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Torin McCarthy if you laid a hand on that girl I swear to god
How does she know where I am and what I’m doing?
I didn't fucking cut her. Watch that smart mouth of yours.
Bronwyn
Wash thoroughly, hot water and soap. Put antibacterial ointment on it. Wrap it and elevate the foot. Keep an eye on her temperature. If she gets a fever, you have to go to the hospital.
I can't bring her to the hospital, Bronwyn. You know that. So what am I going to do if it gets worse?
Bronwyn
You can try oral antibiotics but it’s risky. She should get IV antibiotics if it gets worse.
I draw a slow breath through my nose and let it out again. Right.
A few minutes later, I've got an order placed with the pharmacy, and it's on its way.
“I don't understand why you're so worried,” she says.
“If you're hurt, you're no good to me,” I snap.
She looks as if somebody slapped her. She leans back, blinking rapidly. She doesn't cry. She just looks away.
Christ, I’m an arse.
“Why do you look like I just drowned your cat?” I say, deflecting.
“Oh, fuck off,” she growls. She wipes her eyes, pushes out of bed, goes into the bathroom, and slams the door.
I could open it if I wanted to.
I've been hard on her. Harder than she deserves, maybe. But if she thinks she's anything but mine right now—if she makes a move toward her brothers and I lose this—it's over. And if I told her the truth, she wouldn't believe me anyway.
So this is what it is. For now.
This time in the loo, she doesn't sing.
She's in there so long I'm banging on the door. “Valentina.”
“I'm fine. For fuck's sake, can a woman have a little privacy?”
“You shouldn't be standing on that foot,” I snap.
“I'm not standing on it. I'm sitting on the toilet. Did you ever think of that?”
Fine.
I wait five more minutes, then bang on the door again. Christ. I’m going out of my mind.
“Why are you banging on the door like that?” she snaps.
“Because you've been in there way too long. I just started giving you privileges. Don't push it.”
She wants her freedom. A moment later, the door opens, and she's scowling at me.
She looks different. She looks… beautiful.
