Page 65 of Bad Blood

He tenses as he jams his finger into the down button for the elevator and pulls his ball cap from his head. He doesn’t turn to face me when he says, “Liam’s concerned.”

I lean against the wall beside him, searching his face, but he keeps his eyes focused on the silver doors in front of him. “About?” I try to urge him to continue, but he remains silent as the doors glide open, and I follow him on.

He returns his hat to his head after pushing the button for the first floor and leans against the wall, his legs stretched out in front of him. “The malpractice.”

I blink as realization smacks me in the face. “Oh.”

He tilts his head and studies my expression. “I can’t believe he put me on the spot like that,” he grumbles and shifts his position. “Liam’s the one who wants to know.”

“That’s understandable.” My shrug isn’t exactly nonchalant.

His throat works as he swallows, and I catch his look, complete with raised eyebrows. “Are you okay?”

I swat a loose tendril of hair from my face. “In what sense?”

“I’m sure it’s been crazy around here with everything going on. You don’t seem like the type of person who likes the spotlight.”

A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. I assumed one of my patients would have the nerve to bring up what’s been going on in the news, but honestly didn’t think it would be one of the brothers. “As good as expected, I guess.”

The lit-up four above the door dings as it switches to the three. We wait a couple of seconds in silence. And the circle with the two lights up. The doors open, and we find a couple of nurses talking on the second-floor landing. They shoo us away, and the doors close without anyone entering.

“Is it true?” He squeezes his eyes shut. A deep breath later, he opens them. And our gaze meets.

My entire body tenses. “I’m under investigation.” I hold his stare long enough that he knows I mean what I say.

His head tilts to the side, and he pauses. The doors open to the first floor, and a couple of people enter before we get off.

“For what?” he asks as we start toward the cafeteria.

“Do you want the details?”

When I glance over my shoulder, he pulls his shoulders to his ears. “Liam’s concerned he may have to change doctors.”

My brow crinkles, and I press my lips into a tight line. There’s no fucking way. “Because of the lawsuit? I’m named as a witness in it. I’m being deposed for evidence and information. My name is being cleared.” Saying the words out loud for the first time is a relief I didn’t know I needed.

Toward the end of our meeting, Luca explained that the evidence proved my innocence in the malpractice case and that the accusation was wrong, which is why I’ll get a subpoena as a witness.

“That’s a relief.” His shoulders droop. The flash of a smile he tries to hide hits me somewhere in the pit of my stomach. “I told Liam it was nothing.”

I grab the door handle to the cafeteria and usher him inside. “I’d hate to lose Liam as a patient.”

“I don’t think he meant it. He was freaking out because it could have been a big deal. We saw the news about that doctor getting murdered, and he was worried it could have been y—” He arches a brow, stopping mid-sentence.

My stomach twists. It’s all I can do not to let my emotions spread across my face. His heart lurches with pangs of sympathy reflected in his eyes.

Dax holds out a hand, and his eyes widen as if he senses he shouldn’t touch me before narrowing into curious slits. “Do you need to sit down?” He doesn’t wait for an answer as he guides me to a booth, and I sit. “I didn’t mean to . . . are you okay?” he asks, his voice breaking on the last word.

I pivot to face him. “I’m fine. Just shocked, I guess.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through with the lawsuit and the . . . you know. I figured you’d take some time off or something.” He laughs, the restrained sound echoing off the walls.

My attention turns to his hand. He holds it out toward me to bring me to my feet. My eyes water, and I force out a grimace of a smile as I take it. “Thank you.”

Once I stand, he pulls his hand from mine, and I stare at the space, letting the cold absence of his hand seep into my palm.

“I should probably get back.” Dax points over his shoulder toward the exit as he backs away.

“Are you going to tell Liam? Let him know he’s not at risk and doesn’t need to transfer?” The question leaves my mouth before I can catch it.

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