Chapter Eleven
Nearly a month passed.
Chase hadn’t heard any more from the FBI agent, so there probably weren’t any new leads. The outfit hadn’t contacted Tucker Cobb yet either. Chase couldn’t even pretend to understand Noah’s evil plotting.
Although, now Chase was relieved.
Once Noah called Cobb, events would be put into motion, and his relationship with Mary would never be the same again. For now, he relished what little time he had left with her and tried not to think about the future.
Chase wanted Mary so badly it made him ache, inside and out, but he refused to abuse his position of power. Or maybe this was just some bullshit loner crap, designed to protect himself from a broken heart.
While they hadn’t made love yet, they slept together every single night.
It was a special kind of hell but Chase wouldn’t have it any other way. Being at Mary’s side felt right. They hadn’t spoken about their newfound sleeping arrangements either. Chase knew he should send her back to the guest bedroom, but he couldn’t even make himself say the words.
On the way home from work one night, Chase got a frantic call from Alan.
Harry had been shot while they were collecting protection money, and the doctor they used for this kind of emergency was out of town at a medical conference. Whenever the hospital handled a gunshot wound, the police were notified as part of regular safety protocols so they were forced to seek care elsewhere.
Fuck it all.
He was tempted to tell Alan that Harry was shit out of luck and it wasn’t Chase’s problem, but he had an obligation to the outfit.
“Take him to my place. I know somebody who might be able to help if she agrees. And if she doesn’t, Harry can deal with the cops showin’ up at his bedside, or let his arm rot off, for all I care.”
And then he hung up so he could call Mary.
***
“Who’s hurt?” Mary asked.
Chase had called her from the car, saying one of his coworkers had been shot and they didn’t have any other options. She didn’t ask for particulars because Mary didn’t want to testify about it later.
There was a long pause on the phone.
“Harry.”
Of course. Dammit.
Mary wished she could say “no.” That animal didn’t deserve her pity or her help, but doctors didn’t get to choose their patients, based on merit, at least according to her instructors. Doctors had a sacred duty to provide care. Physicians operated on everybody, from serial killers to nuns, and no one got special treatment.
“I’ll help him.”
“I had to ask, but you don’t have to lift a finger, Mary, he doesn’t deserve it.”
“You don’t want me to do this.”
“I want you to say ‘no.’ Is that so wrong?”
“No, but patients get treated whether or not they deserve it, so I’ll do my best, but I’m not a real doctor. I’ve taken first aid, and I’ve observed some medical procedures in the hospital, but I’m not even an intern yet.”
“Well, you know a lot more than me.”
“I guess, but you don’t have supplies.” While he’d been talking, Mary had raided the medicine cabinet and had only found a few Band-Aids and some rubbing alcohol.
“Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it.”
Mary paced back and forth, trying to think straight. “Disinfectant, bandages, gauze, medical tape, and some tweezers.”
A twisted part of her was sort of thrilled, actually. She’d never had a patient of her own, and in this circumstance, Mary wasn’t nervous about the outcome. If Harry didn’t make it, she wouldn’t be broken up about it or anything.
“Tweezers?”
“You said he’s been shot, so I’ll need to pull the bullet out of him.”
“Right. Anything else?”
“Something to sterilize the wound.”
After Chase hung up, Mary got ready. She put some water on the stove to boil, so she could disinfect the equipment and gathered up some clean towels.
Chase arrived twenty minutes later, and he had a fifth of vodka along with the goods. After plunking the tweezers in hot water, Mary thought about taking a swig of the liquor, to steady her hands, but decided against it.
Alan and Chase dragged Harry inside.
“Put him on the couch.” Mary had laid out towels over a layer of newspapers so the couch wouldn’t be stained.
After they put him down, Harry gaped at her. “Oh, fuck.” His face had gone ashen, and his shirt was soaked with blood. He’d evidently lost a lot of it.
“My sentiments exactly.” Mary placed her hands on her hips and scowled at him, daring him to turn down her assistance. Blood flowed down his right arm. She was relieved he didn’t have a chest wound, because it would require more medical know how than she possessed.
He turned to Chase. “This bitch is gonna kill me.”
“The good news is, if I do nothin’, you’ll die anyway.” Mary sneered. “And it won’t be an easy death. Nope, the wound will get infected, and you’ll develop a high fever, which will make you delirious. You could linger for days, in pain and out of your mind, and then your organs will start shutting down, one by one but—”
Harry groaned. “Stop!”
“Do you want my help or not? Because I don’t give a crap, either way.” Mary loved having power over him. She was a bit drunk on it, actually. Mary held his life in her hands, and they both knew it.
Harry swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed, and then he nodded.
“Say it.”
“Yes,” he gritted out.
“Yes…what?”
“Yes, please, help me.”
Mary gloved up. “Okay, then, let’s get started. Lie down.”
The young mafia soldier went outside, while Harry did as she said. It was just as well, as he kept clutching his stomach like he was about to barf all over the carpet.
Chase stayed with her. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Mary retrieved the tweezers from the hot water and set to work on the injury. It was still bleeding badly, so she needed to go fast. Luckily, the wound was shallow and she easily located the first bullet fragment. Mary pulled it out of him and tossed it into the trashcan.
“Why are you doing this?” Harry grunted as she seized another piece.
“Because I’m a better person than you. I won’t let you die, even though you’re a waste of space.” She concentrated on the wound. “All doctors take the Hippocratic oath. Do you know who Hippocrates was?”
Harry moaned. “No. Can’t you just help me? Do we have to do a pop quiz?”
“We’re doing this my way.”
Chase shook his head, a bemused expression on his face.
“He’s the father of Western medicine, and all doctors take the oath after they're sworn in. We promise to do no harm, even if the patient is a useless rapist. I have the knowledge to help you, so I will.” She scraped at the wound again, and Harry wailed.
She didn’t think of herself as cruel, but Mary enjoyed the sounds he made.
Maybe I’m Tucker’s granddaughter after all.
The thought made her queasy, and she focused on retrieving the rest of the bullet. On television they made it look easy, but it was hard to see with blood gushing everywhere.
Chase watched every movement and he seemed impressed. It was hard to resist the urge to show off.
Mary was exhilarated, flying high. It didn’t matter if she loathed her first patient. She was thrilled to be practicing medicine, and it made her long to get started.
But then you’ll leave Chase, and you’ll have to face your grandfather.
Concentrate, dammit.
After she retrieved the last bit, Mary splashed vodka over the arm. This wasn’t exactly a sterile ER with all the latest equipment, but hopefully, it would inhibit an infection from setting in.
Again, Harry moaned in agony.
“Don’t be such a baby, we haven’t even gotten to the painful part yet.”
He gasped. “We haven’t?”
“Nope. I need to elevate the arm and apply pressure to the brachial artery to slow the bleeding.” She grasped Harry’s arm and raised it over his head.
Harry screamed and she tried not to grin.
“But wait, it’ll get worse.” Then she set a knee on the wound and bared down on it, with all of her weight.
Harry bawled and then passed out, head lolling to the side.
Mary sighed in relief. “Thank God, he was gettin’ on my nerves.”
“What are you doing?” Chase asked.
“Closing the wound.”
Chase studied her face. “You seem like you’re having fun.”
“Because I am.” She shrugged. “Is that wrong?”
“No, it just means you were born to do this.”
“Yeah, I was.” Mary grinned.
“You’re gonna be a hell of a doctor someday.”
“Damn straight.” Mary glanced down at Harry, admiring her handiwork. She’d saved a man’s life. Granted, he was an asshole, but still, she’d made a difference.
After the bleeding stopped, she packed the wound with gauze and taped it up.
“There, all done.” She took off her gloves and pitched them in the trash, before washing her hands. “He should be okay, but the real doctor needs to take a look and get him some antibiotics, too.”
“We’ll pay him a visit.” And then Chase pulled her into a hug. She clutched him. Mary loved the feel of his strong arms around her. They stayed there for a long time, swaying together.
“Um, I should probably clean up and sanitize everything.”
“Right. Thanks again.” Chase kissed the top of her head and then released her.
And then they broke apart.
It’s silly, but even having a few feet between them was too much. Mary couldn’t get close enough to Chase.
And if she were smart, she’d get as far away from the man as she could. Leaving him would hurt, but this was coming to an end, and she had no choice but to accept it.
***
“How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” Mary murmured.
“Are you sure? You went above and beyond today.”
After Alan had taken Harry home, Chase and Mary ate some dinner, took separate showers and then climbed into his bed together.
Chase rested on his back and Mary was pressed against the length of his body, on her side. He stroked her hair as they lay there together in the darkness. He’d never felt so peaceful, so content in his life, even though Chase couldn’t have everything he wanted when it came to Mary.
It’ll be fine, as long as I don’t cross the line. Think of this as a bonus, a gift.
Or that’s what he told himself anyway. Although a voice in his head whispered, it was already far too late for self-imposed boundaries.
“Actually, in some ways, I healed myself a bit. It reminded me of who I am, and what I can do—I’m powerful, a survivor, not a victim.”
“Well, I wish you’d left the bullet in him.” Mary giggled, and it made Chase smile. “You know, I’ve been thinkin’.”
“About what?”
“I read this book by Dave Grossman once, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, and he said people can be divided into three groups: wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. Most people are gentle and kind like sheep and others are cold and cruel wolves.”
“Like Noah and Tucker?”
“Yes, they prey on other people for their own selfish ends.”
“And what about sheepdogs?” she asked.
“They tend to the flock and guard the animals from the wolves.”
“And which are you?”
Chase laughed without humor. “I’m a sheepdog, but I keep company with wolves, which is why I’ve never fit in with the outfit.” The realization had smacked him in the face earlier today while observing Mary save a life. “In the military, the violence served a greater good, a purpose, so it didn’t bother me.”
She considered it a moment. “I think you’re right. And what about me? Am I a sheep?”
He was so damned proud of Mary. Chase had never met a better person, and he was more determined than ever to get her back to Harvard safe and sound.
Chase cupped her face. “Far from it. You’re a sheepdog, too. I watched you work today. A sheep wouldn’t have been able to do what you did. Mary, you saved a wolf, even though he’d tried to prey on you. We’re both defenders in our own way, protectin’ others.”
Before he could stop her, Mary crawled on top of him.
Once again, temptation reared its head. He longed to take things to the next level, make love to her.
Chase loved having the delicious weight of her on top of him, holding her, stroking her silky hair. He yearned for her, and Chase didn’t just mean his body.
Although, his cock swelled, pressing low against Mary’s abdomen. Her breasts surged against the hard wall of his chest. Everything in him urged Chase to flip their positions, pin her beneath him, and satisfy both their desires, but he couldn’t, wouldn’t.
“Mary, we can’t—”
“Shh.” She pressed a fingertip to his lips. “You don’t have to say it. I already know, but I can’t seem to get enough of you. All I want is a kiss or two.”
He devoured her mouth until they were both panting and needy. He’d never experienced such bittersweet torture. When she finally slipped off of him, they laid together on the bed, in pained, swollen silence.
Chase knew he wouldn’t be able to resist temptation for long.