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Larissa nodded, thinking the poor woman needed far more than a pain pill She batted a wave of helplessness aside “Are you hurt anywhere else?” she asked “Maybe you hit your head? Or your ribs?”

“No, just my wrist”

“All right, I’ht back”

“Sure” Annie’s gaze jerked away, causing Larissa’s stomach to knot painfully

She recognized the signs and symptoms of abuse Only too well Dark meht the to keep her erabbed an ice pack fro for Dr Gabe Allen, the physician in charge of the patients on her team

He was on the phone talking to the inpatient hospitalist about a patient he wanted ad until he finished his call He hung up the phone and flashed a warm smile “Hi, Larissa, what’s up?”

His s for s pretty well “I need you to examine my patient in room four,” she said in a soft tone in a voice “I’ physically abused”

Gabe’s smile faded “Are you sure?”

She’d only been a nurse here at the Hope County Hospital for six ht she’d proved her competence by now She scowled “Trust me, I’m sure”

Gabe gave a terse nod “All right, let ht over”

“Thanks” She hurried back over to Annie’s bedside, squeezing the disposable ice pack between her hands to activate the chemical reaction inside “Here, place this around your wrist, okay?” she instructed “Dr Allen will be here shortly”

Annie winced but didn’t say anything as she placed the cold pack over her wrist