Page 107 of Vengeful Guard

“No. We want to keep it under wraps as long as we can. It’s not just Murphy we have to worry about, but the Bratva. Why?”

“Because I just spoke to Patrick’s doctor. He knows who he is.”

Declan curses. “Find out who he told, and make sure he doesn’t tell anyone else.”

I hesitate. “Declan, I don’t want to rough up the guy who saved your father’s life?—”

“Don't rough him up. Just talk to him. Be honest.”

I hang up the phone and head back into the cafeteria, this time sitting down across from the doctor.

He looks at me, his blue eyes wide and scared.

“Have you told anyone you worked on my boss?”

He shakes his head so hard I worry about it disconnecting from his body. “Good. Keep it that way. If you know who we are, then you know that our position is a little unsteady right now. It wouldn’t be good if the whole city knew that we were without our boss.”

The doctor swallows visibly. “I won’t say a word.”

I look at him, wondering if he’s lying, but all I see on his face is fear. I can’t be certain, but I’m not about to hurt the guy that saved Patrick’s life. This is as good a threat as any.

“Good. Because if you do, I’ll find you.”

The doctor goes pale, and I feel sick to my stomach. I hate doing this, especially to someone like this doctor, who’s likely saved many lives.

I’ve never had the stomach for violence unless it’s in protection of someone I care about. I guess that’s what this is, though. I’m protecting all the Burkes by warning the doctor.

When I make it back up to the waiting room, Paige is there, frowning, looking around seeming lost.

Feck.

I hurry to her. “Sorry. I got hungry.”

“It’s okay, I’m just starving." She shrugs. "Is there a vending machine around here?”

“I don't know, but I can grab you something from the cafeteria.”

“I’ll go down with you, if that’s okay. I can’t take food into Da’s room, anyway.”

Paige and I head down, and she grabs a ham and cheese sandwich and some chips, munching on them as we head back up to the waiting room on the fourth floor—the intensive care unit.

She inhales the food and without a word, heads back into the room.

I sit down, putting my head back against the wall behind me. This is going to be a long night.

It’s around eight the next morning when Lara relieves Paige, and my back aches from sleeping in the chair in the waiting room.

Paige looks exhausted when she gets to the waiting room, and I take her hand in mine to lead her to the elevator so we can go back to the lobby.

She pulls away, and I look down at her, surprised.

She won’t look at me.

What is that about? She’s stressed, I know that much. But what have I done to make her push me away?

“I need sleep.”

I guess that explains some things.

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