My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 626

Chapter 626

“I’ll do it.”

She quietly stepped back. Raphael peeled away the old bandage. The cool air brushed across the stitches and I winced. The antiseptic stung and my fingers curled against the towel.

His eyes stayed on the wound. He finished cleaning the stitches before placing fresh gauze over them. His fingertips smoothed the tape into place.

He leaned back slightly, studying his work, “The swelling hasn’t increased.”

He stood and reached for the clothes the nurse had laid across the counter, soft gray sweatpants and an oversized

white T-shirt.

He handed them to me, “I’ll wait outside.”

Before he reached the door, I caught his wrist. He stopped. I couldn’t explain why I didn’t want him to leave.

My fingers slowly loosened, “…Stay?”

He looked at me for several quiet seconds, then he nodded once. I changed slowly but he helped me with it, pulling the shirt over my head made the room spin again. By the time I finished dressing, I was breathing harder than I should have been.

A sharp ringtone broke the silence, both of us looked toward the bedside table.

My new phone.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

I frowned. Raphael picked it up first. His eyes moved across the display, “Area code,” he looked back at me, Chicago Police Department.”

My stomach tightened.

Why…

Why would the police be calling me?

Raphael answered and put it on speaker. A woman’s professional voice came through.

“Good morning, Am I speaking to Miss Gianna Toricelli?”

He handed me the phone. My fingers suddenly felt cold, “Hello?”

“Miss Toricelli?”

“…Yes.”

“My name is Detective Laura Bennett with the Chicago Police Department. We’re very sorry to contact you under these circumstances. We have your name listed as the emergency contact for three young women.”

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