Dr. Fake It - A Possessive Doctor Romance

“More like your money.” She smiled up at me but didn’t pull away. The street light reflected in her eyes and I had the strangest feeling, like we were meant to be in this moment, like everything that had happened had led me to her, to this street, this quiet block with its dark streetlights and its cars jammed up against the sidewalk. There were no other people around and the houses were quiet, their stoops empty and swept clear, the evening air cool and comfortable. I hesitated then stopped walking, and she turned to face me.

I wanted to say something, or to pull her against me and taste her lips—but that was when I saw the guy walking toward us.

I don’t know what made me react. Maybe it was the look in his eye or the clothes he wore. But he came toward us, walking fast, face intense and serious. He had on all black, which was strange, and his right hand was clutching something beneath his short nylon jacket.

“What’s wrong?” Erica asked, her hands on my chest.

I took her shoulders and pushed her aside as the guy got closer. She cursed and tripped on her heels, stumbling against the car as the guy pulled a knife and lunged at me.

The blade sliced across my abdomen as I turned to the side. I grunted in pain and brought my left fist up to smash into his chin. He grunted and staggered as I stumbled aside and whipped my jacket off. He turned to me, coming again, and I wrapped my jacket up like a rope. He lunged, stabbing, and I caught his wrist in my jacket, taking another cut on my arm as I did it. Blood stained my sleeve as I yanked him off balance then smashed my forehead into his nose. He grunted in surprise and I felt blood on my face as I brought my knee up to connect with his elbow.

He shouted and the blade fell from his hand. He must not have expected me to know how to fight. I released my jacket and punched him again in the stomach then again in the face. Erica screamed something and the guy staggered to the side. I kicked him in the knee and he toppled to the ground. I kicked him again in the face and I felt something crunch—his nose, or his jaw, I wasn’t sure.

I turned away from him. Erica stared in horror. I felt blood on my side, blood on my arm, and the guy’s blood on my face. “Are you okay?” I asked her.

“I’m fine.” She stepped toward me. “You’re bleeding.”

I grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

She let me tug her along. Several people came out of their houses and stood in their doorways staring down at me, but I kept my head down and hurried forward, leaving the attempted killer out on the sidewalk.

I got lucky. He underestimated me, but that wouldn’t happen again. Cosimo would send more guys, or next time they’d have guns. At the very least they’d know I was dangerous, and they’d be ready.

My place wasn’t far. I hustled Erica inside and made sure she was okay before stripping off my shirt and checking my wound. It wasn’t terrible, but it was relatively deep. I cursed and stormed upstairs with Erica on my heels.

I ripped into my cabinet and pulled out my medicine kit. I cleaned the wound then put on antiseptic with a grunt before putting on a bandage. I washed the blood off my face the best I could then sat on the tub, the water running pink. Erica lingered in the doorway, staring at me with a horrified expression.

“It’ll be fine,” I said. “We’re alive, right?”

“He stabbed you. He almost killed you.”

I waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Gavin—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said again, though it came out harsher than I meant it.

Her face shut down. “I guess you don’t need me then.”

“Wait, Erica—”

She shook her head then walked away.

I cursed and stared up at the ceiling.

The night had been so nice. Dinner went well, and for a moment back there, I thought we might kiss again, like we had in her mother’s room, like we had when we’d gotten married.

Instead, I was a bloody mess. I’d need stitches, but that wouldn’t be a big deal. Fiona could do it better than most doctors. I texted her then groaned as I thought about how fucked up this all was, and how the hell I was going to get everyone out of it alive.14EricaI changed out of that uncomfortable dress, hands shaking with adrenaline, as Fiona took over downstairs. I stared at myself in the mirror, shaken and barely recognizing the girl that stared back, before I forced myself to head back down. I sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor with my back against the cabinets while Gavin perched on a stool and Fiona stitched him up. She didn’t say much, only went about the job as simply and as quickly as possible. Gavin’s face was tense, but he didn’t show any pain, and I was probably the most uncomfortable person in the room.