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Nicole was so caught up in the struggle that she didn’t at first realize that Jake was being pulled away fro But while she was just screa Jake’s nah thehis mind and snap him back to his senses Jake was fully off of her now, but he was still holding her and she was being pulled upward, but then soers and thu her, and Nicole fell back She immediately scrambled backward several feet on her butt on the carpet, stopping when she bu her head back, she peered up at the woht, Nicole My name is Nina and we’re here to help" The words poured over her as war as heated honey down a sore throat and Nicole felt herself immediately relax

"Oh," she ht under the aroan arm around her waist to steer her across the roolanced around to see twohim down on the cream carpet while a third man set up an IV of blood beside hi her toward the stairs "I’m more concerned with you Is any of this blood yours?"

Nicole glanced down at herself and frowned as she noted the blood sot it on herself when she’d fallen on Jake "No I don’t think so"

"Then he didn’t hurt you?" Nina asked

"No I don’t think so," Nicole repeated and then stopped on the stairs "He was trying to bite s At least I think he did I’ed her to , her upset and even her recollections were beco to be fine," Nina said quietly "Marguerite is on the way and she’s bringing Danielle with her Do you know Danielle?"

"Danielle?" Nicole frowned The nauely familiar She was sure she’d heard it mentioned before, but couldn’t recall in what context

"She’s oes by Dani, and she’s a doctor Marguerite’s bringing the two of them, her husband and some others They’ll be here in forty-fiveto be fine"

Nicole nodded and allowed herself to be led to the kitchen, her worry fading Once in the room, she automatically put water on to boil, and then turned to the coffeepot

"Can you tell et sick?" Nina asked as Nicole took the old filter out of the coffeepot and replaced it with a new one

Nicole frowned at the question as she began to scoop coffee into the pot, but answered, "He seemed quiet and a bit pale at dinner, and then he coested he take a dip in the hot tub to get rid of the headache, and he did, but then he started to vo?" Nina asked

"Me?" she asked with surprise "I’ different than you?"

Nicole shook her head "No We had the sah he didn’t eat all of his It’s probably in the fridge"

Nina ierator Athe cellophane covering it, she lifted it close to her face and inhaled slowly Nicole had no idea what she was sniffing for, but apparently she didn’t find it Nina was frowning as she returned the cover to the plate and set it on the counter

Her gaze slid to Nicole then, and seeing that she’d stopped working on the coffee, the other wo it to the sink, she turned on the tap and began to fill the carafe as she asked, "So he didn’t eat anything different than you before dinner?"

Nicole shook her head and turned back to the coffee pot to continue scooping coffee grounds into the filter "I don’t think so We had ouerite for breakfast"

"Did he drink anything different at dinner?"

"No We all had water and then Joey and I had wine but he didn’t," Nicole recollected, dropping the scoop into the coffee can and closing it

"So you and your brother had so you didn’t," Nina murmured as she turned off the water

"How did you know Joey was ether

"You mentioned it," Nina answered calmly as she carried the carafe of water back to her

"No, I don’t think I did," Nicole countered with a frown

"Yes, you did," Nina assured her and Nicole nodded Yes, she had

"I’o down and check on the boys while you pour the water in, set the carafe on the base, and turn on the coffeepot I’d like you to sit at the table and wait for ht?"

Nicole nodded She would pour the water in the machine, set the carafe on the base, and sit at the table and wait

"Nicki?"

Nicole glanced around with surprise at the sound of her na fro She’d si tih

"Marguerite," Nicole said uncertainly as she spotted the wo the kitchen toward her, and then she frowned "How did you get here so fast?"

"It wasn’t that fast, dear," Marguerite said gri toward her "It’s been two and a half hours since you called, but it took so us here"