Page 91 of In the Light of Sin

“I… understand his concerns.” He was sweating, obviously nervous about Sarge’s promise. It wasn’t a threat. Sarge didn’t make those. “I’ve never had someone die from complications.”

I’ve been doing my own research, but I got so many answers from the internet, and I didn’t know if people were being truthful with the potential side effects. “What are the complications?”

“You could develop vertigo, swelling, or the device not work the first time around. Which is no big deal. We can always adjust to make it work for you.”

“So… you’re just putting a magnet in my head that connects to the thing in my ear that doesn’t work, and it amplifies the sound?”

“In simple terms? Yes. I won’t bore you with the medical jargon.” Probably a good idea. I wouldn’t understand anything he said. Throughout the years, all things medical went in one ear and out the other. They needed a translator for people who had low comprehension. “The wire would cochlea and deliver signals to your auditory nerve. Compared to hearing aids, which only amplify sounds.”

I frowned. “So this won’t fix my hearing?”

“You don’t need fuckin’ fixed,” Sarge hissed from my left, but he was ignored as Dr. Regal had a sympathetic look on his face.

“No, it won’t. It’s just a way for you to hear more comfortably and, hopefully, clearer.” He sighed regrettably. “With your hearing loss being as profound as it is and seemingly getting worse with the information you’ve told me, hearing aids might not be as effective as they once were for you.”

I knew that. It was getting more difficult to understand what people were saying with them in. I had to rely mostly on lip-reading lately, which was easy to pass off since I enjoyed face-to-face conversations. I looked to my left, Sarge’s head looking right at the nervous doctor. “So you’re saying this surgery is my best chance of hearing somewhat normally?”

He nodded. “I am.”

I blew out a shaky breath, shivering as Sarge’s fingers dug into my hair. He was massaging the back of my head, forcing me to calm down and focus on his touch rather than this life-altering decision. I looked over to Sarge, the man I trusted the most in this world. “What do you think I should do?”

“Don’t you dare ask me.” He shook his head, his words a gravely baritone. “There’s nothin’ wrong with you. I wouldn’t change a goddamn thing about you. If this is what you want, then you do it. But don’t you dare ask my opinion for something regarding your body other than makin’ that sweet pussy of yours come. This is your decision, not mine.”

Dr. Regal coughed uncomfortably, but all I could do was stare at the man sitting next to me. That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting from him. He took control of everything, and I guess I assumed this would be just another thing. I knew he told me I didn’t need to be fixed. My mind was jumbled, back and forth on my decision. I turned back to the flushed doctor, who was still not over the sexual comment, as I opened my mouth to tell him—

The door was kicked open. A man in a three-piece black suit walked in the doorway, straightening up his tie as he approached the table. His beard was a slight stubble, and his brown hair was slicked back. His eyes went from Sarge to me, silently telling me to stay quiet and let him do his thing. “Trevor?”

“Later,” he told me before turning to my very confused audiologist. “Dr. Regal. I’m here on behalf of my client, Miss Monroe.” I blinked. What was happening?

The doctor was as confused as I was. “Why would she need a lawyer for a surgery consultation?”

“You’ll find out in a minute.” He was calm as he slammed his briefcase on the table, scattering papers everywhere. He opened the suitcase, pulling out a piece of paper before handing it to the doctor. His eyes scanned the paper, his skin paling with each word he read.

“How—“

“How did I get this information since you paid people to wipe it off your record?” Trevor cut him off with a shrug. “Apparently, you’re not well-liked.” His eyes narrowed, not taking offense to that. Dr. Regal has always been kind to me. Hearing that he was disliked was new to me. “You read my demands, do you agree?”

Through gritted teeth, Dr. Regal couldn’t fight back. “Anything else?”

“Yeah.” Trevor tugged his tie, loosening it around his neck before going in for the kill. “Fuck you.”

“You’re a lawyer. You can’t say ‘fuck you.’”

“Oh.” Trevor looked bored. “Fuck off. Is that any better?”

What was with Trevor? He’s been a calm presence in my life, rarely showing anything but simple emotion except when Claudia and Oakley were involved. You didn’t mess with his girls, or he’d show you just how ruthless he could be. But that was rare. I knew he was on edge lately because of V’s interest in Oakley, and I didn’t know what was happening behind closed doors, but seeing him like this was new.

“You can’t come here and threaten me in my practice,” Dr Regal seethed, standing up threateningly from his seat. The paper Trevor handed him still in his clutches as his fists shook. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

“Yeah? And I’m sure your wife will love the boob job you bought your receptionist, who, by the way, tried to show me them when I asked where this meeting was taking place.” Dr Regal’s face paled. Trevor looked triumphant as he continued. “She’s lucky my wife wasn’t here. She would’ve popped them.”

The doctor’s hands slammed on the table, and his face was so red I thought it was going to pop off his head. Trevor snapped his briefcase, signifying the end of this out-of-the-ordinary surgery consultation. “Fuck off.”

“This is my office—“ Sarge stood up, his body towering over Dr. Regal, who was clearly intimidated by his size. He was always the biggest, most commanding body in the room. Dr. Regal’s throat bobbed before he scurried from behind his desk and towards the door, not even bothering to look back at us. “Have a nice day.”

He rushed out of the room, leaving the three of us behind. I blinked, staring blankly at the door he had just run out of.

What the hell just happened?

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