Page 66 of The Doctor

“My family wants me to become a doctor. To follow in my father’s footsteps.”

“And you don’t want to?”

He shook his head, almost violently. “I’m… squeamish. Is that the right word? The sight of blood makes me…” He blinked quickly, and I watched as the color drained from his face.

“Oh! Oh my.” I dragged him over to the sofa, sitting down beside him. “Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?” Zee asked, concern lacing through his voice.

Mic gave a half-hearted smile. “I’m okay.”

“He’s squeamish.” I took his hands in mine. “He just got a little faint, that’s all.”

Zee stepped closer, stopping in front of the two of us. Mic peeked up at him. “Clara saved me. If she hadn’t been holding on to me, I would have fallen to the floor.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

“Thank you. I’ve never had someone act so quickly on my behalf. Especially not anyone as beautiful as you.”

I couldn’t have stopped the blush rising to my cheeks if I’d wanted to. Mic was perfect. He was handsome. He was kind. He was so naïve and fell into my plan as if we’d gone over it together one hundred times.

Beside me, Mic radiated innocence, while next to the couch, Zeno’s rage needed its own zip code. The man who’d refused my affection all week was suddenly jealous of the young man my age.

“You’re very sweet,” I murmured, rubbing my hand along Mic’s bicep.

His thick bicep.

Damn. If I hadn’t been madly in love with Zeno my entire life, Mic would have made for a wild ride.

Zee grabbed my wrist, yanking me off the couch and pushing me away. “Let me take a look.” He fussed over Mic while the guy insisted he was fine, the entire time blocking my view.

I turned toward the kitchen, feeling like the monster in my head was satisfied, only to run into Nadia.

“I can’t tell you how thankful I am to you and Zeno, for taking the time to help us out of a… horrible situation.” The look on her face, the absolute goodness I saw there, made my throat tighten and my stomach clench. When she reached for my hands, I let her take them.

“Of course.” I glanced at Zee, whose attention was on Mic. “I’m just happy we could help.”

The lie stung, because really, I had no part in this at all. I was only here because Zee wouldn’t let me out of his sight.

“When my cousin, Mario, told me he’d talked to Zeno, I was sure things would just get worse.”

“What do you mean?”

Nadia blinked rapidly, then squeezed my hands. “Zeno is a Syndicate doctor,” she said with a shrug. “My in-laws expected Mario to secure Michele’s future doing the same. I just imagined…”

Nadia wiped the heel of her palm across her cheek, staring at the men talking on the couch.

“My life has never been mine to live,” she said quietly. “Twice, I was torn away from the life I’d tried to create here in New York. I was forced into one loveless marriage, and I’m sure they were arranging another, now that Damiano is gone.”

“What?” My mouth dropped open as my gaze whipped back to her.

She shrugged again. “Damiano’s younger cousin has been around the house more. There’s been hushed conversations, and I can’t help but believe they were once again planning my life for me.”

“That’s just wrong.”

Nadia smiled and wrapped an arm around my waist in an awkward sideways hug. “It means so much to me that there are people like you in this world. People who will buck family tradition in the name of doing what’s right.”

Do what’s right.