Page 86 of Lords of Ruin: Cherished

Dr. Patel sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Is this supposed to intimidate me?”

Vincent steps forward, his gaze sharp, deadly serious. “No. It’s to make sure you understand something very clearly.”

"We have something for you and Willow," Cast announces, slamming the cooler on the empty hospital bed. I smile at the force of it, at the way the doctor jumps.

Dr. Patel’s breath hitches as she stares at the cooler. She glances between us, her professional mask slipping for the first time. “Tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”

Vincent exhales sharply, scrubbing a hand down his face. “It is.”

Her gaze flickers to the locked door, then back to us. “Where the hell did you get a donor heart?”

Cast leans against the door. “Does it matter?”

Dr. Patel glares at him. “Yes, it does! Because if this is stolen?—”

“It’s not,” I cut in, my voice low, firm. “It’s a match for Willow. That’s what matters.”

She hesitates, her fingers flexing over her clipboard like she wants to throw it at one of us. “You don’t justfinda perfect match.”

Vincent’s gaze darkens. “We did.”

Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak.

I take a step forward growling."This heart goes into Willow in the next hour, or I'll personally ensure your career and life expectancy both end tonight."

"I can't just—" Dr. Patel chokes out, her eyes wide with fear.

"Sure you can," I say, leaning in next to Vincent. "And you will. Or should I tell Cast to squeeze harder?"

Cast grabs her by the hair, yanking her head down.

"I'm sorry, you don't know who I am," he whispers, but loud enough that we can all hear. "I am Juan Castillo, head of the cartel that runs the underworld of the entire south. Your children—Maria and Tomas—they're at piano practice right now with that instructor on Maple Street, aren't they? My men are parked outside. One text from me changes everything."

I pull out my phone, making a show of hovering my thumb over the screen. "Just say the word, Cast. I've got Mateo on standby."

Vincent steps forward, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Please. Willow means everything to us."

Good cop, bad cop, worse cop. We've always worked well together.

Dr. Patel's face is chalk white as Cast finally releases her. Her hand trembles as she reaches for the cooler.

"Third floor surgery," she whispers. "I'll prep Willow immediately."

Before she can take the cooler, Cast grabs her wrist. I step closer, blocking her escape route.

"If she dies, you die," Cast says quietly. "If she wakes up and isn't the same, your children suffer. Do we understand each other?"

Dr. Patel nods frantically, tears welling in her eyes.

Cast releases her with a shove. "Good. Now move."

As Dr. Patel hurries away with the cooler, I feel a rush ofsatisfaction. This is how you get things done in a world that wants to let people like Willow die waiting on some list.

"Think she got the message?" I ask Cast, adjusting my jacket.

Cast straightens his cuffs with that cold precision I've always admired. "Love makes monsters of us all."

"Not monsters," I correct him with a smile. "Just people willing to do what needs to be done.”

---