Page 46 of Bad Blood

It took him long enough to figure out I’m keeping Liam’s case—which is one hundred percent against protocol—because I have to. Twenty-four hours might be a record.

“That’s a referral.”

And I don’t care. I’m hyper-fixated on everything that has to do with this case and the rabbit hole it’s opened. “But—” I go to speak, and he lifts a hand.

“No buts. Refer him.”

“I can’t.”

He closes his eyes and lets out a steady breath. “It’s not a request.”

“He just turned nineteen,” I lie, trying to plead my case. “I can handle this.”

“That’s what you said before.”

I hate how he references Collins’ case. He knows damn well I was going through a lot more than dealing with a patient with a case like Grady’s. But he won’t let it slide.

“I was dating that asshole,” I say, pointing toward the hall, hoping he knows I mean the ex.

Kline doesn’t skip a beat. “He’s not an excuse. I don’t think you can handle it.”

I throw my hands in the air. “You won’t give me a chance.”

He stuffs his hands in his pockets and gazes at the ceiling. “Why him?”

“He needs me.”

“No—why him?”

I’m not sure what he means, and I can tell he’s about to make me feel more incompetent than he already has, but I try for the best form of a lie I can muster. “Because I need you to give me a second chance.”

His ego is his weakness, and I play to the idea that this is all in his hands. Despite my anger, I stay focused, keep my calm, and cross my fingers.

He doesn’t change his tight posture, and I can sense how close I am to losing the chance to help them, but I don’t push my luck. He leans forward, a little too close for comfort, and taps the chart he flung on the desk. “Don’t make me regret this.”

I can’t fucking believe it!

I keep my excitement at bay. I don’t need him to know how much relief those simple words have given me. He doesn’t allow me to reply before he’s at the door and out of sight. I follow him and peek into the hall, glad to have that over with.

Now, I need to figure out where that pin came from. I stuff my charts under my arm and head to the main floor through a few remaining detectives and find relief when there are no remnants of the incident from last night. It looks as if nothing took place. I walk to the spot and stop, surveying every inch for signs of anything. It’s as if it never happened. I peek at the elevators, over to the stairwell, and back to the nurses’ station.

Hushed whispers fill the air. I find Lauren huddled in a group of fellow nurses with her arms full of charts. Something about how they stop talking when they see me watching them piques my curiosity.

But it’s just my luck because nurses are gossips, and I need information.

14

Bronacular

Dax

Thursday, May 11 th

10:26 a.m.

A pillow crashes into the back of my laptop and snaps me back to reality.

“You’re going to drive yourself insane.” Liam glares at the laptop.

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