Page 23 of The Criminal’s Cure

It was painful enough to drag myself back into the hospital for the rest of my shift, but when I glance back over my shoulder and see Roman and Ty as they run through the field together, my heart nearly combusts.

Somehow, Roman gets even hotter in dad mode.

Playful, but protective, as he slings Ty over his shoulder and jogs up the hill.

I almost hate how effortless he makes it look, but it’s no surprise from a guy who is fit and muscular that he makes most professional athletes look scrawny.

Thinking about his muscles sends me right back to last night, and my thighs almost clench in protest. God, I’m hopeless.

Ty giggles and pounds at his dad’s back as they make the trek towards the parking lot. I know just how tight that grip of Roman’s is from personal experience, and Ty’s attempt to free himself is in vain.

Good luck, kid.

By the time they get to the truck, Ty has settled and swivels himself around so that he and Roman are face-to-face.

Ty wraps his arms around his dad’s neck and gives him a big squeeze.

I’ve never seen a sweeter smile than the one on Roman’s face as he sets Ty down and kisses the top of his head.

They’re so damn adorable together, and I can’t stop watching.

That is, until I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I thought I was alone, so the noise startles me and I spin around.

Dr. Bauer is just outside the entrance of the hospital, arms crossed with a very pointed stare.

“Oh, hi, Dr. Bauer.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “I was just heading up to see you.”

“No worries. It was getting late, so I thought I would come and find you. Do you have a second to talk?”

“Absolutely.” I swallow.

I don’t know why I feel uncomfortable around him.

We’ve been close for a while, but the way Roman reacted to him and the vagueness in his reply when I asked made me uneasy.

Roman associates with a certain type of…

personality, and Dr. Bauer certainly doesn’t fit that.

I can’t imagine what might’ve transpired between the two for Dr. Bauer to be indebted to Roman to the point where Roman can pull the strings that he just offered, but something big must have happened.

“How do you know Roman Molanari?” He’s not the type of man to beat around the bush, and he gets right to it.

“Uh, we’re…friends.”

He’s instantly suspicious of the way I stutter through the words.

“Friends? Or more?”

My chest tightens. This isn’t exactly an appropriate conversation to have with my boss, especially because I really don’t even know what to call this thing between me and Roman yet. Are we friends? Are we more?

We’d gone from hating each other to falling into bed together so quickly that I can’t keep track. Roman has been clear about wanting more eventually, but I don’t know where that leaves us right now, and I don’t know what to tell Dr. Bauer.

“Madison, I only ask out of concern. Roman Molanari is a dangerous man, and I would hate to see you mixed up in whatever he has going on.”

I don’t give an answer, but it doesn’t seem like Dr. Bauer needs one because he continues.

“You’ve got a bright future ahead of you, Madison. I don’t want to see anything impede that.”

“I appreciate you looking out for me, Dr. Bauer.” I force a smile. There’s no need for my personal life to be on trial here, and I shut the conversation down.

He opens his mouth like there’s more he wants to say, but just nods. “Anyway, the reason that I wanted to talk with you today is because one of my trauma residents is going to be gone for the next month. I was hoping you might want to fill his space while he’s out.”

“Wow! Really?”

“Yes. It’s only temporary, but you’ll get some good experience and it’ll be good for your fast-track application next year,” Dr. Bauer says.

“That’s great. I would love to. Thank you so much!”

“No need to thank me, Madison. You’re a great doctor, and we’re lucky to have you on our team. As long as distractions don’t get in your way. I’m heading into a surgery, so let’s iron out the details later.”

A flicker of hesitation rolls through me. Somehow, he made a compliment sound like a warning. I shove the feeling down, though, because Dr. Bauer gave me exactly what I’ve been waiting for.

I’m finally going to have my chance here, and I’m almost giddy. I can’t wait to get home and tell Roman.

Today could not get any better.

Waking up with Maddie in my bed, kissing her goodbye on her way to work, time with Ty, and then a lunch date with both of them that was so damn wholesome that it feels like it’s right off a storybook page.

So when Joe calls to tell me they picked up one of the Chavos members, it’s just the cherry on top. Maybe the sex last night rocked my world right back into orbit, and my luck is changing.

This isn’t just any gangbanger, either. He’s the guy who pulled the trigger at the park, and according to Joe, potentially one of the men who attacked Talia. This is like a fucking dream.

Since Maddie is working all afternoon, I drop Ty off with Sarah and head to the warehouse to meet Joe and Dante. I’m buzzing with adrenaline by the time I get there. For the past few months, my sole focus has been on seeking justice for Ty and Talia, and now it’s so close I can taste it.

“Where is he?” I ask, stealing through the front doors.

Joe nods to the back with a wicked smile. “Already in a cell. We were having a little fun before you got here.”

He and Joe follow behind me as I make my way there. The warehouse is quiet today, which is probably good. I don’t like handling this type of thing with an audience, although it sends a pretty strong message to my guys that they shouldn’t cross me.

Strung up in the first cell, the guy is stripped down to barely nothing. His hands are tied with a chain secured to the ceiling, and he’s on a splintering wooden stool. He’s so terrified it’s pathetic.

“Not so tough without a gun in your hand, are you?”

With three hard strides, I’m in front of him.

“You’ve got this all wrong,” he trembles. “I don’t—”

Before he can finish, I knock the stool out from underneath him. The pull of the chain yanks his shoulders out of socket and snaps his wrists.

The pained wail he lets out doesn’t even phase me as I watch him dangle from the ceiling. He wiggled around, trying to get in a position that doesn’t hurt so badly, but he won’t find one. “Keep flailing like that. It’s only going to hurt more.”

“Please,” he begs. “I was just following orders.”

“Which time? When you beat my wife and left her for dead? Or the time you shot a gun into a park crowded with families and put a bullet in my son?”

“Both.” His voice is hoarse as he gasps for air.

I grab a set of brass knuckles off the nearby table, sliding them onto my fingers. “I know how these things work. I can appreciate the fact that you were following orders. And if you tell me where they came from, I might consider letting you go.”

I won’t, but I need to see how hard I’m going to have to push him for information. This guy is just a small piece of the puzzle.

“I don’t know. I swear.”

“Wrong answer.” I chuckle. Rearing my fist back, my first punch lands squarely on his jaw. Blood and fragments of his teeth fly across the room.

The hit releases something inside of me. Almost comfort. Solace. Satisfaction. Seeing that bastard bleed feels every bit as good as I thought it would, so I do it again. And again. And again until he can’t even muster a scream or a cry. Barely any reaction at all.

His head falls forward in defeat. I fist his hair, jerking it back up. “I want to know why.”

“It was nothing personal,” he squeaks out. “I’m sorry.”

He sputters blood as he speaks. The guy is in bad shape and if I don’t stop soon, he won’t live for me to do this another day. Quick and easy isn’t something I’m good at. Punishment and retribution is my specialty, and this is just a small dose of what this guy has coming over the next few weeks.

“Get him out of here.” A jagged growl escapes me.

Dante and Joe cart him off to one of our nearby holding cells while I rinse off. I can’t go home with his blood all over me, and a shower will clear my head. By the time I’m done, the two of them are waiting for me in my office.

“What now?” Dante asks, leaning against the edge of the table.

“He didn’t give you anything?” I rake my fingers through my hair. As fun as that was, I still don’t have the answers I’m looking for.

“We know the name of his boss, but from what I can gather, he’s just a low-level banger himself. We have no idea who’s calling it from above.”

“Then let’s get eyes on anyone associated with the gang. Maybe even put somebody inside.”

Both nod in agreement.

“So, how are things with the naughty nurse?” Dante smirks, trying to lighten the mood.

“She’s a doctor, Dante—a highly skilled trauma surgeon, to be exact. And the immature nicknames are gross and misogynistic, so don’t let me hear you disrespect her that way again.”

“Sorry man!” He holds his hands up. “I just thought—”

“No, Dante, that’s exactly the problem. You didn’t think.” I roll my eyes. “Don’t let it happen again.”

Dante recoils away, afraid to even speak now, but Joe eyes me suspiciously. Pretty soon, he chuckles and shakes his head. “I knew this was gonna happen.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You really like this girl, don’t you?” he asks.

Dante’s eyes widen as he catches on. “Wait, you’re fooling around with the…Erm, sorry. You’re fooling around with Maddie?”

Jesus Christ.

“We’re just seeing how things go. Nothing official.” I clench my jaw.

“But you slept with her.” Joe chuckles. “Sarah said you were in an uncharacteristically chipper mood when you dropped Ty off, but I figured it just had to do with our prisoner.”

“So what if I did? We’re two consenting adults. I don’t know why that’s any of your business.”

“Because you’re my best friend. And I happen to like seeing you happy.”