Pure Innocence Read Online Free PDF

assume you are happy with
Mr. Kerrick being present while we discuss your care?”
    “ Yes, s-sure.” Oliver’s
shocked words were out before he thought about it. It hadn’t
occurred to him that Damon would need any sort of permission. He
seemed to be taking charge since Oliver had woken up
yesterday.
    “ Now, Mr. Neil.” The doctor
started pinning x-rays to a lighted screen on one wall. “I’d like
to discuss your care and early prognosis.”
    Oliver zoned out, it was too real. Once the
doctor had confirmed the probable permanent nerve damage to his
fingers, the black cloud that was Oliver’s life settled around him
once more. Oliver shuffled and leaned into Damon. If it hadn’t
seemed so rude, he would have shut his eyes.
    Silence.
    Oliver became aware from the low chuckle
next to him that someone had asked him something, and from the five
expectant faces surrounding him, he was supposed to reply. Heat
rushed into Oliver’s face.
    The doctor’s face gentled. “I know it’s a
lot to take in. The most important thing to remember is that you
are going to get the help you need, for as long as you need it, to
make those hands as functioning as we can. Now he’s started eating
and drinking—” He paused and looked at the nurses. “I’d like the
catheter out, and then he can get out of bed, and move around.” He
glanced at Damon. “Another twenty-four hours on sufficient food and
fluids and the IV comes out. Then he can go home.”
    Oliver definitely heard that. Home? Home? He
panicked. How was he going to manage with his hands in the tiny
studio apartment he shared in Orlando with two of the other
dancers? They didn’t even have a bed each, just mattresses on the
floor. He wasn’t going to be able to pay the rent, not even his
small share. How on earth would he hold the pole with these? They
were so fucking ugly, he would be laughed out of the club. The
doctors and nurses didn’t seem to know that though, and clearly
didn’t seem to realize Oliver was working himself up. He could hear
his breathing speed up as they left the room.
    “ Oliver, we need to
talk.”
    Oliver’s heart plummeted so fast at Damon’s
words he thought it had stopped beating. This was it; this was what
he had been expecting since he’d woken up and couldn’t fathom why
such a beautiful man was bothering with him. Damon was leaving.
He’d finally realized what a useless waste of space Oliver was. The
only surprising thing was how it had taken him this long to work
out what everyone else knew. Oliver should be dead.
    Oliver nodded. He couldn’t speak around the
burning in his throat. A hysterical sob worked its way free, no
matter how Oliver tried to bite his lip to keep it in. He tried to
swallow unsuccessfully and nearly choked. His heart was busy
beating up a storm. Maybe he would have a heart attack that would
be quick, simple, solve everyone’s problems.
    He barely felt the hand that cupped his
face, misery was enveloping him, and eventually nothing would break
through that. He’d learnt to do that when he was little, wrap it
around him and sink into it. It kept him away from the harsh shouts
and rough hands that had hurt him so many times.
    “ You’re coming home with
me.”
    Damon’s sudden words made Oliver stiffen in
shock. Had he heard right?
    The man’s big hands resumed their idle
stroking on the side of his face. Gentle, rhythmic, pulling him
down, settling. “There’s no way you can manage by yourself.”
    Oliver choked back the
immediate denial, because it was true, very true. He was almost
afraid to ask. “What? Why—you don’t...” Know me , he wanted to
say .
    Damon dropped his hand and just rested it on
Oliver’s knee. “I’m not sure if you remember what I told you last
night, but I’m a private investigator. I was hired by the parents
of the first boy that was murdered. Damon paused briefly and his
shoulders seemed to sag a little. “Or, what we thought was the
first boy.”
    Oliver bit his