Keeping Karly (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Free Page B

gritted teeth. “Her husband attacked her.”
    “My apologies for the poor phrasing,” the doctor said quickly, giving him a grim nod in acknowledgement. “After an injury like this, disorientation is normal. The concussion is mild but I would like to keep her overnight.”
    “Overnight?” Casey asked fretfully. It was clear that she didn’t think that was long enough. “What about her eyes? Her ribs?”
    “Ms. James, your sister was very lucky, but I would suggest that she not return to her home or her husband. Does she have somewhere else to stay?”
    “She can stay with us,” Grant said quickly, making certain that Casey knew her sister was welcome. He and Bryce might own the house but it was plenty big enough for four adults to cohabitate. Judging by Bryce’s reactions to Karly so far, it’s something he would likely insist on anyway.
    The doctor glanced at his watch. “Visiting hours are almost over, but I’m going to leave instructions for the nurses to allow one person to stay by her bedside for the night. Concussion can be tricky, and it’s very helpful to have a familiar voice.”
    “Okay,” Casey said, obviously anxious to go back to her sister. “Thank you, doctor.”
    Grant held back, waiting for Casey to get out of earshot. The doctor seemed to understand what he was waiting for. “Karly was very, very lucky. It would be a good idea if she’s not left alone with her husband.” The older man ran a hand over his bald head and sighed quietly. “I know cases like this can be tricky, but…”
    “We’ll protect her,” Grant said with quiet determination.
    He knew Bryce and at least a few of the other Doms he and his brother trusted would help. They would set aside the hurt they’d felt from her newspaper articles and do what was right. No one deserved to go through what had happened to Karly.
    “Thank you,” the doctor said with a tired nod. Grant stood in the hallway and watched the man as he walked away. Karly’s story wasn’t unique by any stretch of the imagination. It must be awful for a doctor to continually patch up beaten wives who return to their violent, abusive husbands over and over. Grant could barely imagine the sense of helplessness and despair that would follow.
    He turned back and walked into the room. Karly James might not understand it right now, but she’d just gained a community willing to protect her with their lives, and stubborn, outspoken woman or not, Karly James was going to be safe.

Chapter Four
     
    I finally wake with no headache. Actually, scratch that, I still have a headache, but this time it’s more manageable.
    “Karly?” The voice is deep and familiar. Too bad I still don’t know who the man is. My eyes feel worse now. I don’t even want to try to open them. “How are you feeling?” the man asks.
    “Peachy,” I answer sarcastically. How the fuck does he think I’m feeling? “Where’s John?”
    “Your husband?” the man asks, sounding shocked, but then he reaches over and places a warm hand over my freezing cold one. “You’re safe here. We won’t let him hurt you again.”
    “Hurt me?” I ask in confusion. Surely the man doesn’t think this happens all the time. “He didn’t hurt me. Not intentionally. I hit the coffee table as I fell. It was an accident.”
    “No Karly, it wasn’t.”
    “Was too,” I argue childishly. I know John didn’t mean to hurt me this badly. We’ve had disagreements before, but all I have to do is remember the rules and everything is fine.
    “Explain the bruised kidneys then.”
    Talking hurts my head anyway, so I don’t even bother trying to explain. Obviously this man thinks the worst of my husband and isn’t going to be swayed by logical argument.
    “Karly, when I came into your house your husband was smashing up the place while you bled on the floor. He might not have intended to beat you badly enough for people to see, but the punches he landed on your torso were intentional and designed to