Possessed by Passion (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 9)

“She’s not going to be here for good, Doctor. We’re taking her home.” Dustin turned to her. “Baby, you don’t have to do this.”

“It’s okay. You’ve been right all along.”

He knew exactly what she meant. “Maybe I was right, but I went about it the wrong way.”

“We can talk about all that later, honey.” The love of his life smiled down on him, and he knew everything really was going to be okay.

Chapter Sixteen

Paris held Dustin’s hand. Thankfully, she’d been able to keep her trembles at bay out of necessity. Surgeons couldn’t perform with shaking hands. But now, scalpel free, she was shivering from head to toe in the Recovery Room, realizing how close she came to losing him. “How are you feeling, honey?”

Dustin squeezed her hand. “Never better, baby. How long did you keep me under?”

Mick had his arm around her shoulder. “It’s a little after midnight, bro. You were out just over an hour.”

Dr. Alex Champion stood on the other side of Dustin’s bed with his father, the sheriff. “Paris did a fantastic job with you, Dr. Ryder. She’s left you with a scar that will be barely noticeable.”

“Damn, I was hoping it would be a big one I could tell our kids about.”

Paris’s eyes widened. That was the first time she’d ever heard Dustin mention children.

Mick laughed. “You sound like Josh Phong, bro. He’s proud of his scar, too, calling it his war wound.”

“Josh should be, and so should Jacob after what they did. War wound? I like the sound of that. What do you think, Dr. Paris? Shall we call it my war wound from now on?”

She grinned. “Call it whatever you like once you’re healed. I’m just glad you’re doing so well.”

“Like I said before, Paris, you did a fantastic job.” Alex smiled. “Some of the best work I’ve seen in surgery in a long time.”

“What I did was routine. Nothing special.”

“I disagree. You’re a terrific surgeon.”

Sheriff Champion nodded. “I have to agree with my son, miss. You acted quick and thoroughly under extreme pressure. I’m a retired physician myself, and I’ve seen many a more seasoned doctor fold under lesser situations.”

“And sheriff,” Dustin said. “It’s not the first time she’s had a gun to her head and saved the day.”

“Seriously?”

Dustin recounted the event back in Phoenix where she helped the little girl. Mick filled in the rest of the details. Their version was making her seem bigger than life, which she knew better.

“I did what I had to do at the time. Don’t we all?”

“Downplay it all you want, Dr. Cottrell, but you did great work today and obviously back in Phoenix, too.” Alex stared hard at her, Dustin, and Mick. It was obvious to her he was accessing more than just the medical situation.

“It’s been a long night already. Rest up. I’ll come back at noon to get your statements.” Sheriff Champion walked to the door. “By the way, do any of you know a Mr. Easton Black?”

“We all do,” Paris told him. “He leads a team for the CIA that is stationed in Destiny. Did he contact you?”

“He sure did, miss. Nice guy. Actually, I know about him and Shannon’s Elite. I’ve worked with Jena, a woman on his team who specializes in data mining.”

“Jena’s a sweetheart,” she said.

“Black is working with me on this case. Apparently, Destiny is a lot like Wilde. Everyone takes care of each other.”

“I couldn’t have put it any better,” Dustin said.

The sheriff smiled. “Black’s team has already uncovered details about your shooter, a Mr. Peter Barkley. Apparently, he was on the payroll of Cindy Trollinger.”