Page 107 of Healing Conviction
Devil’s eyebrow raised before he helped prop Draco up instead. “You’re as bad as I am.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
His friend shook his head and chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. Here, let me at least get all this stuff off you and carry the oxygen bag while I walk you.”
Despite knowing Devil was right, Draco instinctively bristled again at the insinuation that he’d need help, until he took his first step with Nora in his arms and the world tilted precariously around him.
“Shit, yeah… I think that’s a good idea. Oh, that reminds me. Nora’s bag is in the woods. You might want to go for a scavenger hunt when the fire dies down. It had Gail’s laptop in it.”
“Noted.” Devil began to unwrap the box from Draco’s back and sucked in a breath. “Wait, is that…”
“Yeah.”
“This one isn’t yours, is it?”
“Nope. They had it.” Draco nodded toward the CTI facility.
Anger and confusion laced Devil’s voice. “And how the fuck didtheyhave it?”
“Whatisit?” Nora asked. The curiosity in her question gave him a little more encouragement that she’d be fine.
“Later, Pix,” he replied before shrugging back at Devil. Even that slight movement reminded him how exhausted he was. “And I don’t fucking know, but we nearly died for it, so let’s figure it all out when we’re home.”
Devil nodded and quickly took the box, the oxygen bag, and Nora’s backpack Draco had gone back to retrieve after he’d removed it so he could drag her tree by tree to the edge of the forest. Guilt tinged his thoughts as he remembered checking her back for the nasty scrapes he’d put there.
“Do you… do you think we could use the stuff inside the box on her—”
“No.” Devil’s voice was firm and cut to a whisper, shutting down any hope Draco had. “It’d kill her, man. She’s way too tiny. I think the only reason Shanna Jacobs survived was because she’s a junkie. God knows what Shanna’s been putting into her body for years.”
“Fuck, that’s what I thought.” He sighed. “Help me in with her, will you?”
She stiffened in Draco’s arms as Devil helped him take the short steps to the road. When they got to the back seat, he still didn’t want to let her go so Devil helped him stumble inside, positioning Nora in his lap. Finally, they both were situated with Draco perpendicular in the seat and the oxygen bag on the floorboard. Devil could easily assess them both with his emergency kit he’d placed in the driver’s seat.
“Is she gonna be okay?” Draco asked, lifting up his oxygen mask so he could be heard better. He took the opportunity to take a sip of the sports drink and helped Nora do the same. On some level, he knew he was being paranoid, but he still needed to hear his friend give her the all clear.
“Hold on a second. Let me look and keep that mask on when you’re not drinking. I can hear what you’re saying fine with it on.”
They both took sips from their drinks while Devil examined them. The fact that Draco’s normally talkative, joking little pixie stayed quiet and compliant during the examination scared the shit out of Draco. And still, he couldn’t help from watching his friend’s every movement as he aided Nora, making sure he wasn’t hurting her unnecessarily.
Once the front of her body had been checked out, Draco lifted their oxygen bag to sit in the middle of the seat and turned so Nora’s back was facing the open door. When Devil lifted her shirt to examine her, every muscle in Draco’s body seized with the urge to throttle his teammate.
“Stop looking at me like that, Draco.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to murder me for making sure your girl doesn’t need to go to the hospital. The mask makes it more believable since you look like Bane in thatBatmanmovie.”
“Not gonna lie, it feels believable too. Just watch yourself with her and for fuck’s sake, tell me she’s gonna be alright already.”
“Like you’re really up for sparring right now, asshole.” Devil rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath as he peered at her injuries. “No wonder people think I’m fucking crazy.”
Devil cleaned her back with one of the heavy duty wipes from his emergency kit and administered salves and bandages over the scrapes on her back. Every time Nora fidgeted and whimpered quietly in Draco’s arms, he smoothed her hair and glared at Devil. After one particular yelp, Draco growled low under his breath at his teammate.
“Isaidwatch yourself.”
“He’s fine, Drake. Let him work. It just stings.” Nora’s soft voice was muffled in her mask. He looked down at her, but her eyes were closed, whether from exhaustion or pain, he didn’t know, but both set his nerves on fire.
“Yeah, relax, man. This isn’t gonna feel great for your girl, no matter who’s doing it. Her scrapes look pretty bad.” The reminder made Draco feel like shit and he nodded for Devil to continue, mindlessly tracing Nora’s ear as Draco worked and talked.