Red-Line: The Shift (Volume One) by J. T. Bishop Page A

I?” she managed to ask.
    “Sarah, listen. I know there’s a lot to explain, but you have to trust me. I had to bring you here to keep you safe. Before we get into all of that, though, how are you? How do you feel?”
    Sarah hugged her belly. “I feel terrible,” she said. “I want to go home. Just take me home.”
    “I can’t do that, Sarah. I’ll explain it all, I promise, but first, let’s get you more comfortable.”
    Ramsey moved behind her and put his arms under her and lifted her up. She moaned with the movement even though he was gentle with her.
    “Easy. Take it easy. You’ll feel better in a second.” He carried her back over to the bed and laid her back down in her previous position. He covered her back up with the blanket.
    “I don’t want the blanket. I’m too hot. Leave it off.” She tried feebly to push it down.
    “Leave it on. You’re feverish.” Ramsey pulled it back up again.
    “I need a doctor, Ramsey. It’s just the flu or something. Just take me home and I’ll be fine. I’ll call my aunt. She’ll take care of me.” Sarah acted as if she wanted to get up, although she made little progress.
    Ramsey looked for Leroy, who stood watching. “Can you go get her some water?” he asked. Leroy nodded and left the room.
    Ramsey looked back at Sarah. “Sit still, Sarah. I’ll be right back.” He grabbed the wet cloth and headed into the bathroom, where he rewet it and brought it back to wipe her forehead.
    “Ramsey, is that you?” she asked.
    He smiled. “Yeah, it’s still me. I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Why not? Why are you fixated on playing nursemaid?” She watched him as he rested the wet cloth above her eyes.
    “Sarah.” He sat back down on the bed, trying to think of where to start, when he was interrupted by Leroy returning to the room with a large glass of water.
    “Thanks.” He took the water. “Sarah, I’m going to sit you up and give you something to drink. You thirsty?”
    “Very.”
    He brought a hand up under her neck and lifted her far enough for her to get a few gulps of water. He laid her back down when she was done and put the water on the nightstand. “Feel better?”
    She closed her eyes and swallowed. “Throat hurts, too. Damn, what doesn’t hurt?” She opened her eyes and shifted her gaze over to Leroy, who stood beside the bed, watching and saying nothing.
    “Who’s the big guy?”
    Ramsey met Leroy’s gaze, and Leroy shrugged and answered, “Sampson Leroy, my dear. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Unfortunate that it could not be under better circumstances.”
    “Don’t mind him,” said Ramsey. “I just keep him around for company.”
    She scrutinized them both as her body, aching from head to toe, shook with chills and her head throbbed. She’d awakened after an apparent kidnap attempt to find herself in a strange place with a man she’d known twenty-four hours and another man she didn’t know at all. Intuitively, she felt they meant her no harm, but on the other hand, could she afford the risk of trusting them? Considering her condition, she didn’t have many options.
    “Okay. I’m not stupid.” She took a labored breath and coughed. “What’s going on? Why am I here? How do I know you two didn’t kidnap me?” She wanted to ask more, but those questions alone wore her out.
    Leroy answered first, pointing at Ramsey. “Theoretically speaking, he did all the kidnapping.”
    “Leroy,” Ramsey responded.
    “Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood a bit. It’s getting a little too serious in here.” His gaze settled on Sarah, and he addressed her again. “You have nothing to worry about from us. He did need to move you quickly, though. Someone else apparently has an interest in you, and Sherlock here was able to stop him.” He paused, considering what next to say. “We know you have questions, and we will answer all of them. Right now, though, you need to sleep. You’ve been through a lot today.”
    She didn’t say