Page 25 of Cherished By the Sinners

“We will ensure she’s well enough to work,” Mason assured Louise.“And if she isn’t, we’ll let you know that too.”

Louise let out a deep breath.“Thank you.You let me know if I can do anything to help.”

“We will,” Magnus said.

Louise left the room.

“I can do my job,” Darlene said, her tone sounding annoyed.“Neither one of you is a doctor, so I don’t need your approval before going back to work.”

“You work for us,” Mason said as Magnus brought all his supplies over to the bed.“That’s all the approval we need.”

Darlene pushed herself off the mattress.

Mason carefully pushed her back down.

“We are going to tend to your back, then we’re going to go downstairs to the restaurant and feed you.Then you’re going to get some rest.”

“I thought you were supposed to talk to me about some important thing?That’s what Anna said.”

“Nothing is more important than your health,” Mason said.

“Hold still,” Magnus said.“I’m going to put some saline on this wound to soften up the scabs.”

She sighed and relaxed.“Okay.”

Mason watched his brother drip enough saline on Darlene’s back to soak the scabs, but not enough that it ran over either side.He waited a little while before taking a clean gauze and dabbing it over and around her wound.A few bits of old skin came away, revealing pink, healthy skin underneath.

Already it smelled better.

“I think that bandage had been on for too long,” he said.

“Yes,” Magnus agreed.“How often have you been changing it?”

“Once a week.”

“It should be every other day.What did Samantha tell you?”Magnus asked as he dropped more saline onto her back.

“Every other day, but...I can’t afford the first aid supplies to do that many changes.”

“We will cover the cost of the supplies,” Mason told her.“I thought you were told this before.”

“I was,” she admitted.“But I don’t like asking...for things.”

“Then we will have to keep a closer eye on you,” Mason said, bending down to growl the words in her ear.

She sucked in a quick breath, and the scent of desire perfumed the air.

Mason turned his head to smile at his brother.

Magnus grinned back.As he continued to gently tease away more dead skin from the wound’s edge, Darlene flinched.

“Wait,” she mumbled into the pillow.“Aren’t you supposed to leave scabs alone?”

“Healthy ones, yes,” Magnus said without pausing, his voice a low, reassuring murmur.“This one was trapping moisture underneath.We’re just clearing away the damaged tissue so the healthy skin can finally heal properly.Don't worry.We know what we're doing.”

His confidence soothed her, and she relaxed back into the mattress.

Mason pulled on a pair of gloves as well so he could help collect the bloody saline with gauze.