Page 92 of Slaughtered Firefly

He bent over her, fingers finding a pulse. “Well, well. Hello, little tiger — you’ve grown up.”

Summer’s body convulsed, and she screamed. “Get him away from me!”

In a flash, my pistol pressed against the back of his head. “Tell me why I shouldn’t blow your brains out right now,” I said, knuckles white. Sweat beaded down the back of my neck.

He laughed. “You can. At least I’ll go in a suit.” He cocked his head, looking at Summer with clinical curiosity or something more. “But that would be a shame. She’s bleeding out, and I am very good at stopping people from dying. At least when it benefits me.” He observed her body for signs of distress, notcaring for the pistol at his head at least, I thought until he said, “Could you move the gun? I would rather not have gunpowder coating my hair.”

“She said she doesn’t want you,” Jasper said from the doorway, his face pale.“We didn’t call you.”

“You didn’t call me,” the doctor said. “Karter did.” He slid an instrument case from his bag and set it on the counter with methodical care. “You two can have opinions about him later.”

Summer’s voice a whisper, “I would rather die.”

“Dramatic choice,” the doctor mused, uncapping a vial and squirting at the clear liquid inside. I couldn’t read the label from here. It was worn, and the script was neat, polished loops. “But unproductive, best we preserve her.”

He pulled on a pair of exam gloves. A small hiss sounded as they settled. The smell of Betadine — sharp, and familiar — rose from the counter; my throat constricted. He dabbed some gauze with the solution, turning towards Summer.

“I never joke about cleanliness,” he repeated like a mantra. “Now little tiger, where does it hurt the most?”

Summer flinched, inching away from him until her shoulder hit the cabinet. “ I don’t want him near me,” she sobbed.

“You need a doctor baby,” My hand on the trigger felt like the clean solution. I didn’t like this man. But she needed to be better.

“YesBaby,listen to him. I am the best after all.” The doctor mocked but began stripping the torn fabric off her shoulder.

“You don’t understand do you? He — ”

“He?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

The doctor produced a thin, long set of pliers, dipping them in Betadine. “Memory is a loose term, really. People keep things inside of them. Sometimes clots, sometimes steel. Sometimes things they shouldn’t. I remove them. I keep them safe. I take a small souvenir.” He tapped the pliers idly. “I fix them.”

“Get away,” she whispered.

“Awe don’t you remember our fun time? I cut you open and you scream? I mean this time it’s I cut you open you scream I steal a piece of you… wait that’s the same. Never mind that. We can deal with the past later.”

“I want Karter,” I ground out.

“Ah yes Dr.Reed is unavailable for the foreseeable future. Shoot me or let me do my job.” I couldn’t watch. Summer’s face paled — wet with sweat. She was shrinking into herself like a caged animal. I felt helpless. The kind of helplessness that makes people do things they wouldn’t do in the daylight.

He had a needle poised at her neck. His eyes sparkled as if he enjoyed this part. “Sorry tiger you get me, so buckle up this is going to hurt a lot and I’ll try not to jack off on you again … ”

I stared at him in horror.What predator did I invite in?

“Oh come on don’t give me that look. I was kidding.”