Dom Fever (Devlin Black #2) Read Free

burned my throat as I heaved.
    Vertigo took over and I felt myself sway. Devlin’s deep voice hummed in the background, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. Roaring pulsed in my e ars and sweat was beginning to cover my skin. My fingers dug into the grass and dirt as I fought to keep myself upright.
    “Jesus,” he whispered behind me.
    I could feel his hand on my arm, more to steady me than anything.
    “I’m calling an ambulance. My car ’s too far away.”
    Arguing was out of the question. My mouth wouldn’t work. I knew if I tried to say no, I’d get sick again. Food poisoning. It had to be.
    Deep breaths eventually had me able to turn to see him crouched down beside me, holding Ava on his hip. She was crying, staring at me. By some grace of a higher power, I was able to sit down and lean forward.
    More deep breaths.
    “They’re on their way.” He tucked the hair behind my ear and I looked up, my head swaying as my balance was thrown off.
    “I ate at a new restaurant for breakfast. I’m guessing we have our culprit for the supposed morning sickness.”
    A twitch by his slightly narrowed eyes led me to believe he wasn’t happy about it. I looked back down , trying to stop the dizziness. My stomach was already starting to churn again and I couldn’t ever remember being so ill. Not even when I was pregnant with Ava.
    “Paramedics should be here soon. Just hold on. We’ll get you checked out.” I could hear him move closer. “ Where did you eat? I’m so going to have their fucking asses.”
    My head jerked up, my eyes blazing. “W atch your mouth.” The last part was a growl and I reached out, trying to catch myself.
    “Sorry. This is just horrible. Look at you. You’re as pale as a ghost.”
    “Ma ma.”
    I glanced up at Ava and tried to give her a reassuring smile, but all I could do was try to swallow past the excessive saliva in my mouth. Chills were starting to set in and my jaw chattered as I tried to get a grip on myself.
    “I think…” I sobbed past the pains and aggravation of being sick again.
    “Shh, it’s okay. Just…” He stood, looking around. “Where the hell are they?”
    Before I could stop myself, I was rolling to my side. Nothing came up, but it didn’t stop the process, which was even worse. By the time I was done, I was so weak, I felt my head lower to the grass. Everything was spinning and I felt so tired. Maybe if I just slept until they arrived…
    “ Victoria.” A hand shook me and I barely realized it was Devlin. My eyes fluttered open and I could see his fear. It drew in his eyebrows and left his brow creased. The phone was back in his hand and he was looking at me and then to it, back and forth. My lids closed again and darkness blanketed over me. I liked it here. Dark…like Devlin.
     
    ****
     
    Beeping had me shaking my head. I flew forward, my eyes snapping open as I stared around at the surrounding curtain. Devlin jumped up, holding a basin out to me and I grabbed it without pause. There was still barely anything that surfaced. My throat tightened, burning like fire.
    Flashes of the ambulance ride and questions during admission came flooding back. I reached for the water Devlin held and took a small drink. An IV was already in and I knew they were monitoring me. Blood had been drawn and with the hours that had already gone by, I knew it wouldn’t be long before they came in to tell me what I already knew. Damn Mexican food place. I was never going there again.
    “Where’s Ava?” I looked around, feeling panic set in. She’d been here the last time I was awake.
    “Your mom came and picked her up. I told her I would stay until they released you.”
    “Thank you.” I nodded, lowering my head back to the pillow. Death would have been a piece of cake compared to what I was going through. The stabbing in my stomach remained, but not as intense. Still, the vomiting was the worst.
    “She looks like me.” He pushed his hands in his pocket and stared