“I did. A few days ago. I’m sorry I didn’t call and let you know in advance.”
It’s not really protocol—he isn’t my boss—but I’d like to say he’s a friend. I worked closely with him during my residency, and he was there for me during my recovery from the accident. He deserved to know; I just didn’t know how to tell him.
“It’s alright, you don’t need to apologize. Does that mean you’ve moved, or are you still in San Francisco?”
“No, I moved into my family’s cabin.”
The sigh he lets out isn’t one of relief… and I’m not sure what it is, but it makes my chest tighten. “Where exactly?”
“Colorado.” I trust him, but even still, telling him where I am makes my stomach twist. “Why?”
He exhales sharply. “Ayden… Michael reported you to the hospital.”
My chest caves in. He’d threatened that before, but I thought it was just an empty threat. I’ve done nothing wrong—I mean, at the time he was here, I hadn’t. Honestly… I still haven’t. Nothing, other than an image, about what I’m doing with Keoni is wrong.
And I’ll die on that hill.
“What… did he report?”
He groans. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but I know it isn’t true. To be frank, if you’d started looking for a job or found one here in California, I would’ve told you to wait.”
“What did he say, Dr. Yadav?”
“That… you’re… participating in incest?—”
“What?!” My voice comes out too loud, echoing around the small space, and I know everyone heard me in the lobby. Heart racing, I rush through the second set of sliding doors and out into the freezing air, moving down the side of the building until I’m alone. “That’s not true! I would… never!”
“Ayden, I know. You don’t have to convince me of anything.”
“With who? I don’t understand. Keoni isn’t a blood relative.”
Silence stretches over the line as I round the corner, pressing my back against the cold stone wall.
“He reported that you did it with your sister. Who’s?—”
I nearly drop my phone, but I can’t stop my legs from giving out, causing me to collapse to the ground. Shaking overtakes me, so violent and uncontrollable.
“Ayden? Is Keoni your stepbrother?”
I’m going to be sick.
“Y-Yes…”
Dr. Yadav curses under his breath, then sighs heavily. “Listen, I’m already telling you more than I should. You need a lawyer—a good legal team. He claims you sent your stepbrother after him when he confronted you, and that he threatened to kill him.”
“No… no, no! That’s not what happened at all!”
“I know. I believe you.”
My stomach twists into tight, fiery knots, acid burning up my throat. The breakfast I’d made this morning claws its way up, threatening to paint the icy grass beside me.
“I-I have a lawyer already. I’m… getting a restraining order. He came here. He attacked me!”
“Did you report it?”
“Yes. I had help.”
“Good. Jesus Christ, I always knew that guy was a piece ofshit.” Another sigh, ragged this time. “Did Michael point a gun at him?”
