticulous in repairing the small tear in the blood vessel, grateful it was no more than a pinhole. The slowness of the leak had saved Lyric’s brain from damage. He was able to fix that small puncture, drain off the blood and ensure she would recover fully.
Exhausted, he inserted only one small drain, which he would remove once they were home. Swaying a little, he looked up at Keys. “She’s going to be fine. She’ll need a few days of recovery. You’ll have to curtail her activities, and we’ll do some rehab with her. Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll take a look at the damage to your head.”
“What about her leg?”
“We can do that at home. It isn’t infected.”
“Yet,” Keys said. “I’d rather you take care of that and look at me once we’re home.”
“Not happening, brother.” Steele accepted the bottle of water Czar handed him. “I put her first for you, Keys, but I’m looking at your head.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“You aren’t acting like it. Just do me the courtesy of letting me look, and we can get the hell out of here.”
“Got a prisoner to transport,” Keys said.
“Yeah, he’s already taken care of,” Czar said. “Cleanup’s done. You’ve been here for hours. Just let him look at you so we can get the hell off this mountain.”
That was an order from Torpedo Ink’s president, so Keys complied.
Eight
Each time Lyric woke, drowning in nightmares and blood, Keys was wrapped around her, holding her tight. His voice came out of the darkness, soothing and soft like velvet brushing over her skin. She’d always loved the sound of his voice. His breath was warm on her neck as he reassured her. It seemed like a vague dream, but it was always reassuring.
“You’re safe, Wildfire. Nothing can get to you here. We made it home. You’re in a fortress, and you’ve got the best doctor looking after you. Do you need a pain pill?”
Did she? She felt warm but foggy, as if she couldn’t quite understand what was happening to her. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t quite surface all the way. Keys was there, and he would make certain they were safe. She would drift off again.
She had no idea how much time had passed. Keys had wrapped her in a cocoon of safety and warmth. He was bossy and so was his friend, Steele, the doctor. She didn’t remember having an operation or flying in a helicopter. She did remember all the times she’d been poked and prodded, Steele insisting she get up and walk. He’d made her wear a ridiculous but very soft helmet as she’d done strength training. Mostly, she’d walked with Keys.
The area was beautiful. His house was tucked back into the forest. Several giant redwood trees formed a cathedral in his side yard. The backyard was fenced in and desperately needed work. She loved that the house was away from everyone and gave the illusion of being in the forest, a place she loved.
“You know, I’m really back to normal, Keys. You don’t have to guard me like I’m two. I’m steady on my feet. You’ve been so restless lately.”
Lyric didn’t want to get into what that meant. They certainly weren’t having sex, and he hadn’t left her side. Keys wasn’t a man to go days or weeks without sex. Once, she’d seen him leave with different women three times in one night. Men didn’t go from that kind of need to getting zero and being all right with it.
Or maybe she was the restless one. She hadn’t spent so much time in anyone’s company in her entire life. She didn’t know how to talk to Steele, so she didn’t. He didn’t seem bothered by her lack of manners, and Keys never once gave her hell. That was so unlike him.
He didn’t answer her questions, like where was her car? She needed the old junker to get around. He’d muttered something about the brothers retrieving it, but then it never showed up. At least it wasn’t in the four-car garage or parked anywhere that she could see on his property.