Page 57 of Bad Blood

I grab the pen from my breast pocket. “I need a couple of signatures. Give us a sec.”

“Of course. I’ll be at the counter when you’re ready.” She smiles and shuts the door.

Liam takes the offered pen. “What’s this?”

“Acknowledgement of what we went over. We’ll be seeing you a lot. Remember, don’t come to your harvesting alone. You won’t be able to drive. And you’ll need a ride after the port placement as well.” Plus, I’d like to talk to your brother to see why you’re so insistent on being the one to protect him instead of it being the other way around. “And Dax can do the swab.”

The buzzing of his phone punctuates the moment. He pulls it from his pocket, holds it for me to see the screen, and grins from ear to ear. “It’s Dax.”

17

Tunnel Vision

Brighton

Monday, May 15 th

3:42 p.m.

I’ve spent the afternoon overthinking and running through pretend scenarios.

Anxiety has ruled my life since Liam’s appointment. I’m starting to worry Liam might be right about Dax’s inability to cope with what’s going on. And it terrifies me.

It’s Monday.

And it sucks.

It’ll be exactly the same tomorrow . . .

Only Tuesday.

And I hate how Kline stares at me from the opposite side of the nurses’ station. I ignore him as I search through the day’s charts. I stop on the third file, the name catching my eye.

I hate what’s inside. My chest tightens, and I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off the need to empty the contents of my stomach.

I peek from beneath my lashes, finding frustration on Kline’s face. He continues in a brief conversation with his nurse before grabbing his charts. When he passes me, I think I’m in the clear. I blow air through my lips, trying to refocus.

After what happened late last week, everyone is on edge.

“My office,” Kline grits out, his proximity shocking me, and I whip around. I take a step back, feeling cornered.

I tap my pile of files and give him an awkward chuckle as I fail to act unaffected. “Super busy with signing charts.”

“It’s not a request.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He swipes his badge over the scanner and slips through the door.

Fuck.

I yank the files from the counter, stuffing them under my arm. If I can’t get my shit together, there’s no way he’ll let me keep Liam’s case. I scan my badge on the wall sensor and slow my pace.

Rosé. Sushi. Running.

Random thoughts do the trick.

When I round the corner, I’m surprised to find Kline leaning against the doorway to his office, not inside.

“This couldn’t wait?” I ask, ignoring him when he scowls at me and crosses his arms.

“Did you see his CT read?”

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