Page 21 of Unfettered

“You doing okay, Sarah?” Lio asks, worry clear in his dark emerald gaze.

“Fine,” she says in a clipped tone. “Their case is flimsy at best. The warrant going missing was a nice touch, though unnecessary. I suppose I do appreciate not having to stand in front of a judge, though. Especially since my lawyers probably would have been arrested for contempt.”

Carter grimaces. “I’ve already spoken to both David and Sinclair. David is… While he admires your dedication to your cause, he doesn’t approve of you choosing to stay with us. He wants you home.”

Lio’s expression hardens while Sarah sighs. “I spoke to him after I returned. He knows where I stand. I promised to see this through, and I am. You have me until the Senator is in your custody.”

“Sinclair isn’t impressed with David’s choice in lawyer, nor is he happy with you, Javi.” Carter turns his attention to my other side.

Javi grips the back on the chair in front of him, and stares the Council member down. “He’s the one who was throwing his ego all over the place. It’s not my fault he can dish it but not take it.”

I laugh, fully on my friend’s side. Sinclair may have been saved by Cristian, like I was, but he chose to keep his distance, while I felt safer nearer to Cris and Ten… Though our professions also played a part in that. As a lawyer, he gets to be hands-off and distant, while I literally have to be in the thick of things. Still, you’d think two people who came into the Family in similar ways would have common ground, but the guy’s a bigger asshole than Tennant and a psychopath to boot, or at least a sociopath. I doubt Javi got that read on him, though. Sinclair is a very good liar.

“He’s very good at his job. He knows who you are—your reputation, at least—and didn’t appreciate you butting in where you weren’t wanted. Please don’t piss him off.”

Javi says nothing, so Carter moves on, knowing he won’t get anything out of the psychiatrist. “I hope you take time for yourself today, Dr. Ranlen. Take tomorrow off too, if you’d like.”

She waves him off. “It was a stressful situation, but nothing I can’t handle. I wouldn’t be a good doctor if I let something unexpected shake me. I’m fine.”

Keegan seems like he’s going to argue, but she shoots him a look and he slumps in his chair, the concern etched all over his face. I am glad I’m an only child. Though they probably would have ended up like my parents rather than me, knowing my luck.

“Do you have an update on Nario?” Lio asks.

“I’d like to move him this evening, if possible,” I reply.

Sarah scoffs. “It was hard enough getting Lio transferred, and you want to move someone who just went through a double amputation?”

I can hear the judgment in her tone and it pisses me off. With a flick of my wrist, I slide my scalpel out from my sleeve. Sarah makes no indication that she’s noticed, but the men on the other side of the table tense.

“That was different. Those were your doctors. They had an honor code and followed the rules of the land. Murry doesn’t have an affiliation with that hospital—though, thankfully, he has hospital privilege there—and his hospital will back him up if there is a pissing contest between the two.

“Don’t think I wouldn’t have had Nario taken to the other hospital if I wasn’t sure Murry and his ortho friend could be called into yours. He’ll sign off on the transfer paperwork, no questions asked.” Well, no questions to anyone but me. I’m sure I’ll get a lecture, but that’s our love language.

Murry knows the deal, and he stays out of my business. I hate knowing I’ll owe him a favor after this, but that’s how things work between us. We’re not friends, but we’re not quite adversaries either. More…frenemies with benefits. Only the benefits don’t include sex.

“Oh sure, implicate another doctor so they risk going through the same thing I currently am,” she snaps.

I take a deep breath, trying not to take offense to her tone. “I’m very sorry for what you’re going through. Hell, I’m sorry again for what I put you through when Emilio was hurt,”—I still maintain we could have taken care of it, but I won’t argue with her—“but this situation is different. Murry knows the risks and he actively chooses to help. His only connection to this world is through me.” It's a small lie, but no one has to know that.

“No one is going to think anything is off about him transferring care of Nario over to me. When Enzo lost his leg, we did the same thing. As far as anyone was aware, he was taken to a private facility to heal. This is going to be exactly like that.

“You don’t have to approve, but it’s happening. Look at what you just went through. We cannot trust that Nario is safe. Not only that, his lovers need to see him, and them going to the hospital is a risk we cannot take.”

She lets out a harsh breath, but doesn’t argue, because what can she say? Nicolo, Antonio, and Jude cannot put their lives, or Nario’s, at stake just for a visit. And with the Senator’s reach, who the fuck knows what could happen should we leave him in the hospital for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

I hate the position this puts her in, and she may hate me for my ego and attitude, but she has the same fucking issue. Her stubbornness and determination to not be steamrolled is an issue.

I respect her, I do, but maybe it’s a good thing she took David up on his offer of a job. We’re friends, but we’re both egotistical in the way all doctors of our caliber are, and we cannot let our shortsightedness get in the way of the people who trust us with their lives—literally.

“Let me know what I can do,” she finally says, and I relax, nodding at her.

“I will, thank you.” Reaching out, I squeeze one of her hands, hoping she understands that I’m not doing this to steamroll her, or to overlook her competency.

She sighs but gives my hand a small squeeze in return before letting go. More of my tension eases, knowing this didn’t fuck up our fragile friendship. Wouldn’t that make going to visit Soren’s uncle and cousin awkward?

“Doc, how soon can you get Nario moved?” Jude asks.

“I’ll make the call to have Murry prep the transfer paperwork and get Nario ready for transport. I need a few hours of sleep before I head over there to oversee things, but if all goes well, this evening, maybe after dinner. Tomorrow morning at the latest. I will let you know.”