She looks between us, terror evident in her face.But something else flickers there too, a spark of the same determination I saw earlier.“No,” she whispers, then louder, “no, I don’t.”
Jason’s face contorts with rage.“You fucking bitch,” he snarls, lunging forward.“After everything I’ve done for you “
I step fully in his path, blocking his access to Daphne.“That’s enough.Leave now, or I’ll call the police.”
His laugh is ugly, unhinged.“Police in this town?They don’t give a shit about clinic trash.”His hand shoots out, shoving me hard enough that I stumble back against the desk.“Get out of my way, faggot doctor.”
The slur barely registers.I’ve heard worse, but the physical contact crosses a line.I straighten, drawing myself to my full height.“Last warning.Leave my clinic, now.”
“Or what?”he sneers, taking another step toward Daphne, who’s pressed herself against the wall, one arm protectively curved around her still flat stomach.“You going to stop me?You and what army?”
“Not an army,” comes a cold voice from the doorway.“Just me.”
We all turn to see Zach filling the frame, his expression carved from stone.Eye’s locked, coldly focused.He’s in full club regalia—cut, boots, the works—and the look in his eyes makes my blood run cold.I’ve seen that look before.It never ends well for whoever it’s directed at.
“Zach,” I say, relief and worry warring in my voice.“This is Jason.He was just leaving.”
Jason’s eyes widen as recognition dawns.“Slaughter,” he breathes, taking an instinctive step back.“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“This is my clinic,” Zach says, his voice deceptively calm as he steps into the room.“And that’s my doctor you just put your hands on.”He glances at Daphne, his expression softening marginally.“You okay, sweetheart?”
She nods, too terrified to speak.
“Good.”Zach’s attention returns to Jason, all softness vanishing.“Now, I think the doctor told you to leave.And I suggest you listen.”
Jason’s face cycles through fear, confusion, and finally, a desperate bravado.“You don’t understand, man.She’s carrying my kid.She’s trying to keep it when we agreed?—”
“I don’t give a fuck what you agreed,” Zach cuts him off, moving closer with the fluid grace of a predator.“What I care about is that you came into my clinic, assaulted my doctor, and frightened a pregnant woman.That’s three strikes.You’re out.”
Jason’s hand moves toward his waistband, a motion I recognize from too many ER traumas.“Gun!”I shout, already moving toward Daphne to shield her.
But Zach is faster.Before Jason can fully draw the weapon, Zach has him slammed against the wall, one hand crushing Jason’s wrist until the gun clatters to the floor, the other at his throat.The move is so quick, so efficient, that it’s over before I can fully process what’s happening.
“Bad move,” Zach growls, his face inches from Jason’s.“Very bad move.”
Jason struggles uselessly against Zach’s grip, face reddening as oxygen becomes an issue.“You’re dead,” he chokes out.“When my family hears…”
“Your family?”Zach’s laugh is cold, humorless.“You mean Riggs?The Reaper president?”He leans closer, his voice dropping to a whisper I can barely hear.“I’m the one who killed him.”
All fight drains from Jason’s body, replaced by naked terror as the implications sink in.Zach releases him, and he slides down the wall, legs suddenly unable to support him.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Zach says, stepping back but keeping himself between Jason and the rest of us.“You’re going to leave this clinic.You’re going to leave town.And you’re never going to contact Daphne again.If I hear you’ve come within a hundred yards of her or this clinic, what happened to Riggs will look like a mercy killing compared to what I’ll do to you.”
Jason’s eyes dart between Zach, Daphne, and me, calculating his odds and apparently finding them insufficient.He nods once, a jerky motion born of fear rather than agreement.
“Good boy,” Zach says, the false praise dripping with menace.He bends to retrieve the gun, checking it before tucking it into his waistband.“I’ll keep this as a reminder of our agreement.”
Tiana appears in the doorway, two prospects behind her.“Everything okay in here?”
“Fine,” Zach says, not taking his eyes off Jason.“These gentlemen are going to escort our guest out.Make sure he leaves town.”He glances at the prospects.“Follow him to the county line.Make sure he understands the consequences of returning.”
They nod, moving forward to haul Jason to his feet.He goes without resistance, the fight completely drained from him.As they pass Daphne, he looks at her one last time, something unreadable passing across his face before the prospects hustle him out.
The silence that follows is deafening.Daphne remains pressed against the wall, her arms wrapped protectively around herself.I move to her side, medical instincts taking over.
“Are you all right?”I ask gently.“Do you need to sit down?”
She nods, letting me guide her back to the chair.Her eyes never leave Zach, a mixture of fear and gratitude in her gaze.
