Page 17 of Dying for the Doctor

Keep her with me until it’s safe.

Twenty-four hours should do it.

That means the rest of today and all of the night.

Motel might work. This is Vegas, and there are a bunch of places that don’t ask for ID or credit cards, places that might even overlook a blood-spattered doctor carrying a drugged-up woman in his arms. But no way I’m taking my sweet angel to some seedy Vegas motel. Besides, if the cops do find me there, it’s going to look pretty fucking sketchy.

“As if it doesn’t look sketchy as hell already,” I growl to myself, speeding past my exit, then taking the bypass and heading west, away from my clinic because I can’t go there right now.

There’s only one place where I can go right now, and although it’s the third place the cops will come looking for me, it’s my best chance to stay hidden until the morning.

Until my plan goes into effect.

So I gun the engine of my BMW, grinding my teeth as I prepare for the inevitable argument that’s going to erupt when I pull into that driveway and pull out my precious cargo.

But I’ve done enough dirty work for the guy. Now it’s his turn to cover for my dirty deeds.

After all, he is my Dad.

8

DRAKE

“I’m not your Dad. No way I gave birth to somebody as fucking stupid as you, boy.”

Dad thunders after me as I carry Wanda up the ornate spiral staircase that’s ugly as sin in its gaudy lavishness. I always hated this house, but right now it’s the safest place in the city for me and Wanda.

“Is somebody after her?” asks Dad from behind me as I head for one of the ten bedrooms. “What are you keeping her safe from?”

“From the world.” Carrying my sleeping beauty into the farthest bedroom away from my parents and brothers, I place her gently onto the queen-sized bed. Carefully I unwrap Wanda from the hospital blanket and tuck her beneath the big fluffy comforter. When I’m satisfied that she’s comfortably resting, I shut Dad up with a vicious glare, then lead him out into the hallway so we can argue without waking Wanda.

“Answer the question, Drake.” Dad’s jaw is so tight it might snap. He’s about an inch shorter than I am, but much heavier. Not all of it is muscle, but a good chunk of it most certainly is. I’ve been on the receiving end of his fists before, but that was years ago. Dad isn’t dumb enough to take a swing at me now. “You bring some drugged-up chick to my house like you’re on the run. From whom, exactly? What the hell, kid?”

Running my hand feverishly through my hair, I rip off my blood-stained lab-coat and toss it onto the marble tiles. Two quick breaths, then I spill it all to Dad.

Every last detail. Well, not the private details with Wanda, but everything else. Lenny and the window. Carrying Wanda out of the hospital. All of it. Including my ridiculous plan to sort it all out.

Dad takes it all in. Then he rubs his goatee and groans.

“So let me get this straight,” he says, shaking his head and grimacing like he’s in mental pain. “You basically kidnapped this woman from the hospital even though she isn’t in any danger. Nobody’s trying to hurt her, but you—”

“Lenworth tried to hurt her!” I bellow, my fists clenching at the memory of that snake Lenny lifting my precious angel’s gown. “I’m never letting Wanda out of my sight again. Never, you hear me? Never, Dad. Never!”

Dad’s eyes widen and he takes a step back away from me. He’s quiet for a long moment, then suddenly he cracks a huge grin. “Holy shit, kid. You’ve got it bad, haven’t you. Hell, I didn’t think you had that beast in you, buddy. You were always the good boy, the straight-laced kid who didn’t get drunk and didn’t get into trouble like your brothers.” He shrugs, chuckles, then shakes his head and sighs. “You know, I always regretted pulling you into the Family Business. Wish I hadn’t, but after I got you to do that first kill, it was too late.” He takes a breath, rumbles it out, his blue eyes shining with a glint of what looks suspiciously like pride. “But it turned out to be the right choice to manipulate you into killing for us.”

“Wait, first you tell me you regret turning me into a killer. Now you’re congratulating yourself?” Shaking my head in disbelief, I turn away from Dad. “No wonder I’m off my rocker. It runs in the damn family.”

Dad howls with laughter, clapping me hard on the back as I try to pull away from him. “So does being a possessive psycho,” Dad says, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug. “Hell, that’s how I got started in this business, son.Broke a guy’s neck for slapping your mama’s ass back when we’d just started dating. Fucking beat him to death outside the strip-club where your mama worked. Couple of local mafia guys saw the whole thing go down. They liked the fire in my blood, got me started with my own crew. It’s fate, son. Destiny. You know what I mean?”

Dad turns me towards the closed bedroom door, beyond which my fate lies peaceful and safe. He’s still got his heavy arm around my shoulder, his grizzled old face beaming with fatherly pride. The whole thing feels surreal, but right now the surreal is more real than reality.

“Go take care of your woman, son.” Dad gestures with his head towards the closed bedroom door. “And I’ll take care of everything else.” He watches me thoughtfully as I slowly push open the bedroom door. “You sure about this plan, kid?”

Stopping at the threshold, I look over at Wanda nestled in my bed. There’s no doubt in my heart, and I glance at Dad and nod.

“All right then,” he says quietly. “I’ll get one of the guys to drive your car back to the city and leave it in a public parking lot. And if the cops come knocking, I’ll tell them to go fuck themselves.”

Dad walks away still grinning. I watch him go down the stairs, wait for his footsteps to fade, then turn back to my sleeping beauty, my slumbering princess, my always and forever, my fate and destiny.

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