Page 41 of The Doctor

I went on high alert as Nick answered the phone.

“Hello” His body stiffened almost immediately. “What’s the matter?”

That made me tense up even more. “What’s going on?”

Nick held up his hand. “Breathe Bex. Where are you?” There was a long silence as Nick nodded. “You did the right thing. That’s exactly how I would’ve played it.”

Not being in the know was beginning to agitate me further. “What the fuck is going on?”

Nick gave me a glare, indicating I needed to be quiet. He blocked the ear that didn’t have his phone attached to it, as if trying to tune me out. “He’s not going to be happy. Yes, I will be with him.” More fucking nodding and no speaking. “I don’t think he’s that good of an actor, but hopefully he’ll be sufficiently pissed to pull it off. Yes. See you later. Love you, too. Bye.”

“What is going on?”

Nick pointed to the couch behind me. “Sit down.”

Fortunately, the safe house came fully furnished, even if I intended to buy it, so I had options on where to sit.

Reluctantly, I did as I was told. “What the fuck is going on?”

“First.” Nick took the armchair next to the couch. Far enough so I could not lash out at him, which was very fucking tempting in all the silence. But close enough he could stop me from bolting. Which I had a suspicion was what I needed to do.

“Okay. I’m sitting. You’re sitting. Now talk.”

“Dom’s fine. The bullet grazed his arm. And the second bullet didn’t get anywhere near him, thanks to Bex pushing him to the ground.”

“Bullet?” I breathed in deeply and then took several seconds to exhale. “You have to mean he stepped in front of a bullet in some sort of freak way. Because he was at the fucking policestation. Surrounded by people whose job it is to serve and protect. How the fuck did that happen?”

Nick shook his head. “I know this is pointless, but try to calm down.” He leaned his elbows on his thighs. “I will tell you more as soon as I’m certain you are able to hear the rest of the story.”

“There’s more?” Oh fuck. “You said the bullet grazed his arm. That means he’s going to be alright.” I stood. “Is he at the ER? We should go.”

“Sit down.” There was no room for argument in Nick’s tone. Which was too bad.

“I can’t just sit here Nick. Someone shot at my kid. They could come back. He could still be in danger—”

“If he is in danger, then he has the best people protecting him. Bex is one of the best in the business. We both know that?”

“And he has a father who knows how to patch up a bullet wound with minimal scarring. I should be there.”

“For now, Lo, you’re going with me to the morgue.” He leaned back in the chair, knowing he had my full attention. “We want everyone to think you’re there to identify Dom’s body. We need the world to believe Dom died in that shooting.”

“Why?” What kind of cloak and dagger shit were they involving Dom in? “What’s the plan here?”

“News has gone out that Dom was killed in a drive-by shooting at the police station.” Nick didn’t look the least bit concerned. “I’m guessing you will have eyes on you when you arrive at the hospital. Dom has been taken to SD Memorial and will be treated there. I could explain the logistics of it all, but does it really matter? Bex will bring him back here. And once we’re sure you don’t have a tail, you’ll meet them at the house.”

My heart dropped. Dom had been through so much already. What else would he need to endure to have a free life? The kind of life Bex and I wanted for him. The one Dorian and ElizaBayers offered him. “We need to get the other kids from your mother. He’s going to want his brother and sister tonight.”

Nick nodded. “That is part of the plan. We will go to the morgue and then pick up Landon and Victoria. I will get my dad to drive around the perimeter of the farm before we leave to make sure no one is watching us.”

“What is the plan then? To live in hiding forever?”

“You know that’s not the case.” Nick frowned as if disappointed in me. But I didn’t care. “The trial will go forward as usual. The suspects had no idea Dom had already identified them. Now that they know, they’ll want to confirm he’s dead. Hopefully the state will make an arrest before any of that can happen. Dom’s death is just a smokescreen to keep him protected until the arrest is made. He still hasn’t done the cognitive interview, but now is not the right time. It will have to wait a while for him to be ready to be put through something like that.”

I thought I understood the plan, but I needed clarification on a few things. “And once those assholes are arrested? Dom never saw the driver, so he could still be in danger. What then?”

“We have considered that.” Nick looked to be thinking something though. “The driver can’t be identified. And if he plays his cards right, he’ll never be convicted of anything, really.”

“What do you mean?” Surely if he was part of that gang, he would need to be arrested, too. Surely.

---