Page 8 of Consequences
“First, I need to say something. I’m sorry that I made it seem like you didn’t know what you were doing. That was not my intention. I know you’re a great doctor, and my comments weren’t an insult to you.” I grimace, hoping that doesn’t sound as stiff as I think it does. “I don’t trust other doctors easily, and that’s no excuse, just a fact. I’ve been looked down on many times by our colleagues, because I don’t work in a hospital or at a regular clinic. I’m not a forerunner in our field, and well, I suppose I get a bit testy over it.”
She raises a brow. “A bit? You questioned my decisions, and I could have lost someone very close to me because of it.”
I wince, hoping my regret over the situation shows on my face. Kail doesn’t say anything, or elbow me, and neither doesJames, so maybe I’m not fucking this up completely. “That wasn’t my intention, and never would be. As I said, I’ve been there and know how it feels. I will say, I need you to trust me more. Yes, I made a stupid joke in the moment that didn’t go over well, but I do know what I’m doing. So does my staff. The way we handle stress in that office is through sarcasm. I realize you don’t know us, but we wouldn’t have let him die.
“I might not have all this,” I gesture to the office, and hospital in general, “but Idohave connections. One of the best trauma surgeons is a former med school classmate, and we have…a mutual understanding.” More like I saved Murry’s ass, and that of his sister, and now we use each other to our advantage. “I wasn’t kidding about the collapsed lung thing. We have dealt with that on our own before, and until De Luca was blown up recently, he lived good as new.
“But if I’d had Emilio’s full prognosis, I would have called my contact, and he would have come with a minion or two to help us. I was testy because I was wrist deep in the guts of one of my best friends. Had you explained what you were seeing, I would have had a different tune when I assured you that we could handle it, but I thought I was doing you a favor by allowing you to work on him… I was wrong. We were both too close to our patients.”
Her steely gray gaze burns a hole into mine and I swallow, hoping she’s not about to kick us out, and insist on taking Emilio back to the Martelli mansion. Cristian would kill me if I fucked up our relationship with the Martellis.
“Don’t let it happen again,” she finally says. “You’re right in that we need to trust each other. With how large our Families are, there will be more instances in which we’re both needed. We have to be able to work together. But I won’t hesitate to put you in check if you ever disrespect me and my choices again.”
I choose my words very carefully, as I can’t promise that, but… “I promise to listen more closely. Though, maybe the sharing of information needs to be more open. I didn’t know what was going on because I wasn’t the one treating him. If I was, I would have had Murry called in to assist. The hospital will never be my first choice, and I need you to respect that. Any additional assistance can come to us—if not, then we don’t need them. We’re better than these germ infested cesspools. Once Cristian renovates my office, nothing will be beyond our abilities.”
She doesn’t look as convinced. “I was a bit…highly strung in the situation, and yes, I didn’t communicate the dire state he was in. That’s something we’ll have to work on. I won’t agree to no hospital, though. My people are good at their jobs.”
“So are mine,” I cut in, earning a withering glare from her. “You’ll see when we have Emilio back at the house. I have no problem calling in experts, but hospitals ask too many questions.”
She grimaces, unable to argue with that point. “Yes, moving Lio will be…a finely tuned dance, as we are essentially breaking him out against the advice of all his doctors.”
I roll my eyes. “I know how that goes. But we got this.”
“I won’t be undermined or insulted,” she warns.
I huff. “This is where the trust starts, Sarah. I gave you my word that I’ll listen to you; and you’ll actually communicate your needs more, before rushing someone off to this place. Or did you want to punish me? My Daddy already spanked me for being caustic, but my ass can handle more strikes.” Said ass seems to protest as I have to shift in my seat again, the deep bruising across the flesh of my backside and thighs not the most pleasant to sit on. “Or would you like to see how he’s…teaching me some humility?”
I’d rather not have Kail and James know my current predicament, but it wouldn’t be a good punishment if it didn’t stick with me.
“That’s…unnecessary,” Sarah says slowly. “Let’s work on how to get Lio out of here. I’m sure everyone will rest easier once he’s somewhere they can access him.”
“I hope you’re right. I thought your Boss was going to kill me when I couldn’t answer his questions.”
“I am sorry about that. He’s rather protective of his Boys. Lio having his heart makes the situation even more fragile.”
Sure, we’ll go with that. He’s lucky I didn’t drug him and knock his ass out at the same time I was administering the antibiotics.
Leaning forward, ignoring the way the movement creates a full bladder sensation, and my cheeks heat because the need to pee is real. Hopefully, no one asks why I’m so squirmy.
Dr. Ranlen and I begin outlining a plan for not only breaking Emilio out of the hospital, but also his continued care. That she’s no longer glaring at me with those steely eyes of hers is hopefully promising that we can once again be friends. I don’t have many of those in this profession, outside my staff and Daddy. Having her around has been nice, and I’d like to keep her, especially since untangling our Families isn’t going to be as easy as the Bosses think.
Good thing I don’t have to be part ofthatconversation.
It doesn’t take me too long to find the room Benjamin is likely hiding in—even if the staff were less than helpful. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tennant had handed out my picture with clear instructions on not allowing me into places. Too fucking bad. I need to check in with the man who carried my heart for so long. He may have given his to someone else, but he never fully returned mine.
Stepping inside the library, I hear his muted cries as I walk toward him. He’s curled into a ball, almost hidden in the large, overstuffed chair. It’s definitely a good sized library, and I understand why he chose to come here. There’s always something soothing about being around books. I stop a few feet away from the chair, cautious since I’m not sure where I stand.
“Little Mouse, what can I do for you?” At my question, he cries harder, and I curse myself as I rush forward, placing a handon his back. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I mean, Benjamin, what can I do for you?”
Benjamin shakes his head and I go to stand, unsure what the fuck to do. Before I can unfold myself fully, I suddenly have Benjamin in my arms. I fall backward on the floor, protecting him from hitting the ground himself. He doesn’t seem to notice as he wraps himself tighter around me. We stay there for a long time, with me rubbing his back and murmuring nonsense, until his tears finally run dry and his breathing evens out. My ass is numb, my heart hurts, as I know at least half of those tears are for the man who now holds his heart, but I never want to let him go of the safety in my arms. Even though it’s likely too soon, I know I love Roman, but it seems part of me still belongs to my Little Mouse.
“I never minded being your Little Mouse,” he murmurs, and my breath catches.Does he fucking know he’s killing me?“I’m so terrified. They said he died. I don’t know what to do without Lio. And…I know it’s unfair to you, but I’m scared for Tennant.”
“I don’t want you to say that again,” I respond harshly, before gently grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at me. “I wouldn’t have tracked you down if I didn’t care. I know you’re scared about Tennant. Fuck. I remember when Jax finally let you go, but kept me in that damn room, taunting me. I had no clue whether he really let you live or not. I knew I didn’t want to live if you didn’t make it out.
“I know you love Tennant. So, fuck yes, it’s terrifying, and you can tell me about it. We both fell apart because we stopped seeing each other. Neither one of us talked afterward, we both turned our backs and ran, because it was easier. I need you to promise me something…”
Benjamin stares at me, those penetrating sea green eyes of his so wide, they almost take my breath away, before he finally nods. “What is it?”
