Page 17 of The Chance

“Finally using your boytoy to your advantage?” He shifted. Blocked her again, keeping her trapped—him in front of her, Genny beside her, and the desk behind them all.

Aubrey was shivering from fear and adrenaline, but she didn’t back down. He leaned in, stepping closer. His eyes glinted with something dark—he liked her fear. He thrived on it. Men like him… were monsters. All of them.

She’d learned that lesson before she’d even learned to drive a car.

“You’re such a pig, Hodges. Are you okay, Aubs? You hit the counter pretty hard,” Genny asked, trying to squeeze aroundher. Aubrey shifted again, putting Genny behind her as best she could.

She could see a man standing near the entrance to the exam rooms. Genny’s older brother Gunn. She’d seen him earlier; the pastor was visiting someone in the back row of rooms. He was there. And right there—she could see a familiar red-haired man. Chad. Probably looking for Genny now—he had it bad for her, after all.

And there was Guthrie.

She’d admit it, seeing him, knowing how protective he and Gunn and Chad were over Genny, helped. It helped.

“I’m fine, Genny. Dr. Hodges was just leaving. We’ll deal with this in HR tomorrow morning.”

And if she had her way, Dr. Hodges would be finding somewhere else to work than BCGH. It just tore her up inside when she had to recommend firing anyone. She just hated disrupting someone’s entire life that way.

“Is this what Alvaro gets? You have some fire beneath that ice, after all?” The way he was looking at her absolutely disgusted her. Why was it with some men that whenever a woman was in charge, or succeeded, it was because of some sexual component with a man? Aubrey would never understand that. Ever.

She kept her eyes fixed on his, unflinching. “Get out, or you’re out of a job. Unless you want to take this up with Caine right now? Ask him that question personally?”

Dr. Hodges’s face twisted, and then—in an instant—his hand shot out. Wrapped around her arm. Aubrey still held the scissors from the box she’d been opening. Her fingers clenched instinctively.

“Get the hell out of my way.” He jerked her a little, cementing it—he’d be fired by tomorrow morning. She was going to make sure of it.

Genny reached for her arm. “Let her go.”

“Genny, stay out of it.”

Dr. Hodges ignored her, his eyes locked on Aubrey’s. He pulled her closer. Yanked the scissors from her hand, and then turned his attention to Genny. “Have you slept with him, Genny? Fields. Has he touched you?”

The room seemed to freeze in that moment. Before Aubrey could move, his arm swung out—scissors still in his hand. And he struck.

The force sent both Aubrey and Genny crashing into the intake desk. Pain exploded across Aubrey's back as she collided with the edge.

He grabbed Genny by her scrubs, pulling her up. Aubrey fought to push herself up.

People were screaming.

Genny tried to kick him. He struck out; scissors slashed again.

There was blood. Genny’s blood.

Terror seized Aubrey, freezing her in place for a heartbeat. Her head had hit the desk a little. It hurt. Stunned her. She could hear the shouts—Hadassa, Chloe, and others. Patients, too.

Everyone was yelling.

Guthrie and Gunn were there. They’d come, protect their sister.

Aubrey just knew they would. She fought, kicked.

Aubrey was beside Genny, both trying to get away. Genny’s elbow caught Aubrey in the face. But Dr. Hodges was still coming. Right there, almost on top of them. With the scissors still in his hand. And they were sharp. So sharp.

He sliced into the arm Aubrey raised to protect her face.

He was trying to get to Genny. Not just her.

Aubrey did the only thing she could—she grabbed Genny, trying to shield the smaller woman. Somehow.

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