Page 88 of Veil of Silence

“Nora!” He reached her and dropped to his knees. “Don’t move.”

“I’m okay.” The words came out thin and breathless.

“You’re not okay. You just fell down the stairs.” His hands hovered over her as if he wanted to help but was afraid of making something worse. “Did you hit your head?”

She took a quick self-assessment. “I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?”

Nora closed her eyes and took a careful breath. Pain pulled along her left side, but the air went into both lungs. Her neck moved without anything sharp catching. When she opened her eyes, her vision remained clear.

“I didn’t hit my head,” she said. “My shoulder hit the wall, and I landed on my side.”

A movement above them caught her attention.

Christian stood at the top of the stairs.

He was barefoot, dressed in the same sweatpants and T-shirt. His hair stuck up on one side, and his face looked pale in the dim light.

Nora stared at him.

The floorboard had creaked behind her.

Then she’d felt pressure between her shoulder blades.

Had Christian pushed her?

She wasn’t sure. But her entire body tightened at the thought.

Nora pressed her eyes closed, trying to gather herself and to stop her racing thoughts.

She’d fallen. That was all. No one had pushed her.

Christian hadn’t pushed her. He wouldn’t do that.

“What happened?” Christian asked from the top of the stairs.

She forced her eyes open and her voice to remain calm.

“I fell.” The words scratched her throat as she answered the question.

His gaze moved from her to the top step. “How?”

“I lost my balance.”

The answer came too quickly. Nora heard it, and from the way Christian’s expression changed, he did too.

Dad slid one hand beneath her shoulder. “We’re going to the hospital.”

“No, we aren’t.”

“Nora—”

“I need to sit up first.” She braced her left palm against the floor and pushed. Pain flared through her ribs, forcing her to stop.

Christian started down the stairs. “Let me help.”

“No.” The word came out sharper than she intended.