Page 115 of Undeniably Enemies

I throw Wren a look. “I thought we said chicken parm. Is that not good?”

“Chicken parm is great.”

She rests her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her waist as we stroll through the gourmet shop she likes that’s near our building.

“You’re going to make garlic bread, right?”

I chuckle. “Did you honestly think I’d make you Italian without garlic bread?”

“I don’t know how you do things.”

I pinch her ass. “Yes, you do. At this point, you do. My girl likes garlic bread or really any kind of bread. If I ever made you food without it, I’d be in trouble.”

She spins and wraps her arms around my neck. “This is why I’m keeping you.”

I smile and bend down to kiss her. “Glad to hear it.”

“Well, well, well, Kincaid. Now I know why you wanted to keep me away from your med student. You were busy fucking her yourself.”

Wren and I jump back like two teenagers who just got caught. Because we did. By fucking Harrison Marshall of all people. Shit.Shit!

He’s smiling like the cat who just ate the canary, and why shouldn’t he be? He’s got me, and he knows it. His dark, beady eyes are practically gleaming in delight.

“I have to say, I didn’t think you were the type. You always seemed too by the book. So straitlaced.”

“You mean so unlike yourself,” Wren snaps, and while I loveher being protective in her way, it’s not going to help either of us right now.

“I’ve never done anything wrong.”

“You pinched my ass. Twice.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There was no such indiscretion. Unlike your teacher here. Fritz or not, this isn’t a good look for you either, though I don’t plan to drag you through the mud the way I will him.” He turns back to me. “I should thank you. You just handed me the chief position on a bright, shiny platter.”

“Even if I don’t get chief, that doesn’t mean you will.”

He laughs. “I think we both know that’s not true. It’ll be mine now for sure.” He gives me a long, loaded look. “You know, I never liked you. More than just because you’re a cocky asshole. You came in and all but took over with your Fritz connections and close ties with Callan. I can’t tell you how much I disliked you because of that. It only makes this sweeter for me because I’ll have your job and see you out on your ass when I’m chief. I told you I’m not someone to mess with.” He winks at me. “See you tomorrow at work, Dr. Kincaid. If you’re not fired before that.”

Smugly, he walks off, and I can’t say anything in return. Notfuck youoryou’re a piece of shitor anything. He has the upper hand, and this is going to look bad. I should have come clean about it weeks ago. I should have said something to Callan or to the board. I didn’t, and that’s on me. I figured I had time. I figured if I got the chief position, I’d disclose that then. And part of me, if I’m being totally honest, was worried that if I owned up to it, they’d automatically take me out of the running and I’d lose it.

But now I’ve lost it anyway.

And it looks like I was fucking Wren all this time, even when she was my medical student, which I wasn’t—not morethan that one weekend anyway—but that’s simply my word versus his.

“Jack?”

I turn and look at her.

“How bad is this for you?”

“I don’t know,” I admit honestly.

“Could you lose your job?”

“I doubt it. Even if he becomes chief, he can’t fire me without cause.” Though he can make my life a living hell until I quit. Or conjure up some bullshit cause. Not to mention this will be noted anytime my name is mentioned. It’ll be remembered, and I’ll be passed over for things like promotions or raises. I could move hospitals. I could go somewhere else, but the rumors will follow me. It seems like he’ll make sure of that.

“But chief?—”

“I won’t get chief now.”

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