Page 48 of Cherished By the Sinners

Magnus escorted Darlene outside, following the detective, with his arm around her shoulder, keeping her close to him.Magnus glanced over his shoulder and met Mason’s gaze.

He gave his brother a nod and got one in return.

He knew he was going to be separated from his brother and Darlene, and had expected it to ratchet up his frustration and anger again, but as he studied Nika’s face, it hit him that she didn’t look a whole lot more awake than Darlene.Pale and with bags under her eyes.

“When was the last time you slept?”he asked her.

She rolled her eyes and huffed.“Not you too.I’m fine.I’ll sleep as soon as I have this mess cleaned up enough that nothing is going to start on fire when my back is turned.”

“If sleep isn’t possible, you should eat something.”

“Did Baz send you a list of talking points?”she waved her hand at him.“Don’t answer that, just stop acting like my great-aunt Minerva and get in the car.”

A small smile touched Mason's lips.

Chapter Fifteen

Magnus

Darlene was waitingto get examined by a doctor in a tiny cubicle.There was a whole row of cubicles, ten of them, all in a line down the hallway.The only thing separating them from each other and the hall were faded curtains that wrapped around each small space.

The nurse who brought them back to the exam rooms had pulled the curtain around Darlene’s bed, then told them to stay on the other side of it.

When Magnus moved to ignore that order after the nurse left, Davis had stepped in his way.

“Darlene would you like some company?”Magnus asked.He didn’t need to raise his voice, he could hear her breathing.

“I’m okay.I think I’m going to sleep for a few minutes.”

Davis angled his chin a little way down the hall.Interesting.What did he want to talk about?

Magnus moved about ten feet, then leaned against a wall.

Davis didn’t say anything right away.He just stared at Magnus.

Sometimes cops attempted to use the silent treatment to get people to talk.Most folks found someone staring at them uncomfortable.This guy had no idea how much experience Magnus had at watching people.He could go days without saying a word.Besides, he liked this guy’s attitude.He’d kept his gaze off Darlene.