Broken Bonds (Club Imperial Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

diffuse axonal brain injury, and it was put in the zero to one scale. Basically, she’ll be a little dizzy and have a headache for a while. We were able to fix and repair everything else she arrived with.” He looked at the two of them. “I did find evidence of very old injuries. A spiral fracture of the forearm and a broken clavicle.”
    “Spiral fracture?” Victor asked. “Isn’t that a sign of child abuse?”
    “It can be.” The doctor looked up from studying the chart. “But both are healed, and clean. My concern is her current state. I’m going to keep her sedated until tomorrow. Do you know if she has a family we need to contact?”
    “Her mother,” Nathaniel and Victor chorused, and Nathaniel continued. “We’ll have the number in about an hour or so. I’ll get her out here.”
    “Good, she’ll need the support. With the way she’s already showing strong signs, she’ll probably be ready to release in about a week,” Fisckar said. “As I said, she’s going to need care. I understand she lives on her own?”
    “She’ll be staying with me,” Nathaniel confirmed.
    “Excellent.” Fisckar nodded his consent. “I’ll have the nurse and staff talk with you about her after care and what’s going to be needed.” Fisckar indicated the cast Nathaniel was sporting. “How’s that doing?”
    “Hurts like hell. I have the pain killer called in, I just didn’t pick it up.”
    “Well, she’s safe here. Your security hasn’t moved.” The doctor glowered at him. “I want you to go get your pain killer, go home and rest for a while. I’m going to decrease the sedation tomorrow morning and we’ll see how she does.”
    “I’ll be back in a few hours.” Nathaniel had no interest in being home. Or even being more than a few feet from Emmy.
    “Mr. Walsh.” Fisckar’s voice was utterly reproving. “I appreciate that you want to spend time with your girlfriend, but you need sleep. You need rest. Go home. Come back tomorrow. She’s safe, and I’m sure some of her friends will be by to keep her company. Rest. You need it as much as she does, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” He snapped the chart closed, and hung it back on the end of the bed. “Don’t argue, Mr. Walsh. Just follow the doctor’s orders.” The doctor walked out.
    Nathaniel looked over at his brother. “Where’s the baby?”
    “Joanne has her,” Victor answered. “Nathaniel. I really am sorry.”
    “I am too, bro. I didn’t want you and Greg destroyed. Even if I didn’t like him, he made you happy and you deserve that.”
    “You didn’t like him?” Victor sounded a little shocked. 
    “Not really.” Nathaniel cringed. He hadn’t actually meant to tell his brother that. Ever. Clearly, he was tired, and he just went with it. “He never really made an effort to get to know me. I was just competition for your affection. He just never…I don’t know. Made nice for your sake.”
    “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “Because you were in love, and you were happy,” Nathaniel answered as if it were the most obvious thing. “I’d never seen you that happy. If he did that for you, I was overlooking the other stuff.” He paused. “But when Emmy came in and told me Greg was defrauding you, I had to check into it. I couldn’t let you be ripped off by a con-artist. I didn’t want your heart broken five years down the road. And with all the information Albright had—”
    “I understand why you did it, man.” Victor waved him off. “I’m still reeling. Everything he was to me was a goddamn lie. And then he comes back and beats up Emmy because she ratted him out.” He nodded slowly. “It’s safe to say I’ve moved into the realm of ‘hate’ in the space of two days.”
    “Are they going to let you keep the baby?”
    “I’m pushing for the adoption,” Victor said. “I have a really good lawyer on it, and all of this is so damning, she thinks it won’t be a problem.”
    “If for no other reason,