Page 86 of Shadows of Recovery

Damon’s smile faded, his eyes boring into hers. "Good. I’ll be watching you, Dr. Kay. Make sure you don’t disappoint us."

With that, he turned and stepped out, leaving Kay trembling. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. She had to stay focused and cautious. This place was more dangerous than she had anticipated, and she needed to be careful about whom she trusted.

As she continued her tour of the clinic, the situation set heavily on her shoulders. She was in deep now, and there was no turning back. She had to find a way to navigate this treacherous environment while keeping herself safe and doing her job. Damn Tristan, this was all his and Sophie Everhart’s fault.

Returning to her office, she found Eleanor waiting. "Everything okay, Dr. Kay?" she asked, her concern evident.

Kay forced a smile. "Yes, everything's fine. Just getting familiar with the place."

Eleanor nodded. "If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Eleanor." Kay felt nauseated by that constant remark. It was sounding like a recording.

As she sat at her desk, Kay knew she had to tread carefully. Damon’s presence was a constant threat, and the stolen equipment was a ticking time bomb. She needed to find a way to survive here while protecting herself. For now, she had to play the role they expected, biding her time and gathering her strength for any future battles.

Damon returned, now with Emma, and stood at the door, the sinister smile on his face only heightening her anxiety. She knew he was the one who infected Sophie with syphilis. Now, with Emma expecting a baby, the stakes were even higher. Syphilis could have devastating effects on an unborn child, and she had to find a way to treat them both without arousing suspicion, as well as finding the source.

Thinking quickly, Kay forced a calm expression onto her face. “Damon, before you leave, I actually wanted to ask you and Emma a few questions,” she said, her voice steady. “It’s important for me to get a complete picture of your health history, especially with a baby on the way.”

Damon raised an eyebrow, intrigued but still suspicious. “What kind of questions?”

Kay took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “In medicine today, we’ve come light-years ahead from the past. It’s important I know family health history on both sides. I’d like to run bloodwork on you and Emma. It’s crucial to ensure that both parents are in optimal health to prevent any complications for the baby. Have either of you had prenatal—before birth— bloodwork?”

Emma, who had been quietly watching from the side, stepped forward. “We’re healthy, Dr. Kay. But if you think it’s important, we’re willing to do whatever it takes.”

Kay nodded, her mind working rapidly. “That’s great to hear, Emma. I’ll ask Eleanor what lab you send the bloodwork to.” She smiled tightly. “Eleanor,” she called.

Eleanor came into her office. “Yes, Doctor?”

“Could you take Mrs. Emma,” she adopted their style of dropping the last name, “into a room and draw some blood?” She handed her a list of tests, including orders to test for syphilis and other blood-carried sexually transmitted diseases.

Damon grabbed the list, read it and handed it back to Eleanor. He looked at Emma. “I’ll be there in a few minutes; I need to speak with Dr. Kay.” He kissed her cheek and rubbed her belly.

Kay swallowed the bile rising in her throat.What was I thinking?

When Emma was safely out of earshot, Damon’s expression darkened. “Are you suggesting we might have syphilis?”

She had writtenVDRL. Damon knew what it meant.

Kay shook her head quickly, trying to defuse his rising anger. “Not at all, Damon. But testing is standard practice to ensure both parents are screened. It’s a simple precaution that can make a huge difference. Also, if either of you have any symptoms—like sores, rashes, or unusual discharge—it’s best to get tested.”

Damon closed the door behind him. “Well, baby girl, you can see for yourself—no sores.” He dropped his pants and pulled his penis free.

Kay met Damon’s eyes. “Put your penis away and zip your fly.”

He cocked his head. “I’d rather put it away inside you.”

Kay decided to try a buzz kill. “If syphilis is detected early, it can be treated effectively with antibiotics, which will prevent any harm to the baby. The standard treatment is penicillin, which is safe for both you, Emma and the baby. Damon, I need to know your other sexual contacts to test and treat them.”

Damon tucked his penis in his pants and zipped his fly. His eyes narrowed, and he closed space on Kay, grabbing her throat. “Dr. Kay, no one tells me what to do. But for my baby, I’ll let you test me and treat me if necessary. And if Emma needs the shot, you’ll make up something and give it to her.” He let go of her but put his hand on her bottom. “Mmm, after the treatment, we’ll see how putting things away feels, baby girl.” He pulled her close and rubbed his erection against her.

Catching her breath, Kay gritted her teeth. “Please, Damon. Everything will be handled with the utmost discretion.”

He raised his brows and shook his head. With that, he turned and left the room.

Kay followed Damon out of the room. She could hear Eleanor talking to Emma in one of the nearby exam rooms. Through the gap in the curtain, she watched Eleanor draw blood from Emma and then from Damon.

Kay's determination to protect Emma and her unborn child solidified as she stepped into the room. She needed to ensure they were both healthy, and she had to do it without arousing suspicion.

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