Page 5 of Fixation

My answer wasn’t required. He’d understand what the hell soon enough.

In the meantime, I glowered at him.

“No.”

I was already on him.

Years of experience in the OR had taught me plenty, including exactly how much pressure it takes to step on someone and snap their shin.

Crack.

“Hmph.” That small whimper from him almost made me laugh.

Almost.

If not for the possessiveness that had my head pounding.

“Why?” His question was meant for someone who cared.

I cared a whole fucking lot. Just not about him.

One hand on the top of his head. The other on his shoulder.

“Please.”

Twist. Snap.

He dropped like a rag doll against the brick wall. Slumped.

Before his ass reached the ground, he was already dead.

His days of leaving flowers on my woman’s doorstep were over.

Granted, I threw the ugly bouquet where Harper wouldn’t find it.

No need to worry about him or any other man anymore.

My bag is out, slung over my shoulder next to hers. I have both arms around her, hugging her close until she melds into me.

I spare a second to look at her. I’ll have all the time in the world later, but I need this second. This minute. This moment.

My eyes skim over every inch of her beautiful face. Her button nose. Her flushed cheeks.

Her breasts barely show beneath the layers of clothing. My teeth bite into my bottom lip, eager to take a bite of her.

I’ve been dreaming of this moment for two months. About marking her.

She’s running a fever. She’s passed out.

Problem is, I can’t control these desires. Can’t stop wanting her naked, my lips on every inch of her body.

I’m possessed by the thought of getting into bed with her. By the images of us together.

I’d spend years learning her through my fingers. My mouth.

My cock.

“Anderson.”

Only a few people on staff call me by my first name here. One of them is my boss, Dr. Samson Bennet, Chief of Surgery.

“Walking around with a patient?” He frowns, his gaze flicking between Harper and me. “She belongs in the trauma unit. What’s going on here?”

“Calm down,” I say it more to myself than to him.

“Calm down?” He takes a step forward.

I hug Harper tighter.

“When you’re violating hospital policy, not to mention?—”

“She’s my cousin.”

Out of all the lies I could’ve come up with. Harper and I look nothing alike. I might even bring her to the next Christmas party as my date this year.

Everyone will know I lied.

No other lie would do, though. Telling him the truth, or anything remotely close to it, would land me in jail for years.

Away from her.

“You never mentioned a cousin.” Samson scratches his graying hair.

I never mentioned that my dad and I worked for the Bratva, but here we are.

What’s Samson doing here, anyway? That’s the real question. He has his own bathroom. His own office.

He isn’t scheduled for surgery today. Judging by the cornflower shirt and blue tie under his lab coat, there’s nothing on his agenda but administrative crap.

That only leaves me with one explanation.

Me. He saw me running off with her.

It worries him.

Tough shit.

He’ll have to pry Harper out of my cold, dead hands.

“You never asked.” I go for casual and end up possessive as fuck, my voice sounding more like a growl. “Her parents are out of town. She had nowhere else to go.”

“Cold,” she mumbles again, shivering despite wearing what feels like a million layers.

I press my lips to the top of her head. Inhale her. “We’ll be out of here soon. You’ll be fine.”

She will be. In my home.

When she comes to, it’ll be too late for her to notice she’s not in a hospital.

She has no idea that she’s missing out on her last chance to call for help.

Nothing will save her once I have her in my basement.

Until I decide it’s time to let her go. Only so I can haunt her once she’s out of here.

I fucking love playing with her, and I haven’t even started.

“T-T-Thank…” Her gratitude ends in a breathy sigh.

My neighbor rests her hands on my chest. Slumps in my arms. Coughs, then settles again.

She’s painfully sweet. Too sweet for the things I’m going to do to her.

Taking her. Keeping her.

Forcing my love on her.

She’ll get over it.

“Regardless, she should be admitted.” A scowl tugs his lips down. “You know this.”

“What I know is I’m perfectly capable of taking care of her. She caught something; it isn’t serious.” Harper’s trembling body negates my statement. My heart twists. “Has to be this virus that’s been going around. She’s burning up. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take her home.”

“Admitting her here would be best,” he insists as his blue eyes keep searching mine. You don’t become a chief of surgery by overlooking things. “Her insurance isn’t an issue.”

I’m aware. It’s another detail I unveiled from going through her purse.

“We won’t charge her or you for her stay here. You’re our star surgeon.” Ah, there it is. He isn’t worried about her or about me kidnapping a patient. I’m his primary concern. Me, and the numerous job offers I’ve gotten from other hospitals. “We’re here to make sure you’re happy here, with us.”

“While I appreciate this, I’m sticking to my original plan.

We’re leaving.” What she needs is me. My care.

My complete and undivided attention. She needs to be in my home, where she’s belonged since day one.

“My shift will be over in an hour, but”—he’ll be down on his knees if it means I’m satisfied and working here, so I say boldly—“I’m leaving early.

I’ll look after her at my place. It’s better this way. That she wakes up to a familiar face.”

After today, I have two scheduled days off to be there for her.

Forty-eight hours to spend with Harper.

My new toy. My new patient.

The one I’m never letting go of.

“Okay,” Samson relents. As if his approval was required. “Anything you need, you let us know.”

“Right. Thanks.”

I won’t need anything.

Why would I?

I have her.