Up in a Blaze Read Free Page B

knew, he was the oldest vampire working on the ranger team, but that was something he kept to himself. His boss and good friend, Walter, didn’t even know how old he was.
    He watched as her eyelids began to flutter, but as soon as her body began to lean back a bit, her face scrunched up and she bit down on her bottom lip as the pain became too much for her to bear. “Cassie, you have my word, hon, you are safe. Will you consider taking something for the pain?” At this point he was tempted to jump back into her mind and force her compliance. She really needed some pain medication.
    “I guess so. Are you going…” Her face turned a cute shade of pink as she seemed unable or unwilling to continue.
    He nodded his head. “Yes, I am going to be staying with you the entire time. You are just going to rest so we can get out of here tomorrow. I can’t very well deliver you to your friend if they won’t release you from the hospital.”
    She sighed deeply, even though her ribs protested the move every time she did it. He was making a valid point, and if she couldn’t trust a Texas Ranger, who could she trust? She watched as he reached over and pressed the call button for the nurse.
    “Yes, can I help you?” a female voice came through the small speaker on the bed.
    “Yes, Ms. Vicors would like something for pain so she can sleep please.” Donte held her gaze, daring her to argue.
    “Okay, someone will be right in.”
    A nurse walked into the room a few minutes later, her crisp white uniform standing out against the grey dullness of the room. “Has the pain become too much, hon?” she asked as she sat a small cup down on the table by the bed and started checking over her patient.
    “I just need to sleep,” Cassandra replied grumpily.
    “Well, in all honesty, that’s what your body needs, hon.” The nurse looked at her patient sitting up on the bed. “Let me help get you in a more comfortable sleeping position.”
    She pushed a button on the side of the bed and the top of the bed moved upwards until it was pressed up against Cassandra’s back. “Now, I am going to lower the bed slowly, just move with the bed. This way you won’t have to use any muscles to lay down.”
    By the time the nurse had the bed back in a horizontal position, Cassandra had curled up on her side, her arms wrapped protectively against her ribs, tears leaking out of her eyes. “Okay, hon, you try to get some rest now. I’ll be back later to check on you.” The nurse stated as she gently patted her patient on the arm and gathered up her equipment, walking back out the door.
    Donte’s mate was facing him, and he desperately wanted to help her. He cautiously extended his hand, palm upwards, next to her, hoping she would grab onto it like a lifeline. God, he hated to see her in pain like this.
    Finally, after what seemed like forever, her wee little hand came out and touched his. “Please don’t leave me,” she whispered so softly, that without the benefit of vampire hearing he would have never heard what she said. Her eyes were already shut. “I’m usually not this needy, it’s just…” she trailed off, but that was okay. Donte knew exactly what was going on in that head of hers.
    He picked up his free hand and gently ran his fingers through her silky hair. There was a cut with stitches on the left side, so he was very careful to avoid that area. “I’m not going anywhere, babe. You’re more stuck with me than you realize,” he whispered down to her, knowing the drugs were already taking effect, and she was falling into a deep healing sleep.
    He waited until she was totally under, then retrieved his cell phone out of his shirt pocket. Speed-dialing Walter, he sat back in his chair and waited for his boss to answer.
    “Donte, how goes it?” Walter greeted him after the third ring.
    “I’m here, but we may have a bit of a problem for tomorrow. I don’t think she’s going to be able to do a commercial flight. Her body is