Fallen Death (The Trihune Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

upper arm began to fill with air. Her eyes moved to the machine. “You shouldn’t be sitting up. Lie down. You could have internal bleeding.”
    Before she finished speaking, he’d pulled the oximeter off his finger. Next, the cuff around his bicep. When he fumbled for the brace around his neck, Asjhone leapt into action, fears forgotten. She grabbed his hands. “Stop.”
    He stiffened.
    “Lie down.” She grasped his shoulders, pushed gently.
    It was as if he’d been given a shot of Ativan; his body became liquid, eyelids falling to half-mast. As soon as her patient was prone, she pushed the button on the wall.
    He lay still on the bed. Made no attempt to sit up or remove his neck brace. His eyes were on her. Her fear from earlier had abated, but his stare unnerved her.
    It was okay. Help was on the way.
    She placed the oximeter back on his index finger. When he didn’t object, she refitted the blood pressure cuff, as well.
    “I’d like to check your heart now.” She waited until he nodded before removing the stethoscope from her pocket. After warming the end against her palm, she set it on his chest. Her eyes trailed up to meet his gaze. Then stayed while she listened to the too fast beating of his heart.
    Since he’d regained consciousness, she’d barely noticed his scars. His gaze held all the power.
    “Do you hurt anywhere?” She removed the stethoscope and put it back in her pocket.
    “No.”
    “Your pulse is very high. And BP. Blood pressure,” she amended. “That’s not a good sign.”
    “I’m fine. They’re always high.”
    “Are you on medication for it?” She paused. Some medication prescribed by psychiatrists had those side effects. “Any medication?”
    The male shook his head.
    “What’s your name?”
    “Sarid.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Sarid. I’m Asjhone.”
    “And I’m Dr. Behall.”
    Asjhone moved away from the bed, allowing the doctor to see her patient.
    “How are you feeling? That was a nasty accident you were in. What do you remember?”
    Sarid’s eyes stayed on Asjhone as he answered the doctor. “I was hit by a truck.”
    “Yes. A very large truck. Witnesses said you walked right in front of it.” Dr. Behall palmed her pen light. She waved it in front of Sarid’s eyes one at a time. “Any pain?”
    “No.”
    “The scars on your face, how did you get them?”
    Sarid didn’t answer. The doctor moved to the end of the bed. She flipped up the sheet, lightly grasped his ankle.
    His gaze jerked to the doctor. “Don’t touch me.” His tone was low. The warning clear.
    Dr. Behall froze, slowly raised her hands. “I just need to make sure you’re okay.” She gave a smile that always had the male patients asking for her number. “It’s my job. Can you wiggle your toes for me?”
    The toes on both of Sarid’s feet started to move.
    “Any tingling? Numbness?”
    “No.” Sarid’s gaze narrowed, moved from the doctor to the closed door.
    There was a knock, then Tim stuck his head in. “X-ray?”
    Dr. Behall stepped back. “Yes.”
    “No.”
    “Now, Sarid, we need to make sure you don’t have any internal injuries. You were hit dead on by a semi. Thrown in the air then crashed onto the unforgiving cement. Your body may miraculously appear unaffected, but it’s your insides I’m worried about. Internal bleeding is serious. Your blood pressure has been extremely high since you arrived. That’s a sign something is going on.”
    “My BP is always high.”
    “Then it’s a good thing you’re here, because left untreated you’ll be dead very, very soon. Organs will begin to shut down.”
    “I’m fine. I’d like to leave now.” His gaze moved back to Asjhone.
    The light hit his eyes just so, making his brown irises appear bright blue.
    “That’s a very bad idea,” the doctor said. “If you leave now, you run the risk of—”
    “I’m leaving.” He threw the sheet off and in one swift move was standing.
    Completely naked.
    Asjhone had seen many