Page 176 of The Reluctant Hero

The garage is open if the giant building that could house fifty cars can be called that. I can see at least three white SUVs inside. The driver doesn’t go into it. Instead, he circles to the entrance of the mansion.

There are two people standing on the steps leading to the house. I can’t escape the damnstairseverywhere.

My body tenses up as they watch the vehicle with tight, professional smiles.

“Doctors,meine Seele. Nothing to worry over. It’s all right,” Jake says with a frown.

The car slows to a stop, and Jake doesn’t hesitate to open the door and slide out. He quickly grabs the baton and offers me a hand to help me get out. I eye it warily and then meet his blank gaze.

“The good doctors will check you out. Are you feeling well enough for that?” His happy smile is back, but it’s fake.Allof his happiness has been fake. It’s the brief flashes that I’ve seen of him that are real. The monstrous aspects that I’m just beginning to understand.

It isn’t like I’m in any shape to make a break for it.

I slap my hand in his, grimacing as all the aches and pains clamor for my attention. He doesn’t pull me. His hand offers support for my stiffened muscles to use to stand. Sitting still for the extended drive has made everything start aching.

Jake steadies me as I get out, wobble, and move forward. My knee is starting to ache again, making me limp with gritted teeth. Jake wraps an arm around my waist to add more support.

“That’s not good,” a chuckling voice pulls a scowl from me. The younger-looking doctor sees it, and the smile falters. “I’m Dr. Fischer.”

“She needs privacy,” Jake interrupts in a dark tone with a hint of an accent. “You’ll see her in the study, and you won’ttouchher for this exam unless she gives you express permission.”

“R-right,” the doctor stutters and hurries into the house with his older counterpart following behind him.

“You will take little Jakob with you,” Jake mutters to me and hands me the baton.

“Jakob. The baton?” The Germanic pronunciation of Jacob is interesting. “Are you from Germany, Jake?”

“Deutschland,” he corrects me with a grin. “And yes, I was born there. A story for another time. I’ll bring you a fresh set of clothes to put on after the good doctor sees you. If he offers you medication for the pain, take it,meine Seele. I can tell that you’re hiding wounds from me.”

Look what he can’t force me to do.

Our eyes meet like two bulls locking horns in stubbornness. My enraged brown versus his serial killer blue.

“Then I will prepare you a medicinal bath instead,” he relents with narrowed eyes.

I’m not sure how to handle this version of him. I definitely can’t ignore him now. Who knows what he’ll do if I’m not paying attention?

“Can I speak to you for a second?” Cade says through gritted teeth. He’s talking to Jake and looks absolutely furious.

“I regret being the one to leave you,” Jake informs me with a smile that holds a lot of malice. “I wouldn’t have letanyonetouch you,meine Seele. If you believe nothing or no one else, you can believe that.”

I keep my mouth shut as I frown. I have a lot of questions, but it looks like the people who actually know him have a few as well.

“If you’re in doubt, I still have young Nicholas Hall in the basement.”

“Now,” Cade snaps and grabs his bicep to pull him away from me. Jake gives me a wink before he disappears around a corner with Mikael hot on his heels. Ace and Gabriel are the only ones left with me. I have no idea where to go.

“See if there’s a body in the basement,” Gabriel mutters to Ace. He’s trying to be quiet, but his voice seems to echo around us in the empty cavernous entrance.

“No,” Ace snaps back. “I’m not leavin’ her.”

I try not to roll my eyes at that. When I fail, I see the doctor waiting in front of an open doorway. I don’t hesitate to join him. The door closing quietly behind me lets my shoulders droop with relief.

“Let’s take a look,” the doctor says with a pained smile. The other doctor asks me to remove as much clothing as I feel comfortable with and offers me a hospital gown.

I look at the professional gear they have gathered in the room and decide to let them take a crack at all my issues. They leave for me to get changed and come back in as soon as I give them the all clear.

Halfway through the exam, they look horrified, and the older one quietly asks me if any of them did this to me. I’m confused about the question.

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