Page 111 of Toxic Salvation
“I’m stepping down from the board of directors.”
Wait. What?
I spin around to stare at Jeremy. There is no way that the man is stepping down of his own accord. One glance his way and I start to see his pale clamminess and his profuse sweating in a different light.
“Effective immediately, I will no longer be board president. In fact, the hospital is going through a complete overhaul. The entire board is being replaced.”
“Theentire board?” someone asks. “But why?”
Jeremy consults his flashcards again. “The why of it isn’t important. All I can say is that a new infusion of blood is in the best interests of this hospital.”
New infusion of blood.I almost snort. If only they knew what kind of blood Jeremy’s been trafficking.
“A new board is being vetted as we speak. You will have their names by the end of the week. Any major decisions concerning this hospital and how it’s run will be undertaken by the new board members.” He consults his cards again, sweat dripping into his eyes. If I didn’t know exactly what he did to deserve this unceremonious send-off, I’d almost feel sorry for the bastard. “I wish you and this hospital all the best.”
He doesn’t really sell that last sentiment, but I find myself applauding anyway, starting up a smattering of claps that dies down almost as soon as I start it up.
Not that I care. No one else here will know why this is cause for celebration, but I certainly do. In fact, I think I know who to thank as well.
Unfortunately, it’s gonna have to wait until after my surgery.
Which is just as well. Because the thank you I have in mind is going to take time.
And it’s definitely going to require me to scrub in again.
Note to self: Don’t jump into your man’s arms in the middle of a briefing with all his men.
Hardened mafia men though they may be, there will be blushing. And whistles. And catcalls. And the odd cheer from some of the bolder Bratva soldiers.
I hear a “you go, boss” along with a “hell yeah!”
“Sorry.” I wince, removing my arms from his shoulders. “I probably should have waited until you were done.”
Kovan remains composed as he keeps one arm wrapped around my waist. “It’s okay. We’re almost finished here anyway.” He looks up at his men. “You have your orders. Go.”
I watch the cheeky grins as they file out of Kovan’s office. The last two to leave are Pavel and Osip, both of whom are smirking before the door closes.
“Did I embarrass you?” I ask.
“You could never embarrass me,” Kovan assures me. “To what do I owe this very pleasant assault?”
I tell him about Jeremy’s announcement this morning at St. Raphael’s. “… I’m assuming I have you to thank for that?”
He’s quiet for a while before he answers. “Jeremy proved himself to be worse than useless,” he says by way of explanation. “So, I replaced him and his entire board with men and women who will be far easier to work with.”
“How easy are we talking?”
He shrugs. “Well, considering that I’m now head of the board, I’d say pretty easy.”
My jaw falls wide open. “Youare head of the board of directors for St. Raphael’s?”
“What better way to keep the Keres at bay than controlling the whole hospital?” he muses. “This way, I can keep an eye on things and I can keep the hospital safe.”
“You mean you can keep an eye onme.”
He doesn’t bother denying it. “Everything worked out, wouldn’t you say?”
I don’t give him the satisfaction of agreeing quite yet. “What about the other members of the board?”
