10. Reed #2
“I told you to only call if it’s an emergency,” the voice snaps on the phone.
Burton winces. “I know, but if you want more people on your side, more money, then you need to make connections! I have a doctor here, Reed Bellamy, who doesn’t believe that the syndicate is real.”
“And what can Dr. Bellamy do for my cause?” Brooks challenges. “You’re supposed to be gathering actual fucking supporters, Langford. Don’t make me release—”
Burton slaps his hand over the speaker before turning away from me.
His voice is a harsh whisper as he tries to block me from hearing.
“Please, Brooks. Those files can’t see the light of day.
Yes, I know, but Reed would be an asset to have on your team.
Think of the free medical care from a professional… ”
Okay, I’ve definitely heard enough.
I have no idea what files my boss is talking about, and part of me doesn’t think I want to know. He’s offering my services for free to this total stranger, and I’m not comfortable with that.
“Burton—” I go to stop Langford from embarrassing himself further until Brooks says something that makes me stop cold.
“He could be a fucking spy for Thalia Kingsley. That woman shouldn’t be underestimated.”
I don’t think as I lunge forward and rip the phone from Burton’s hands. My glare could cut fucking glass as I squeeze the device tightly in my fist. “Keep her name out of your fucking mouth.”
There’s a low, condescending chuckle from Brooks. “You have no idea who Thalia is. Let the adults talk while you tend to your patients, Doctor.”
I turn my back on Burton, whose face has drained of all its color as he stares horrified at me. “You could have killed her,” I seethe.
Brooks hums distractedly. “Oh, yeah? Why don’t you ask your patient about our time together?”
The world around me ceases to exist as I become entirely focused on not losing my cool on the man who hurt Thalia.
“Have you heard the little sounds she makes when she’s about to cum? It’s like music to my fucking ears.” He goads connivingly.
I didn’t attend Harvard Medical School to be riled by some insecure, narcissistic shithead. But when someone goes low, I go to fucking hell.
“Little sounds?” I ask, tilting my head. “Is that all you could get out of her?”
“You have no idea who you’re fucking with!” he grits.
“I admire your ability to be wrong with such enthusiasm, Brooks, but I know people like you. You think you have all the answers—just none of them are correct. Stay away from Thalia. I’ll be seeing you at the gala.” I hang up on him before handing the phone back to Burton. “He sounds lovely.”
The man snatches it. “What have you done?!”
“A favor, by the sound of it.” I shrug. “He’s bad news, Burton. It would be in your best interest to sever any ties you have with him. He shot someone and put her in the hospital—”
“She’s another assassin!” He rages, shaking his phone in front of my face. “I’m telling you, Reed! We want to be on the right side of this.”
“The right side?” I scoff. “I didn’t become a medical professional to watch senseless violence. This whole assassin business is complete bullshit and you know it—”
“Reed!” he pleads desperately. “You’ll see at the gala. Let me sway your thoughts.”
I lift my hands, washing them of this. “I’m done, Burton. I’ll be at your gala, but only so I can show you that this is some kind of scam.”
“What if it isn’t?” He asks, his chest rising and falling with his deep breaths. “What if I’m right? Then will you come to your senses?”
I snort, shaking my head. “Sure. I’ll pledge my allegiance to your ridiculous cause.”
There isn’t an ounce of truth behind my words, because this isn’t real. Burton is a fucking whack job if he thinks giving his endless cash supply to some criminal will get him anywhere. As I leave him in the hall, my mood remains just as sour.
I see patients with a smile, but nothing can distract from the chaos unfolding inside my head.
It’s clear that Brooks and Thalia had some kind of relationship. That doesn’t bother me. Her past is her past, but why would she give the time of day to such a…dick?
That’s the more polite way to describe him. Truthfully, I want to attend this gala all so I can fucking punch him in the throat for hurting Thalia. I don’t know why I’m riding so hard behind this, but the thought of him shooting her makes my blood boil.
It isn’t until my day is almost up that I finally take a step back and examine exactly what I’m doing.
I’m planning to fight a man over a woman who hasn’t even had the decency to call or reach out.
It’s not like I haven’t tried. I couldn’t find her socials, so she’s most likely under a different name, but for fuck’s sake!
She found my apartment. The least she could do is send me a text and let me know that she’s okay.
“You’re going to pop the IV bag if you keep squeezing it that tight,” Taryn muses as she sneaks up on me at my desk.
I slap the bag of fluids down beside me, grumbling. “Yeah, maybe then it will give me something exciting to do.”
She eases onto the chair next to me. “Still no word from your Mystery Girl?”
I tense at the nickname. “She isn’t my girl—”
“Pu-lease!” My friend smirks. “You haven’t stopped thinking about her, Reed. And you have this whole broody thing going on. You’re smitten.”
“I’m not smitten,” I grumble. “She’s ten years younger than me and has her whole life ahead of her.”
“Emma is eight years older than me,” she counters. “My point is that you should try harder to find her. I know you looked at her chart. Columbus is a day trip from here.”
Trust me. I know it is.
Taryn has always been able to read me, which is why she’s suggesting I find Thalia. Because she already knows what I’m planning.
“At least get your car back,” my friend shrugs as she opens her chart. “And maybe you’ll grow a pair and ask her out on a date.”
I sit back, sighing as I rub a hand through my scruff. “Weird question. Do you know any good barbers?”
She smirks. “I know a few. I’ll text you their info.”
There’s so much that can go wrong with this plan, but I can’t help my growing excitement.
Just thinking of seeing Thalia again has my heart pounding as we close out our charts and gather our things from the breakroom.
Taryn is discussing her next date with her wife as we stroll through the hospital.
I tap away on my phone, slightly distracted as I order an Uber.
“I want details,” my friend proclaims. “If you don’t go and scoop this woman up, I’ll spread the Dr. Dreamy fiasco all through the ER.”
I chuckle as we exit through the automatic doors. “I’ll give you details—” My sentence stops dead as my eyes adjust to the scene before me.
Waiting at the circular curb of the main road is my car.
It sits idle, the headlights illuminating the walkway as Thalia rests propped against the passenger door.
She looks stunning in all black—the dress she wears reaches her mid-thigh and clings to her figure, her legs are clad in fishnets that travel down to the chunky platform shoes she wears, and her hair is in a half-up, half-down style with her loose strands water falling over her shoulders.
She wears a thick leather jacket that stops at her waist and dark sunglasses over her eyes.
Taryn elbows me frantically. “Holy fuck!”
I’m stunned as I stare at the woman who hasn’t left my mind for a moment since we last met.
Thalia pushes her sunglasses up, revealing those pale, beautiful eyes as they light with recognition, and she smiles.
“Dr. Dreamy!” She waves her hand animatedly before motioning to my vehicle behind her.
“I brought your car back! I even put gas in it.”
Taryn slaps my arm, shunting me out of my shock. “Pick your jaw up and say something, Casanova!”
“H-how is your shoulder?” I stammer, my neck heating with embarrassment.
“Smooth,” Taryn snorts. “I’ll leave the two of you to catch up.” She waves to Thalia before dipping off into the parking garage.
The raven-haired woman smiles. “It’s perfect. See?” She moves her shoulder in a circular motion before beaming. “And it’s all thanks to you—”
“Where the fuck have you been?” I fully snap out of my trance, stalking over to her as the questions I’ve been sitting on push to the forefront. “Why the fuck did you leave against medical advice and why did you steal my car?”
Thalia’s lips twitch. “There’s the Reed I know. I had other matters to deal with.”
She says it as if it’s so…obvious.
I place my hands on my sides as I shake my head. “You broke into my apartment and…”
She points an accusatory finger at me. “You were sleeping.”
My brows hit my hairline as my lips thin. “Thalia, your initials are carved into my chest. Did you have to drug me?”
She tilts her head, blinking those big, beautiful eyes. “No, I guess I didn’t have to.”
“So you admit it,” I accuse.
“Oh, yeah,” she smirks. “I definitely did that.”
I rub a hand across my mouth, turning away from her in disbelief. I shake my head as I join her in her crazy delusion. “This is insane. Will you go out on a date with me?”
She blinks. “Wait, you’re not mad at me?”
“Oh, I’m furious,” I say in a disapproving tone. “But I can’t sleep with a woman without taking her out first. This is ass backwards, but at least let me get to know you.”
The corners of her mouth twitch before a full, breathtaking smile graces her face. It lights up her features, making my lips part at how dazzling she looks. “I am hungry. Eight hours is a long drive.”
I walk over to her, brushing past as I open the passenger door to my car and place a hand on the small of her back. “Then allow me.”
We get trapped in each other’s gaze, the air sparking between us in undeniable tension. It’s been there from the very start—fizzling and growing grander with every passing day. Taryn was right. I’m smitten with this woman.
“I’ve missed you,” Thalia whispers as her eyes bounce between mine. “Have you dreamed of me?” Her hand slides up the chest of my scrubs, and I bite the inside of my cheek.