Read Online Faithless Angel by Kimberly Raye - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberly Raye
Ads: Link
Jesse’s form blurred and Faith rubbed at her eyes—not only to erase the last remnants of sleep, but to wipe away the images pounding through her head. The memories.
An accident … Massive internal injuries … Head trauma … You’ll have to give permission for us to operate
—
“You okay?” Jesse’s voice cut through the sudden drumming in her ears.
“I …” The words fell short, stuck in the knot in her throat. She swayed for a split second; then Jesse was beside her, holding her.
She should have welcomed the support. She would have, but he was too warm, and she’d been cold for much too long. And worse, he saw too damned much with those eyes of his.
“It’s okay.” Gentle fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of her neck, his palm moving in a gentle massaging motion that sapped her strength even as she summoned it. His touch lulled her; his words were so soft, filled with such conviction, she actually thought it might be okay. But the memories persisted.
Massive injuries … The prognosis isn’t good. We’re sorry, Ms. Jansen. So sorry
…
She went rigid, her hands pushing at him, as if putting some distance between them would stop the flow of memories.
Inches, then feet separated them as she backed toward the wall. The night air was warm, humid, with only an occasional breeze. Still, she was ice cold. She hugged her arms about her, desperate toease the chill that gripped her from the inside out.
Jesse studied her for a long moment. Something flashed in his dark eyes, and she got the inexplicable feeling that he wanted to reach out to her. Something held him back, though. Some indefinable emotion that etched severe lines in his face and held his large body stiff.
The clock in the hall ticked away the seconds, the sound louder somehow in the sudden hush that settled around them.
Finally, Jesse shoved his hands into his pockets and said, “We have to get to the hospital.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I have papers that will sign over Faith’s House to Bradley. You can take them to him, get his signature, and he’ll be the foster parent for all the kids.” She rushed toward the couch, frantically searching the darkness for her purse. “They got a little messed up yesterday. I was going to have them redone, but maybe they’ll suffice. Just let me get them—”
Jesse’s hands closed over her shoulders as she pulled the stained legal papers from the pocket of her bag. “They’re ruined, Faith. There’s no way the hospital will accept those. They aren’t in the habit of setting themselves up for any kind of lawsuit.”
“So call Estelle. She’s the foster rep. She can sign any papers—”
“Bradley tried. He couldn’t reach her. You have to come with me.”
We did all we could. We’re sorry. Sorry … Sorry
…
But even as the words beat through her head, reminding her of the past, the warmth of Jesse’s hands proved calming. Heat spread through her, giving her the courage to nod her head when she wanted only to sink to the couch and bury her face in the pillows.
“What happened to him?” Her lips trembled with each word.
“He broke his arm.”
Unconsciously, she rubbed at her arms, her chest tightening as she imagined Daniel’s pain. The poor kid—
She fought against the budding concern and concentrated on the goose bumps prickling her flesh.
“… need your permission to treat him,” Jesse was saying. “They want to keep him for a few days.”
She turned a questioning gaze on him. “For a broken arm?” The bud of concern blossomed into panic.
Jesse hesitated as if gauging her reaction. His dark eyes studied her with a thoroughness that made her swallow nervously. Then one lean finger came up to push a strand of hair from her cheek. A tingle sizzled down her spine. “The arm was a result of a suicide attempt, Faith. He didn’t try to crawl out the window at Faith’s House. He jumped.”
“Jumped?” The word was little more than a gasp, her
An accident … Massive internal injuries … Head trauma … You’ll have to give permission for us to operate
—
“You okay?” Jesse’s voice cut through the sudden drumming in her ears.
“I …” The words fell short, stuck in the knot in her throat. She swayed for a split second; then Jesse was beside her, holding her.
She should have welcomed the support. She would have, but he was too warm, and she’d been cold for much too long. And worse, he saw too damned much with those eyes of his.
“It’s okay.” Gentle fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of her neck, his palm moving in a gentle massaging motion that sapped her strength even as she summoned it. His touch lulled her; his words were so soft, filled with such conviction, she actually thought it might be okay. But the memories persisted.
Massive injuries … The prognosis isn’t good. We’re sorry, Ms. Jansen. So sorry
…
She went rigid, her hands pushing at him, as if putting some distance between them would stop the flow of memories.
Inches, then feet separated them as she backed toward the wall. The night air was warm, humid, with only an occasional breeze. Still, she was ice cold. She hugged her arms about her, desperate toease the chill that gripped her from the inside out.
Jesse studied her for a long moment. Something flashed in his dark eyes, and she got the inexplicable feeling that he wanted to reach out to her. Something held him back, though. Some indefinable emotion that etched severe lines in his face and held his large body stiff.
The clock in the hall ticked away the seconds, the sound louder somehow in the sudden hush that settled around them.
Finally, Jesse shoved his hands into his pockets and said, “We have to get to the hospital.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I have papers that will sign over Faith’s House to Bradley. You can take them to him, get his signature, and he’ll be the foster parent for all the kids.” She rushed toward the couch, frantically searching the darkness for her purse. “They got a little messed up yesterday. I was going to have them redone, but maybe they’ll suffice. Just let me get them—”
Jesse’s hands closed over her shoulders as she pulled the stained legal papers from the pocket of her bag. “They’re ruined, Faith. There’s no way the hospital will accept those. They aren’t in the habit of setting themselves up for any kind of lawsuit.”
“So call Estelle. She’s the foster rep. She can sign any papers—”
“Bradley tried. He couldn’t reach her. You have to come with me.”
We did all we could. We’re sorry. Sorry … Sorry
…
But even as the words beat through her head, reminding her of the past, the warmth of Jesse’s hands proved calming. Heat spread through her, giving her the courage to nod her head when she wanted only to sink to the couch and bury her face in the pillows.
“What happened to him?” Her lips trembled with each word.
“He broke his arm.”
Unconsciously, she rubbed at her arms, her chest tightening as she imagined Daniel’s pain. The poor kid—
She fought against the budding concern and concentrated on the goose bumps prickling her flesh.
“… need your permission to treat him,” Jesse was saying. “They want to keep him for a few days.”
She turned a questioning gaze on him. “For a broken arm?” The bud of concern blossomed into panic.
Jesse hesitated as if gauging her reaction. His dark eyes studied her with a thoroughness that made her swallow nervously. Then one lean finger came up to push a strand of hair from her cheek. A tingle sizzled down her spine. “The arm was a result of a suicide attempt, Faith. He didn’t try to crawl out the window at Faith’s House. He jumped.”
“Jumped?” The word was little more than a gasp, her
Similar Books
