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Sara headed toward the aders digging in viciously "You’d better not hurt him," she hissed under her breath "Ihim"

Violet stared blankly at Gerip finally loosened She wondered where, exactly, the threat had co Rafe; ould Ge the other girl behind as she followed Sara to the counter, where her ID was scanned and printed onto a sticker that she had to wear on her shirt

Sara led her in back, and they stopped outside a sliding glass door with a huge nu inside, but Sara set to take hie to be reminded that she was his sister Then Sara touched Violet’s ar Apprehension Concern Both, h a lot today, and he’s worn out Just let hiet soht, don’t ask a lot of questions Not yet, anyway

Violet just nodded and left Sara standing outside as she entered the darkened room

She wasn’t sure what she’d expected: tubes down his throat, wires attached to noisy machines, full-body traction with casts and splints But it wasn’t like that

The roohts had been diht above his bed that cast a faint glow like an oversized night-light Violet settled silently onto a rolling chair beside the metal-framed bed as she waited for Rafe to notice she was there

His eyes were closed and his breathing was deep and even She’d watched Jay sleep before, and he was always restless, his breathing irregular Sometimes he muttered in his sleep, sometimes he twitched, but always he looked disheveled, h Rafe looked peaceful His hand lay across his chest, and Violet could see the tubes fros of fluid hung fro beside his bed

She jumped when a machine at her side beeped softly and the blood pressure cuff strapped around his upper arns She wondered if there were nurses watching froravelly and sluggish There was a quality buried within it that Violet had never heard before froically, as if his facial muscles were heavy, leaden Violet watched as he lifted his hand--the one with the IV tubes sticking into it--and his bleary eyes struggled to maintain focus on her face His hand onlyback to the crisp white sheets again as if the effort had been too ain, Sophie"

The slur of his words was al, in a drunken sort of way, but Violet frowned over the last word he’d spoken, the name he’d called her She leaned forward, afraid to touch him or even to jostle his bed as she carefully leaned her elbows against the firm hospital mattress "Who’s Sophie, Rafe?"

Rafe startled then, hisfro way to a perplexed scowl as his eyes swaain, was still laced with fatigue "What are you talking about?"

"You calledas he did "No, I didn’t," he groaned "You must have misheard"

Had she? She was pretty sure she didn’t But what difference did it make what he’d called her? She was relieved to see him awake Alive, for that matter

"I was so worried about you I’m so sorry about what happened, Rafe"

His expression softened, his brows drawing together "It wasn’t your fault Sara said it was the other driver--" He scowled again, but this ti to re an illegal turn, and" She hesitated "She didn’t see you"

Rafe nodded, and Violet wondered howShe hoped he’d conveniently stricken it frolad you’re okay," she said at last, a pained frownits way over her face

"Pshh" He tried to wave his hand to disain before he could make any real statement "I’m fine Look at me I’ve never been better"

Violet studied him--scrutinized every inch she could see Scrapes covered his hands, his cheek, and his chin--at least where she could see thees Even his elbows had been wrapped up, froh his leather jacket, she assu too, even ones that she could see through the transparent IV tape across his knuckles She didn’t think she wanted to knohat reat," she quipped "Seriously, how bad is it?"

"I got soauze on his forehead "And some bruised ribs, but it n off and then I get to go Besides--" He grinned, tapping the place where the IV tube disappeared beneath his skin "I gotta say, if you’re gonna get hurt, this is the place to be The drugs here aren’t half-bad" His head sagged heavily against the pillow