Page 73 of Doc

Giving him a gentle smile, I reach for his hands, squeezing them in mine. “Well, as crazy as it all is, I’m glad for him. We wouldn’t be here without all that. So, as sorry as I am that you had to deal with that, I’m happy to be here with you.”

“Me, too.”

I lean forward and kiss him softly. “Thank you for telling me all that, baby. I’m sorry your parents suck, but that doesn’t change my mind. I still want to go to the charity dinner with you, and we’ll face them together.”

“Thank you, Daddy. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

I brush another kiss against his mouth. “Anything for you, baby.” TheI love youis silent, but if the glimmer in his amber eyes is any indication, we both hear it.

“Come here, baby,” Soren orders in a soft tone.

I ignore him and continue my pacing, the antsy, jittery feeling running underneath my skin is almost too much for me to take. I hate this, knowing the people I consider friends are preparing to rush into danger, and all I can do is sit here and prepare to put them back together again should the worst happen.

I knew what I was signing up for when I said yes to Cristian’s offer. I lived through a brush with death, and am very aware of what happens to those who disobey the rules Cristian and Tennant have laid down. I chose to stay because, at twenty, I was looking for a way out of the life I’d found myself in. They offered me that and more.

So, being here, knowing the men who gave me my new life are risking theirs, it’s a hard pill to swallow at times. Time andunderstanding doesn’t make it better. Honestly, I think working on so many men, seeing the horrors of what could happen to a person, has made the anxiety worse.

Soren steps in my path, halting my pacing. “Stop, Doc,” he says gently, reaching for me.

I move back, not wanting him to touch me when my nerve-endings are already a livewire.

“Now isn’t the time, Soren.”

“You mean it isn’t the perfect time to stay still and breathe? You’re working yourself up and you're only going to make it worse, you know that.”

I glare at him. “Don’t act like you know me, Soren.”

He steps closer. Despite me trying to back away again, he doesn't allow it. “The thing is,Ashby…” he says as he moves in and sets a hand on my hip. “I do know you. I’ve spent months getting to know what an irritating, salty bastard you are. I also know how much you care about the people you’re closest to, so I know this is killing you because you can’t do anything to help.”

Pressing against me, Soren looks up into my eyes and my breath catches at the intensity of his gaze.

“But you know, being here, ready to jump in and keep them alive, prepared to do anything and everything that's asked of you, thatisimportant, Doc. So let me help you hold yourself together for a moment, until you’re needed. Let me take care of Ashby, so Doc can do his thing when he needs to.”

I smile at the ridiculous man in front of me. “How is it you know me so well in such a short period of time?”

“It’s what good Daddies do. Now, down on your knees.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

It’s easy to lower myself to the ground, even though I’ve tried to keep my distance here in the office since the day Roman walked in on us. It's even easier to rest my head against Soren’sthigh, my tension and muscles easing when he places a hand on my head, fingers threading through my hair.

“That’s a good boy,” he whispers. “You know you’ll be punished later for not listening to your Daddy the first time, or calling a safeword.”

Letting out a shuddering breath, I nod against him. “I know, Daddy. I’m sorry.”

“I know, baby. Now, shh. Rest here for a moment.”

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and relax, trusting him to take care of me.

Multiple gunshots soundthrough the speakers on Hollis’s computer and he curses, even as he follows Roman and Tennant on the cameras in the Manassero home.

“Roman, you stupid fucking idiot,” he mutters.

I don’t bother paying attention to the screen where Roman is running down the hall with his death wish in full force. Instead, I focus on the one showing Jude Manassero.

The camera quality is clear, but the angle is shit. Though it’s not hard to see he’s barely hanging on, clutching the desk behind him like it’s the only thing holding him up.

I hate being on this side of things, but no matter how many times Cristian tries to convince me it’s not a good idea to watch with Hollis and Leandro, staying in my office, waiting for the bodies to show up, would be worse.

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