Page 31 of Thunder

“Solo?!” all three women snap at the same time, and Doc crosses his arms over his chest and confirms, “Solo.

Kathleen and Brit both open their mouths to object, but my girl beats them to it and denies it, “Oh hell no, not happening!”

“I thought you were itching for a solo surgery?!” Dr. Thomas goads, trying his fucking hardest but failing to keep his smirk off his face.

He’s about to trap her into explaining the weird pull that she’s having towards me, and I am not one bit sad about it.

“Well, yeah, like maybe I don’t know a gallbladder removal or a hernia repair or something but not this!” she snaps, “What if I damage the nerve further? Oh god, what if I tear the nerve?!”

Scottie’s eyes widen the more she speaks, and I swear she’s about to hyperventilate.

“Oh yeah, she is not operating on my brother, she looks ready to fall apart and is clearly not experienced!” Brit snaps, and Doc intervenes before I can and states, “Actually, she is. Even if it means you steal more animals, she’s doing the surgery, so stay out of it, Brit. I mean it. You’ve done nothing but butt in since we got here without thinking about the repercussions proving Thunder’s theory about you taking over right.”

Brit’s mouth parts in shock at her husband's rightful anger because he is right. She has butted in a lot where my care is concerned, trying to go against Dr. Thomas. Somehow even pissing off Axel, who didn’t have to house the brothers that rode up.

“Wait what?” Scottie gasps, “You steal animals?”

I finally let my laughter out at how pale my sister has gone, and Kathleen admits, “Several. If she thinks they are in danger, then she takes them, and the number of times she thought she was slick hiding them in her room growing up was ridiculous.”

“What about animals that are a danger to their owners? Do you take them?” Scottie asks, and this time Dr. Thomas laughs while we all look at her in confusion, and she points her finger at him and snaps, “It isn’t funny, Dr. Thomas, the cat is a demon, I tell you.”

“You are the one who adopted it,” Dr. Thomas laughs, and I raise a brow.

She adopted a cat?

“Only because I thought it needed saving!” Scottie retorts, and my sister chimes in, “You protected a cat?” awe lacing her voice.

“No!” my girl instantly snaps, “Felix isn’t a cat, he’s a demon who scratches me if I even attempt to walk past him and only likes affection when he wants it. I can’t even sleep after a night shift because the little monster claws at my legs!”

Dr. Thomas cackles while my sister finally relaxes and tries to hide her smile, and I mention, “Maybe he just needs a friend?”

Scottie narrows her eyes at me when my sister mentions, “I could get him a friend, you know…”

“Yeah, just what I need, two demon cats,” she mutters, causing my sister to giggle, and Scottie sighs, “Okay, enough about the cat. Dr. Thomas, I can’t do the surgery solo.”

“Yes, you can,” he says softly, and she reminds him, “I haven’t even passed my exam yet!”

“But you will, it’s next week, Scottie, you’ve got it in the bag,” he retorts, and I add, “If you don’t do the surgery then I’m walking out of this room.”

All eyes come my way with shock while Scottie narrows hers and accuses, “This was your idea!”

I grin and confess, “It was,” then state, “You do the surgery, or I walk- your choice, baby.”

Oh, if looks could kill...

Chapter 10

Scottie

I try to take steady breaths as I scrub my hands and arms, my body trembling slightly, my mind unable to stop running wild.

I just did that, I mean, it really did just happen.

“You did good, Scottie,” Doc says as he leans against the wall behind me, watching my every move with concern while Dr. Thomas goes with a still unconscious Bradley to his room.

Did good? Really? I think the man is delusional because I didn’t –at least I don’t think I did…

Every step I’ve just done, I am second-guessing myself, and I feel like I’m about to go into panic mode.