Page 24 of Merciless Attraction

After we close the cafe down, people are still milling around the pier, but thankfully, the creep from the bar is nowhere in sight. I’m still anxious to go home. It takes a moment for me to remember that home is with Antonio, but I’m looking forward to taking advantage of his huge shower. Perhaps he’s there and we can take turns helping each other relax.

White lights keep the garage as bright as can possibly be, but the lack of people or cars left after a long day doesn’t help me feel safe. I know there’s a security guard around here somewhere. I wish I had gone to the booth and asked for an escort.

The sound of footsteps trailing behind me sends me into a panic. When I turn around, there’s no one there. My palms begin to sweat. My heart thumps hard against my chest. The thud is so loud, it almost drowns out the sound of a growling voice singing my name.

“GEMMMMAAAAAAAA.”

I turn around again, but don’t see anyone. All I hear are their footsteps getting closer and closer to me. My heartrate spikes as I break into a full sprint desperately trying to remember where the fuck I parked the stupid car.

Chapter 10: Antonio

The Medical Director’s office is not where I want to be right now, but this is a conversation I need to have. Dr. Melanie Stavros is a phenomenal leader and she’s been vocal about me taking on more responsibility in the hospital. Two years out of my residency, it’s only right they expect my career to grow.

The Director barely pulls her gaze away from her computer monitor when I come inside her office. However, as soon as I sit, she gives me her full attention.

“Are you ready to see what the board and I have in mind for your career’s trajectory?” she asks with hope in her eyes. It’s like a sixth sense with her that she wants to have this discussion at the end of my shift on a Sunday evening.

“Actually, I need to take a leave of absence,” I tell her as uncertainty rips through me.

“Well, that’s unexpected. You’ve been doing so much around here, especially when you helped us land Julian Blackwell and his company as a benefactor. Is there anything I can do to help you stay with us, Antonio?” Melanie asks. The hope in her eyes withers away.

For a brief moment, I can see the decades of experience wash over her face. Disappointment and frustration scream from every wrinkle of her forehead.

“I have some family concerns I need to take care of.”

“Family? That’s a word I don’t hear from you often.”

I try not to let the dig get to me, but it puts a chink in the regard I hold for Melanie. “I have a family. It’s just that I’ve been out here and they’re from New York. I can’t turn my back on them. They need me. My fiancé needs me.”

“Fiancé?” She gasps. “I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone let alone engaged while working several eighteen-hour shifts every week.”

“We’ve been keeping up a long-distance relationship these past few years. Now that she’s in San Francisco and we’re trying to keep our relationship together. I need some time.” I tell her and wonder if she can sense the deeper reasons.

Can she smell the blood of the man I pushed under the water’s surface after severing his hands? Does Melanie have any inkling that I’m as murderous as thefamilyI keep at arm’s length? My brothers by choice, and soon by marriage if things go my way.

As it stands, I’m not feeling much like a doctor who can continue to uphold my Hippocratic oath.

Do no harm ...

With Frankie showing up on Ronan’s doorstep as his patient, ending with me severing the hands off his corpse ... there’s too much happening for me to focus on being the doctor I’m expected to be. The doctor I promised myself I’d become.

I vowed to distance myself from the Marzano family. Especially after everything that happened with Luca and Julian. Now? I’m ready to marry into one of the most dangerous families in the country, perhaps the world.

“How long are you thinking, Antonio?” Melanie asks.

“I don’t know. I think three months should be enough time for me to figure things out.”

She nods solemnly. “Three months is enough time for you to interview at other hospitals, choose a specialty and rake in millions for another institution thatdid nottake an intern with a felony scrubbed off their record.”

Fuck my regard for the Director.

“Excuse me?” I ask, waiting for clarity because she’s not supposed to know about that.

A maniacal glare flashes in her deep brown eyes, as she picks up on my surprise, telling me, “Just because it was never mentioned doesn’t mean it was unknown. I will make certain that if there’s even a rumor of you taking a position at another hospital, siphoning patients out ofoursystem, that criminal record you paid a pretty penny to hide will shine as bright as your future here.”

I nod slowly, understanding our professional relationship is most certainly conditional. “Wow. You know there’s something to be said about a person your age getting to your position as quickly as you have. Ruthlessness are the nuts holding that ladder of success together.”

“And you’re letting pussy knock your nuts back down to the bottom rung,” she scoffs, shaking her head side to side. “You’re engaged... that’s a fucking joke. Long distance with a doctor that works your hours, and you want to take a leave of absence. What do you think you can accomplish in three months? Trying to show some woman, who’s probably completely different from the last time you’ve slept in the same city together, that you’re going to be around?”

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