Page 73 of King of Ruin

He seamlessly helps me inside and we’re whisked into an exam room. It’s small, and Roman sets the carrier down on the bench seat.

“Everything still good?”

I nod even as I bite my lip. “I’m worried we’ll lose this little one. They don’t all make it. It’s a hazard of the business.”

“You take on the hurt of their loss so that they can hurt less,” Roman whispers against my temple as his arm wraps around me. “It’s one more way you’re so generous, Maddie.”

I smile even as the door opens for the vet tech to come in. “Welcome back to LV Animal Care. I’m Mike.”

“Hi Mike,” I say, turning toward him, my brows pulling together at both his choice of words and his tone. There is a hostility I don’t understand even if the words are pretty standard. And what does he mean by welcome back? “Nice to meet you.”

He clears his throat. “What’s wrong with this one?”

It’s in the way he says one…like it’s one of many.

“The kitten stopped breathing. It…”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “You know there are professional vets and techs for a reason.”

I look at him, not understanding.

“I know you’re the woman who dropped off the hodgepodge of animals at our clinic.” I tense, hearing his disapproval. Not many people see value in what I do. Or in me. I’m used to it, but also, it’s easier to avoid it most of the time. I’ve never been much of a fighter and I don’t want to try. “Not one of them had a care plan. They were a nightmare for the vet school.”

“Actually, that was me,” Roman answers, his voice menacingly deep. “And all the animals were being regularly treated by a licensed vet.”

“Really? A vet would have sent notes. Files. Your operation looks like nothing but a mom-and-pop shop.”

I open my mouth to argue, but close it again. It’s only a “mom” animal hospital. There is no “pop.”

I can see his outline, thanks to the exam lighting, but I don’t see the tray that’s on the counter. My hip catches it, and it goes crashing to the floor.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” I say, bending down. With the kitten still in one hand, I start feeling on the floor for the tools I’ve knocked down.

I hear Roman’s rumble next to me, his disapproval, and I wince. I know I’m a lot and the reason I stay at home so much is because it’s so much more obvious when I’m out how much I struggle.

If Roman didn’t want to ditch me before, he certainly does now.

But he doesn’t say a word to me. Instead, he talks to the tech. “They shouldn’t have been hanging over the edge like that. They’re a hazard to anyone.”

Mike lets out a disagreeable grunt. “And people like her shouldn’t be caring for animals.”

I wince as I hold the small kitten to my chest.

But before I can even say a word, Roman’s arm is around me. “What did you just say to her?”

“Look. I’m just calling it the way Iseeit.” Mike’s tone drips of self-importance, while I try to shrink into my dress. “Some of those animals were in real distress and here we are again.”

“None of them were in distress.” I argue. Thanks to Lucia’s help, all my patients had excellent care.

But Roman has the exact opposite reaction. “Is that how you see it?” he grits out.

“Yeah. It is.”

“Want to know how I see it?” The tension rolls off Roman in waves. “I see a little man with an even smaller mind.”

“You can’t talk to me like that,” Mike says back, his tone taking on a whining quality that grates.

“You thought she was someone you could belittle to make yourself feel better.”

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