Page 103 of The Sister's Curse

I opened the front door, and she showed no interest in following me inside. She curled up in a fluffy ball on the seat of the chair.

“If you change your mind…” I began, but she closed her eyes.

Gibby circled behind me into the house, tail tucked between his legs.

Nick was home. He was sitting in his scrubs on the couch, staring at the television. His posture was slumped. Gibby scrambled up to lie in his lap.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He didn’t look at me. “I’ve been placed on administrative leave.”

I sat down beside him and took his hand. “What happened?”

“I got called in on the carpet by Dr.Floyd for a HIPAA violation.”

“A HIPAA violation?”

“Yeah. For unauthorized searching, and sharing patient records.”

I sucked in my breath. “The people who had benzene in their lungs. But they were your patients—”

“The EPA started nosing around. They learned about the benzene thing through you. The hospital went nuclear that I shared details of patients’ files with you.” His tone was flat, unemotional.

“But…isn’t there an exception for public health hazards?” I protested. “If Copperhead Valley Solvents has been dumping shit in the river and—”

“They’ve targeted me. And I’m guilty.”

“I’m sorry.”Fuck.I was to blame for all of it.

We sat in silence for a moment, that useless apology ringing around us.

“What happens now?” I asked. This was beyond my ken.

“Depends on what the investigation finds. I could get fined. Sued. Lose my license.”

“No.” My hands balled into fists. “I’ll take the blame. I’ll tell them that I demanded the information at gunpoint. I won’t let this stand—”

He shook his head. “You can’t affect their process. They have to review it. We’ll see what happens. But for now, one thing’s certain. My application to the university’s primary care office in the city is tanked.”

I wrapped both of my hands around his cold one. I’d fucked up. I was chasing this case, and hadn’t considered what this would mean for Nick—Nick and all the stupid fucking rules. “This is all my fault.”

“No,” he sighed. “I should’ve known better.”

He turned his gaze to me for the first time, and his brows drew together. “What happened to you?”

I looked down. I was rumpled and wet, and I smelled like smoke. Parts of my hair and jacket were burned. “I’m okay.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah.”

I glanced at the black television screen. I hadn’t realized he wasn’t watching anything.

“I’m worried about you,” he said. “You aren’t invincible. One day, there will be a fire or a bullet you can’t dodge, and I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not going to. No matter what.”

I meant it. Nick had given up so much for me…and now his career was in jeopardy. I couldn’t help but wonder if this sudden inquiry was a way to get me to drop my investigation. I didn’t know how tight Sumner and his friends were with the hospital administrators or the board.Fuck.