Page 26 of Cherished By the Sinners

By the time Magnus cleaned it with iodine, then added an antibiotic ointment, and covered it with a fresh self-adhesive bandage, Darlene had fallen asleep.

The two men cleaned up all the first aid supplies then stood looking down at her.

“I almost don’t want to wake her,” Mason said.“I mean, when was the last time anyone fell asleep when we were in the room with them?”

“Baz,” Magnus answered.

Mason shook his head.“He doesn’t count.”

“I dare you to say that to his face.”

“He wouldn’t care either.”

Magnus inclined his head.“You may be right, but we’re not dealing with him.Darlene needs to eat.”

“Agreed,” Mason said.

Neither of them moved.

Asleep, she looked young.Innocent.Until you noticed the marks a serial killer made on her body.The edges of some of them could be seen if her shirt stretched one way or the other.She thought they were ugly, but Mason saw them differently.

She survived a monster.

She was smart and didn’t let her fear and pain cloud her head.

Someone with less tenacity would have died.

People with her strength of character were rare.Rarer still was her refusal to let what happened to her color the rest of her life.

She was amazing, and had no idea how special she was.

“I’ll find her a shirt,” Mason said.“I think she’s sleeping on the one she had out earlier.”He opened the dresser drawers and found two more shirts, another pair of jeans, and three pairs of socks.“She has hardly any clothes.”

“We could take her shopping,” Magnus suggested as he zipped up the first aid kit he’d brought down.Then he put it on the floor next to the desk.

Magnus stood on one side of the bed, while Mason stood on the other.They looked at each other then down at Darlene.

Mason finally got down in a crouch and put his hand on her shoulder, giving her a little shake.“Darlene, wake up.”

No change.

“Darlene, darling,” Mason growled into her ear.“It’s time to wake up.”

“Huh?”she mumbled as her eyelids flickered.“Why?I was having a great dream.”She frowned.“What time is it?”

“Don’t you have a watch?”Mason asked.

“No, I haven’t had the time or money to get one.”

Mason took his off.“Here, take mine” He put it around her slender wrist and tightened it as far as it would go.It was a little big, but the sleek black titanium looked good on her.

She blinked at it.“This looks expensive.”

He shrugged.“It tells the time.”It could also pinpoint the wearer’s precise location within five feet and withstand a bullet strike.Knowing that he could find her no matter where she went while she wore it, soothed him more than he thought possible.

“You need to eat,” Magnus said growling into her ear as well.“Your body needs fuel to heal.”

“Okay,” she said slowly.She got her hands underneath her and pushed up and off the bed.The wounds on her back, some covered in bandages, reminded him that she could have died before ever meeting him and his brother.