Read Online Daniel by Kathi S. Barton - Free Book Online

she sobbed, too.
    He walked around to face her, holding
her tightly in his hands. “Don’t cry, baby. The nurse is going to have a look
at it. And if she says you’re fine, I’ll believe her.”
    Reilly wanted to point out that she
would know more about herself than a nurse would, but only nodded. She was
hurting…and badly. She felt cool hands at her back and someone speaking low to
her. She couldn’t understand the words, but the soothing-ness of them helped
the pain.
    “O’Reilly, look at me.” She hadn’t
realized that she’d closed her eyes and swayed a little when she opened them. The
pain was nearly overwhelming her now. “Where is Benny? Is he home or somewhere
else?”
    “He’s…why?” She couldn’t think. The
nurse was saying something about infection and antibiotics. Her body started to
tremble and she could feel something trickle down her back. “What is that?”
    “You burst a blister when you hit the
wall. She said that you’re lucky to be standing. I’m going to have to go and
get Benny. You’re not going to be able to go home. You’re going to the
hospital.”
    “ No ,” she screamed in panic. “He’s
got to be safe. He’ll know what to do if I can’t come home. But I am. The
hospital will…he will be terrified if I take him there. His mother…I have to go
to him. Mr. Hunter, please just let me go.”
    He rested his head against hers, and she
felt a small pinch in her arm. “I can’t, love. I’m going to give you your phone
and you tell him to come with me. The nurse has given you something for the
pain, and we’ll take care of you. I will go and get him and bring him to my
house. I swear to you he’ll be as safe as he would be with you.”
    She felt herself slipping and knew it
was only a matter of time before she was out. Did she trust this man? It seemed
she had no choice. She took her cell phone and pressed the only number
programmed in it. He answered on the first ring.
    “It’s Mom. I’m sending Mr. Hunter to get
you. He’ll know the word. You understand?” She could hear his harsh intake of
breath before he spoke.
    “Are you hurt?” She told him yes, her
back. “I’ll come with him. I’ll be ready.” She hung up and looked at the man in
front of her.
    “If you hurt him or allow him to even
break a fingernail I will hunt you down and kill you slowly. Do you understand
me?” She heard his mother behind her but didn’t stop now. She was fading fast. “It’s
sierra. You say sierra to him and he’ll go with you.”
    “Sierra. I got it.” Then he pulled her
to him and kissed her hard on the mouth. “And I won’t hurt him. You will trust
me on this.”
    The world blacked out. She knew she was
falling, not to the floor but into the blackness quickly. She had a moment of
panic, then quiet. And the last thought she had was finally, I’ll be able to
sleep.
    She felt fuzzy when she opened her eyes.
She could see feet moving below her. The movement made her sick. Someone said, “She’s
coming back again.” Someone else cursed. She had to smile. This person had a
very good grasp for stringing together bad words. Then she was out again.

Chapter 7
     
    Benny waited near the house. He knew
that she’d called him to tell him Mr. Hunter was coming, but he still had no
desire to be caught in the house again if someone came in. The last time with
his real mom had been bad enough. The gate was open for him, and all he needed
now was the password to leave. He hoped she was all right.
    He knew she’d been hurt. The first night
it had happened he heard her cry out. But when he’d gone to her to see if he
could help she’d told him she was fine. He knew that she wasn’t, but she kept
telling him to go inside and she’d be in soon. Then this morning he’d had a
hard time waking her up. He thought she’d been dead until she looked up at him
with her eyes all glassy looking.
    His real mom had done drugs. He wasn’t
stupid to think that she hadn’t. He knew what