Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 122074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
My lip curled up. “Molly is a lot of things, but innocent is not one of them.”
She quieted, frowning.
I moved into her space, and she had to take two steps backward. It was enough where I could turn my back to Molly’s door, and I leaned down, making sure the doctor saw my intent. “In this situation, I would suggest you walk away.”
She was bristling, getting ready for another argument, when Sloane’s voice cut in. “Nea.” She said it low and calm, but everyone here knew the reason behind her interruption.
Sloane knew all. She knew the details.
“I’m handling something—”
“Nea.” Calm. Low again, but more insistent. “You need to step back from him.”
Nea’s eyes flashed wild, and she turned, hissing at the head nurse, “Are you kidding me? Do you know—”
I met Sloane’s gaze, my head finding hers over Nea’s head. She was walled off to me. Good on her. I knew the nurse enough, had known all sides of her from growing up. She could be loving and mothering at times, but she still understood what needed to be done, even now knowing what my family stood for and hating me for it.
“Molly’s father called. He’s on her file as a person of contact, and he said Mr. Walden would be coming in his stead. We need to honor the patient’s wishes and her father’s. Mr. Walden needs to be briefed on Molly’s situation, and then release her into his care.”
“I am her doctor. I say when she’s to be released.”
Sloane’s eyes briefly blinked. She wasn’t showing any emotion, speaking in a monotone. “I’m aware, but you know what the hospital board will expect in this situation.”
Nea drew her breath, hearing the underlying threat. Yes. My family had a long reach, even to this hospital’s board. “Sloane.” She dropped her voice, walking over to her, but I could still hear. “You can’t be serious. You know who he is—”
“Yes.” Sloane broke now, that word being hissed back and her eyes flashed fiercely. “I do. Do you? You’re forgetting—” She bit off, casting me a furtive look. “Don’t forget, Nea.”
Nea fell back a couple steps, blinking rapidly. She took a second, breathed in deeply before the same tone came over next. “You’re right.” She turned, her eyes glazed, but she refused to meet my gaze.
“The only physical harm to Molly was a key she ingested, and her gun went off so close to her face. She might have some burning in her eyes and ringing in her ears, but I’ve prescribed ear and eye drops to help offset those effects. The key should pass within a day to two. I’d suggest she keep a liquid diet until it does, just to be safe, but the biggest concern for me is the emotional stress she might be under from her ordeal. You’re aware of what happened?”
I nodded, dipping my head down a bit.
Key. Burning. Ringing. She shot someone.
Jesus Christ.
“She felt threatened, under attack, and she worried she had killed a man. I’d like her to meet a social worker from this hospital to see if she feels safe to talk to him.”
Him. “No.”
“Ashto—” She stopped herself, closing her eyes again, drawing in a breath. She tried again. “Mr. Walden, I’ve already given Molly his card. It will be her choice if she meets with him or not, but she should talk to someone. No one was severely harmed, but it was still a traumatic experience to a normal person.”
I got her dig—a normal person, unlike me—but I didn’t care. I watched Molly continue to sleep.
“Ashton.” She dropped all pretenses, stepping close again. “Please leave this woman alone. She’s good. She doesn’t deserve whatever you’re planning on doing to her.”
Unlike what I had done to Nea.
There’d been another patient, one that Nea had wondered why the police hadn’t been called because of his state. Trace had dispatched me to “educate” the new doctor on how our families ran business through the hospital. I’d done my job, but I took her on a couple dates to really cement the fact that she could not touch us.
Our paths had not crossed since that day. I saw that I’d left an impression.
I’d done my job.
“Start her discharge papers. We’ll take her home as she is.”
She sucked in a sharp breath.
“You made your argument, Nea. I do not care. Discharge her.”
She cursed as she stalked away from me.
“I took care of you and Trace when you were both boys. I’ve helped you many times.” Sloane stepped up in Nea’s place. “I’m aware of the changes to both of your families and what’s going on.” She was saying that as she was eyeing the four guards standing behind me in the hallway. There’d been a time when I didn’t use guards. “I can’t imagine the stress and responsibility put on both your and Trace’s shoulders, but I need to echo Nea’s sentiments. Molly is good people. She’s kind. Loving. Pure. It’s not her fault who her father is. Don’t punish her for Marcus’s failure as a father,” she added, her voice low.