Page 62 of Desperate Desires

There was another man flanking our rear, and I knew I had to say something. But I was still processing what he’d said.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but y-you can’t just do this. I can’t take the day or weeks off. I have to stay here!”

I was flabbergasted and ignoring the curious stares of my colleagues, peers, and patients alike as I followed the gorgeous man and his bodyguards through the hallway.

“You can. I talked to your attending and the president of the hospital. We gotta go, Doc. Should have left right away, but I got sidetracked by you in those fucking scrubs,” he said, and turned back to look at me over his shoulder with heat in his gaze.

“My scrubs? What the hell are you talking about? They are the most mundane, least sexy thing a person could ever wear,” I said and scoffed as I got on the elevator with him.

“I don’t know what kind of people you see every day, but trust me, you in those scrubs is hot as fuck. In fact, it’s making me think twice about whether or not the money I just donated to this place in your name was worth it. Maybe I should take it back. Buy you a clinic closer to home. Fuck.”

“Wait. What the hell are you talking about? You donated money?”

“Yeah, they’re gonna add a wing for you, a lab specifically for pediatric medical engineering.”

“You? They? What?”

“Well, they didn’t have one, and you mentioned you wanted to work in that field. But if you want something else, just let me know and I’ll tell them to change it,” he said like it was nothing at all.

The elevator started to drop, and I felt like my whole world had just turned all topsy-turvy.

Did Ono really do all that?

Did he give money to the hospital so I could have the specialty I wanted? Why?

“Wait. Stop!” I said, planting my feet firmly on the floor, as he pulled me towards a big SUV sitting right outside the elevator in the underground parking lot of the hospital.

“I don’t understand what is happening,” I said.

“Look, you know I was shot and that I’ve been trying to find the people behind the attack?”

“Yes. And I thought you succeeded?”

“I found some, but there is always someone higher, understand? There’s been a threat, and it mentioned people I’m close to. You specifically.”

“W-what kind of threat?”

“The kind that gets people killed, Michelle. Now, I need to protect you. I need it so everyone knows you are off limits, got it?”

“H-how do you do that?” I asked.

Fear flitted through me, and I knew it was my survival instinct kicking in. This time, I did not resist Ono when he pulled me close to his big, sturdy frame and opened the car door, lifting me by the waist into the seat.

“I make you untouchable,” he said, answering my question.

“How?” I asked.

My heart was pounding so hard inside my chest I thought it would burst right out of my skin.

“That’s easy, Doc,” he said, flashing those blue eyes at me and making me tremble.

“I make you my wife.”

Chapter 17-Ono

So far, so good.

At least that was what I thought when Michelle got in the SUV with me after my announcement.

---