Chapter 2 #2
A nurse walks past me, humming along to “Jingle Bells” as she stares at her phone. She doesn’t even glance in my direction. I’m a shadow. A ghost. Invisible, just like I need to be.
With the side of my body plastered against the wall, I crack the door. Blake’s pulled out a chair to sit next to Jessica at one of the tables. I can’t hear what they’re saying from out here, but I can read body language.
Blake curls her foot under her leg, and tucks a strand of escaped hair behind her ear. Totally casual and friendly-looking. She’s saying something—probably asking how Jessica’s doing, easing into the conversation with small talk.
Jessica looks up from her phone and offers a polite smile. Nods at whatever Blake’s saying.
So far so good. You got this, love.
Blake leans forward, resting on her elbows. I can’t see fully but it seems her features have changed… More concerned, less casual. I bet she’s bringing up the job now. Asking questions. Showing interest but also concern.
And just like that, Jessica’s body language changes.
Her shoulders tense. Her smile fades. She’s shaking her head, crossing her arms.
Defensive stance.
Shit.
My Angel’s trying so hard. She’s gesturing, explaining something. But Jessica’s not having it. She stands abruptly, and even through the crack in the door I can see her face is flushed.
She says something while pointing at Blake, then grabs her bag and storms toward the door. My fists curl and chest tightens. I hate anyone being rude to Blake, even if I had a feeling the encounter would go this way.
I sidestep away and press myself into the wall as Jessica bursts out of the breakroom. She doesn’t even glance in my direction as she strides straight for the stairwell and disappears.
Plan A is a no-go. Fuck.
Seconds later, Blake pushes through the door. And Christ, the look on her face makes my chest ache. Her head is low, and her lips are pressed into a straight line. That little crease is sharp between her brows.
I wait until she’s a few steps past my hiding spot before I show myself. “Angel.”
She turns to face me. “Damon? What are you—How long have you been—”
“Long enough.” I close the distance between us and wrap my hands around her waist. “You okay?”
She rests her head on my chest, sounding close to tears. “No… not really. I tried but she was so pissed. Basically told me to mind my own business and that I had no right. Like I was just trying to take the money for myself. I told her it wasn’t safe. I—”
Rubbing circles on her back, I hum a reassuring sound. “You were trying to help. You did your best.”
“She didn’t see it that way. Now she’s pissed at me and she’s still taking that job and I just made everything worse.”
She lifts her head and adjusts a piece of hair from her messy bun. With two fingers, I tip her chin so we’re eye to eye. “You didn’t make anything worse, baby. Don’t worry, this isn’t over.”
Her smoky eyes search my face. “But how? What else can I do? She made it abundantly clear she wants me to stay out of it.”
“We find another way.” I drag my thumb across her cheekbone, loving the shuddering breath that escapes her. “We always do.”
She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth and nods. “I need to get back to my patients and do my end of shift charting.” Squeezing me around the middle, she murmurs, “Why do you have to be so impossible to walk away from?”
I chuckle. “It’s just Stockholm syndrome… One of these days you’ll realize I’ve tricked you and come to your senses.”
She slaps me. Playfully, of course, making me laugh again.
“Get that sexy ass going, Doctor Blake.” I take a step back, even though it aches to do so. “I’ll meet you by the elevators when you’re done.”
“You sure you’re okay waiting? You really don’t have to.”
I raise a brow and smile. “Angel, I’d wait forever for you. Another hour is nothing.”
With a quick kiss that I wish was longer, she heads back toward the nurse’s station across the hall. I watch her go, making sure she’s settled before I pull out my phone to check for my new friend.
But I don’t need the cameras.
A few feet away, Adam comes from the elevator bay, rubbing the back of his neck as he hurries down the hall. Without hesitating, I head back to my hiding spot behind the column before he notices me. He’s oblivious, set on his path into the breakroom.
I lean against the column, angling myself so I can see through the window in the door. Adam’s alone and pacing. Running his hands through his hair over and over. Psyching himself up for what he needs to do. He’s taking this seriously. Smart guy.
A minute passes. Two.
Then Jessica appears from the stairwell. She must have taken some time to cool off after her conversation with Blake. She spots Adam through the window and the anger in her features melts into something softer, more vulnerable.
She pushes through the door.
Let’s see if plan B works.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, which is frustrating as hell, but I can see everything through that little window.
Adam approaches her immediately. He says something that makes her grimace. He’s upset, gesturing with his hands, and she’s shaking her head like she doesn’t want to hear it.
Come on. You can do this, Adam.
He hasn’t given up. Stepping closer, he takes her hands, holds her in his arms. He’s still talking, lower, against her cheek.
I think she’s crying now. Hopefully that’s a good thing.
She’s cupping his cheek, he’s rubbing her back. Hell, I’m starting to feel like a peeping Tom now.
But as long as they’re still talking—and only talking—I’m not moving an inch.
It seems Adam’s making some progress. He pulls back a step, his face serious. Come on, hurry this up. I swear if he doesn’t get the job done in the next five minutes, I’ll intervene. I hope it doesn’t come to that though.
Am I mistaken or did he just say, “It’s not safe. Something’s wrong. I can’t let you do this.”
Fuck yes, Jessica’s nodding now. Wiping her eyes. She looks relieved, like part of her wanted an excuse to back out all along.
Then Adam says something else. Gestures back toward where Blake went across the hall.
Jessica stiffens. Shakes her head. Her mouth forms words I can read even from here. “She was so rude.”
Adam keeps at it. He’s animated now, selling it hard. Whatever story he came up with about Blake, he’s committing to it fully.
Jessica hesitates. Her face cycles through emotions—flared nostrils and high chin, to licking her lip and deflecting her gaze. Finally, I see the moment where she relents.
She nods and her shoulders seem to sag. Adam’s do too, rightfully so.
Her phone is in her hand within seconds.
And just like that, my Christmas luck has turned around.
I watch as Jessica types something on her phone, hopefully texting the contact number with the news that she’s backing out, and recommending Blake as a replacement. Adam’s reading over her shoulder, nodding his approval.
She hits send.
It’s done.
Adam pulls her back into his arms, and she buries her face in his chest. He holds her like she’s precious, like he just saved her from something terrible.
And he did.
He’ll never fully understand how terrible, but he did the right thing. And Jessica will never know how close she came to walking into a nightmare.
They’ll be okay. They’ll figure out the money situation some other way.
Maybe Adam will finally convince her to let him help.
Maybe they’ll just make it work like most struggling residents do.
Maybe a special Christmas elf named Leon will wire transfer a little something into her account for her trouble.
Either way, she’s safe and Blake gets exactly what she wants, even if she doesn’t know I’m the one who orchestrated the whole thing.
Before her shift ends, we’ll have all the intel we need and instead of a cozy Christmas eve at home, we’ll be crashing some rich asshole’s night and ruining a lot more than his holiday plans.
Saving lives and spilling blood with my Angel. Still sounds like Christmas to me.