Chapter 9
Iglare at the empty doorway, waiting for Doc to get his ass here. There’s no reason my subjects should have just been fucking traumatized by that sham of a therapist. I knew Stanley sucked, but Doc made the choice, and now? Now I’m stuck trying to fix this fucking situation.
One subject—after a well-deserved homicidal rage—is sedated, and the other went through dissociation.
Fuck. I should have tried to overrule Doc.
I sure as hell will in the future, because this is completely, utterly unacceptable.
Guilt—a weird, twisted emotion—invades my mind, and I shudder at it.
Fucking hell, I hope I’m not actually getting attached to these fuckers.
Maybe there’s something in the water? I should certainly take more care if I’m getting invested so easily.
“I’m here,” Doc grumbles as he walks in, running his fingers through messy hair. My heart, as always, gives a little thrill at seeing him. Fuck. A school age crush should be gone by now, but it isn’t. “What is the emergency that has you dragging me in here on one of my very few rare days off?”
“Oh, let’s see here. Lio is covered in blood, although the new therapist’s office looks fantastic with that new crimson addition. Too bad Stanley is dead.”
Doc stutters to a stop, his hand slamming on my desk, as if to keep himself upright as his jaw drops. I stand up, stalking around the desk until there’s barely any space between us.
“W-W-What?” Doc grits out, shaking his head as if in shock.
“Both of us knew Stanley was a fucking horrible therapist! Why on earth did you choose him? You know Roman is already resistant to doing therapy, and if Stanley wasn’t already dead, I’d gladly do it myself, because he deliberately went after Roman’s insecurities!
From what we’ve been able to piece together, the man essentially blamed the kid for being some sort of failure, and even managed to say Roman’s relationships aren’t real.
You and I knew Stanley was a piece of shit.
So tell me, Doc, why? Why did you set up my subjects to get hurt?
And I expect a damn good answer from you. ”
“That’s impossible. I mean, yes, I knew Stanley wasn’t the right therapist. And that, yes, he’d likely die, but I figured it would take a week. Not…this. And definitely not by preying on Roman’s insecurities. I just figured he’d mouth off, and well, someone would eventually end him.”
I stare at this infuriating, yet still way too sexy man, my jaw dropping.
I can respect him playing chess. I really can.
Hell, I’m usually right there when it comes to setting things in motion, and making sure someone dies in such a convoluted way?
Brilliant. Truly. But, fucking hell. This… this is too far.
“Well, unfortunately, since I didn’t know you were making that play, and you left me to be the one to do the introductions, I had no fucking clue there was any set up, and was forced to let him interact with Roman.
Thankfully, I insisted Lio be allowed to sit in as well. I can just imagine if I hadn’t…”
Doc winces, and yeah, it’s not pretty. But fucking hell, this is a mess. With a huff, the fury drains out of me. Seeing Doc’s guilt… Yeah, he fucked up, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the asshole. Not that he’s ever seemed to pick up on it.
Turning around, I go over to my desk and sit down, waving toward the guest chair. “Take a seat. Let’s walk through this.”
A sharp glare has me holding back a smile. Fuck. I love how feisty he is. I raise an eyebrow at him, and he scowls. “I’m not your Boy.”
“No. You’re not. Sadly. Because you’d be on your knees for me if you were.
But right now, we need to figure out how the fuck we get this shitshow fixed.
I have a list of the therapists I want brought in.
I’ve given the list over to be checked…but, after this, I think we need more than that. I want your opinion.”
The confusion on Doc’s face is adorable, but it doesn’t take long before he sighs and gives in, choosing to sit across from me. I slide him over my wishlist and let him read through the names. From his low whistle, he’s either impressed or wondering about my sanity. Probably both.
“You really think we need four? Do you have a way to get them all?” Doc looks up from the list, biting his lower lip in a purely irresistible way. I swear, it’s like being in school with him again.
He doesn’t realize how much he fucks with my mind, and I’d be bitter about it, but I know he’s not doing it on purpose. Taking a deep breath, I calm the need rushing through me and nod grimly.
“Yeah, we do. I want two individual therapists—Anderson and Connor are extremely skilled. Reid for couple’s counseling, because fuck knows, based on what I’m hearing regarding Allesandro and Cristian, that needs to be a priority.”
“And Ian? He’s…volatile. And unlikely to come into this type of situation.”
“He’s the best damn sex therapist I know. He’s also extremely kink positive, and well, they all need a lesson in kink here. Unless your Daddy wants to be the one to teach them?”
“Oh, fuck no. Daddy is mine.”
The jealousy wraps around me, but I shrug it off.
I don’t want Soren, but fuck if I don’t regret not having at least experienced Doc.
Still, in college, I wasn’t prepared yet for my role in life.
If it wasn’t for Ely, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to even get there, much less make myself into the success I have.
It’s why I can command the Council to listen to me, and if I have Doc’s agreement, then they will definitely pay attention—despite this fuck up.
“Then yes, we need Ian. I didn’t take this job just to make sure Hollis and Lio were taken care of; I’m going after the entire Organization.”
Doc’s eyes widen and he sputters, “I didn’t think you were serious about that!”
“You shouldn’t doubt me.” His eyes darken at the steel in my voice, but I don’t give in to my urges. Instead, I prod him further. “We need to be smart about how to do it. I’m assuming someone got to Stanley, because while we both know he was an asshole in college, this was beyond pale.”
“Not to mention, these are very successful individuals with waiting lists. They’re not going to be willing to just jump ship for the hell of it,” Doc mutters. “I don’t think they can be swayed like you were.”
Snorting, I shake my head. No, while some of these therapists are…unorthodox…none of them have my uniqueness. “Probably a good thing. But how do you feel about a little kidnapping?”
“Uh, I don’t think the Council will go for that.” Doc cringes. “That’s kind of a Martelli move, and they’ve been trying to reinvent themselves.”
Sighing, I tap the desk impatiently, thinking of other options before shaking my head.
“I think we can get a couple based on finances, or the fact they're already in a unique relationship. But there’s no way we’ll get Connor without kidnapping, or a very strong incentive that goes beyond financial compensation.
And we need him. He’s the one I want with Roman.
The only one I would trust with Roman at this point. ”
“Shit. I wish I could disagree with you…” Doc sinks further into the chair, despair rolling off him.
“Welcome to the fun.” I smile thinly at my new colleague, but he doesn’t respond with one of his own. Shrugging, I get another pad of paper out. “Let’s strategize. I want to be able to produce everything to whoever the fuck is now in charge.”
“Yeah, alright. Wait…how the fuck did Lio kill Stanley?” Doc pauses as he sits up straighter.
Laughing, I wondered when he’d get there. “He was given a knife. And before you ask, I’m putting that under your domain, since you’re still primary care for Lio. Good luck there.”
Doc groans, but doesn’t say anything. He knows it’s his fuck up to fix, and I don’t have time to hold hands on this. Lio shouldn’t have access to a weapon. Although, I must say, I can’t wait to see what the Boy does when he’s fully back in control of his faculties…