Pride & Pleasure (The KNIGHT Brothers Book 1) Read Free Page A

Couldn’t wrap his brain around what he would say.
    “Can I help you, sir?”
    He about jumped out of his Burberry’s. He turned and standing behind him was a nurse, her brows snapped together in curiosity. It didn’t look suspicious at all with him standing in the door staring at the patient. “Can you see that she gets these?” He handed over one bouquet and the box, then hurried away.
    By the time he was in the elevator, heading back to the lobby to wait on Angelina, he was able to get the thought of Avary Pine, lying in bed sobbing, out of his mind—some.
    ****
    Two months later
     
    “You’ve got to eat.”
    Avary didn’t even look at her sister, but continued to stare at the white ceiling, counting the heavy paint strokes left over from a careless painter.
    “You need to answer me,” Dawn persisted.
    Realizing that her sister wouldn’t give up until she got some sort of reply, Avary lifted her chin. “I’m not hungry.”
    “I didn’t ask if you’re hungry. I said you need to eat.” There was a stubborn tilt to her sister’s chin. Dawn could cut someone down to size with her pensive stare if pushed to that point.
    “Don’t worry about me, sis. I’m fine,” Avary mumbled.
    “Looks like you are. When was the last time you took a shower?” Dawn sniffed and wrinkled her nose.
    “That’s not me, thank you. That’s the lunch the nurse prepared. Who eats sauerkraut and sausage?”
    “Your nurse does,” Dawn muttered. “I’ll make you a PB sandwich. Better yet, a Nutella and banana sandwich.”
    “No. I’m not hungry, remember?” She sat up, leaning her back against the arm of the couch. A pain shot through her hand. It was covered in a thick bandage, hiding the red, angry-looking scar that she had to apply salve to every six hours.
    “Your manager called again this morning. He wants to speak to you,” Dawn’s voice softened.
    “I know. I’ve heard every message he’s left on my voicemail.”
    “Then why don’t you call him back? He wants to talk to you about where you need to go from here, what’s best for you.”
    Avary snickered. “That’s funny. He knows my hand is useless. I can’t hold a toothbrush with it, let alone a bow.” Her chest narrowed and she had a strong urge to cry, but she refused. She’d cried an ocean after the attack and she refused to allow another tear drop to leave her eyes.
    “Doc said therapy will work, but you have to start. The sooner, the better. That’s why I made you an appointment. The office is in the hospital.”
    “I think he hopes it’ll work,” she whispered.
    Dawn sat on the end of the couch and patted Avary’s knee. “They caught the attacker and he’s behind bars. Now is the time to put the incident behind you. You’ll see, if you try, you’ll feel better. Sitting here day in and day out sulking isn’t helping.”
    “What if you couldn’t work as a nurse? What if someone took that ability away from you?”
    “You’re suggesting you’ve lost all hope of recovery, Avary. I remember all of the times you practiced until your fingers bled. Not once did I see a girl who gave up so easily. This isn’t you. Where is my feisty sister who worked her way into being the musician ‘who plays like an angel’?”
    “She’s gone,” she said through tight lips. Overcome with the need to lash out with so many hateful words, Avary bit down hard on her bottom lip. Her sister didn’t deserve it, even if she didn’t understand. Why didn’t she see that Avary needed to be alone? Needed time to work through her emotions. Not only had the attacker robbed her of the use of her hand, but he had also taken away her security. “My show is starting soon and you’re blocking the TV.”
    With an exaggerated sigh, Dawn stood. Crossing her arms over her waist, she jutted her chin. “Fine. Do what you’re going to do. One day you’ll realize how much of yourself you left in that dark alley that night.”
    Not getting a response, Dawn finally