Page 9 of Seduction

“How you are… you’re stuck… at rest in a dangerous place. We just need to find your unbalanced force.” Confusion slips away, a calm understanding in her eyes as her body visibly relaxes. “It’s going to be okay, Ellen. I promise.”

With a weak nod, she turns her head and stares out the window. She remains that way the entire drive to our destination. Mikey fell asleep halfway there, so it was a quiet ride.

Gage pulls over in front of an empty store and hops out of his car. Ellen rolls the back windows down and then follows, leaning against the car so she can watch Mikey. Gage walks over with a grin I only see when he’s up to something.

“You two ready?” he asks.

I look to Ellen, and she shrugs, just as clueless as I am. Raven is standing next to Gage, a matching grin in place. She knows what her husband is up to.

“Come here, bro.”

I follow him to the building’s door, which is covered with brown paper.

“Rip it off,” Gage tells me.

“What? Gage—”

“Just do it, E. I promise, it’s fine.”

I carefully remove the paper, then freeze. He starts chuckling next to me. Shocked, my gaze flicks between him and the door. The glass door with my name on it in big white letters—Dr. Jon Emerson MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“I don’t understand.”

He shakes a bunch of keys in front of my face, then drops them in my palm. I slide the key into the lock, and it turns easily. Tentatively, I step inside, looking around from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. The place is fully furnished. I walk through the reception area, finding an office and two exam rooms. They not only include furniture but all the medical equipment and machines I could ever need.

I can’t believe this. Did he really get me a place so I can start my own practice?I’ve wanted this since I was a kid; I just haven’t been able to work it out yet. Most of my salary from the hospital goes into paying back student loans, and what I earn from the MC takes care of my other expenses.

I turn to my best friend, not knowing what to say, all kinds of emotions running through me.

“Are you serious?” I ask.

“It’s yours, brother. All paid for.”

Shaking my head in disbelief, I move toward him. He extends his hand for me to shake it, but I grab it and pull him into a hug instead. It’s not a one-armed, manly hug, either. He returns it, patting my back.

“I can’t believe you did this, Gage. Thank you.”

“You’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember. Just helping you achieve the dream, man.”

Pulling back, I meet his eyes. “I’ll pay you—”

“No, you won’t. This is a gift, E.”

“You’re something else, you know that?”

“So Raven tells me every day.”

“Fucker.” I release him, chuckling.

“Come on. Santa has one more gift for a sad little girl.”

***Ellen***

“You okay,’mana?”

I turn my head to look at Raven, raising a questioning brow. “Mana?”

“Hermana,” she replies with a shy smile, her Mexican half making an appearance. “Sister.”