I take pleasure in the way the doctor blanches, but it’s not enough to stifle the ire currently burning through me.“I’m trusting you with my loves, and I swear to fuck, Doc, if Roman wasn’t on the Council, I’d kidnap them all and we’d go somewhere very fucking far away from here. So you better hope this guy is worth gambling your life over, because if he fucks with their heads…”
I don’t care about Javi’s pointed comment about me. My past is the past. Yes, my mother fucked me up, along with the rest of my family, but I took care of that when I looked them in the eye as their life drained from them. So he can poke and prod all he wants, but he’s going to end up disappointed.
I might be Ten and Hollis’sLittle Lamb, but in no way does that make me weak or incapable. Javi, Doc, and any other of the mental health professionals they bring in, will be in for a rude awakening if they think they can steamroll over me. I’ve played quiet and docile for too long already, allowing myself to be put into a box, but now that I’ve found my footing with my lovers? I won’t sit back while someone tries to playOperationwith my head.
“Javi mentioned a fleet of therapists…” Carter says cautiously.
Doc shrugs. “I figured he would have a list. He’s right that this will probably take more than one person. After all, Hollis and Lio aren't the only ones who need to be in therapy, but Roman, Allesandro, and Cristian as well.”
I laugh harshly. “If you think Roman is going to see a therapist… After what happened with Tennant? You’re lucky Hollis loves us enough to want to get better and doesn’t refuse.”
“Roman doesn’t get a choice,” Doc snaps. He looks to Carter for support. “I love Roman, you know I do. Hell, I was in the room when he was born because Cristian didn’t trust the hospital staff. But I think we can all admit he…struggles with emotional regulation at times. I’m not saying it’s bad to have emotions, far from it; I think it’s what makes Roman such a goodBoss. However, there’s something deeper there, paired with his low self-esteem and this current depressive episode, and I think we will be remiss to not seek further help.
“Do I expect it to be easy or normal?” Doc shakes his head. “Not at all. None of you fuckers are normal, and I think you could spend years in therapy and still not get close to society’s definition of the word, but I do believe it’ll help us all in the long run.”
Carter lets out a breath. “Okay. We’ll try it. But if I find his methods to be too…unethical, I’m killing him myself. I don’t care if that makes me a hypocrite.”
“Fair.” Doc inclines his head.
“If we’re done here, I have places to be, but I will be watching.”
Pretending I don’t hear Carter trying to stop me, I leave the medical suite entirely. He and Keegan are capable of dealing with the nit-picky shit that comes with bringing a new person into the household. I am…done.
Too much has happened in such a short period of time—from the original Bosses’ kidnapping to everything that’s transpired over the past week, and I’m just done.
Right now, I have my Boys waiting for me, and I plan on wearing all four of us out before cuddling with my Sweetheart, because Daddy cuddles aren’t just for the Boy, and I’m not ashamed to say I need them. Everything else can wait. Nothing will ever be more important than those who’ve managed to get under my skin, and I’ll make sure theyallknow it, one way or another.
Glancing around my new office, I wrinkle my nose in distaste. I’m definitely going shopping. There’s a metal filing cabinet (ugly), a dark walnut desk that looks brand new but is lacking all personality, and a good office chair—not that I’ll be sitting in it much. The computer… Really, I expected better.Isn’t Hollis a tech guy?
But still, there’s no artwork. Hell, not even a fake plant. White walls…so boring and unoriginal. It’s fucking horrible here. But that’s fine. I’ll just charge them extra for decorating. I’m not going to see subjects in a sterile room. I hope they have something better for the therapists I plan on recruiting…
Sighing, I lock my folders in the file cabinet, sliding the key in my pocket, next to my favorite knife. I have a couple on me at all times, but the one I carry in my pocket is special. It’s from myfirst vengeance kill, and was a gift from Ely when I passed my psychological evaluation.
I exit the room they’ve given me in the medical wing, unfortunately, and go to hunt down the other doctors working here. I want to get started on my subjects today, and that means supplementing my knowledge with their professional recommendations and debriefing. Granted, the fuckers are probably wrong about, well, everything, but I understand the need for professional courtesy. I can at least pretend to listen to their bullshit.
I find Dr. Sarah Ranlen standing outside a room, charting. Taking a moment, I stare at her, my mind reciting various facts, like her past traumas, her relation to Keegan, the fact she’ll be leaving soon, and that she’s the one doctor Lio trusts. Hmm. But really, I only have one question.
“How do you stand those heels?” The question slips out, but I don’t try to take it back. I’m actually quite concerned for her health.You would think a doctor would know better…
Dr. Ranlen turns toward me, raising a very well-manicured eyebrow as she examines me with cool gray eyes. Most would likely be intimidated. It makes her a good hospitalist, I’m sure. But hell, I have to stop myself from laughing. She’s like an unruly kitty going against me. If she’s not careful, she’ll end up finding out just why curiosity kills the cat.
“Dr. Javi Graves?” she drawls while holding out her hand. I shake it, happy it’s a solid handshake, not limp like too many others in the profession. “And as for how I stand it…carefully. But they make excellent tools if idiots want to make an enemy out of me.”
I’m impressed, which is rare. Her razor thin smile matches the pointiness of those heels, and yeah, I can imagine she’d be able to do some damage. I'm still not sure it’s worth it, but being around such excitable personalities, it makes sense that she’dchoose such an innocuous looking weapon. I’m kind of sad to lose her to the Bratva after first impressions.
“I wanted to get debriefed before making introductions. Would you be able to do that or shall we gather Doc as well?”
Dr. Ranlen furrows her brow before sighing. “We should have Doc be part of it. He has a more comprehensive knowledge of Hollis, and well, Lio, at this point, is better under Doc’s care than mine. As Doc has pointed out, I’m too close to the patient.”
I wave for her to lead the way, feeling impressed by her willingness to heed Doc’s warning of being too close, and utter disdain for the fact she let ties affect a patient’s care. This is the problem with people. Always bonding. It’s a horrible habit they need to break, especially doctors.
We walk into a break room where Doc is reading a book. He glances up at us, annoyance passing over his face as he sighs and sets the book aside. I’m surprised by how tired he looks. With Sarah leaving, I hope they plan on getting him some extra support. Someone he doesn’t need to kill.
“Dr. Graves would like to be debriefed on our patients,” Sarah chirps as she sits down lightly on the couch.
“Just Javi, please.” I smile. I hate formality. Even if I’m up to my elbows in someone’s guts, or deep inside their psyche, I would much rather be on a first name basis.
Sarah merely nods, but waits for Doc to kick off the meeting. I notice there’s not an extension of an offer to be informal with her. Hmm. Curious.
