Page 127 of Bleed with Me

Continue, the demon whispered, clouding my judgment. Make him pay.

I twisted the blade again, drawing a gut-wrenching shriek from him. His entire body jerked violently, his legs kicking against the bed as more screams tore from his throat.

“P-please!” he cried, and I abruptly let him go. He fell back on the bed, pulling his knees to his chest, clutching the bleeding palm.

“Fucking bastard,” I barked, throwing the gloves into the bin.

With a few long strides, I pushed the door open and found an anxious Melody and Sasha in the hall.

“Call the clean-up team,” I commanded my bodyguard. “Tell them to advise Mr. Carlile to keep his mouth shut.”

Sasha nodded and pulled out his phone.

“Do you wish to help him?” I raised a brow at Melody, who kept glancing behind my back.

“He’s injured.” Her teeth sank into her lower lip. But years of working by my side taught her to be vigilant about my motives for hurting someone at work.

“He abuses women,” I revealed, opening the door for her. “Go there and help him if you want. I won’t stop you.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” I shrugged, knowing too well her father beat the crap out of her mother daily for fifteen years. “Listen to your doctor's instinct and fix his hand so he can punch another woman.”

She took a step back, blinking rapidly.

“It’s not right,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “We’re doctors.”

“Then.” I nodded toward Sonny’s quivering form. “Go help him. I’m going to check on Aryna.”

Without another word, I headed to the nurse’s desk, placed Aryna’s chart under my arm, and walked to the cafeteria to buy a chocolate cake. I needed to bribe her to stay still while I examined her wounds.

Adrenaline was still pumping through my veins when I walked through the halls to her room, but I pushed Carlile out of my mind. I had more important things to focus on than him—for example, Aryna’s health.

Her body was healing nicely, and the discharge day was getting closer. But my stomach knotted at the mere thought of letting her go, and questions plagued my mind.

Where would she go?

Would they place her into another foster family?

I knew the kids from the previous one were moved to an orphanage after Malin anonymously sent the evidence about the abuse to the social workers. But I didn’t want that for Aryna.

The thought sat in my chest like a stone. My angel was a frightened little girl who tried to be brave every time I entered her room. However, she needed someone to protect her and to give her a loving home.

Every instinct in me insisted that person was me. Maybe Mom was right. Maybe I was getting attached too fast. But I didn’t care.

“Hey, angel,” I greeted, my lips instantly stretching into a wide grin when I saw Aryna cuddling a huge teddy bear I’d bought her.

“Hello,” she chirped, sitting up too fast and instantly whining in pain. “Oww.” She pressed her hand to her tummy, her coral-blue eyes filling with tears.

“Easy,” I soothed, rushing to her. Gently, I removed her hand and examined the injury. “You need to be careful. We practiced sitting up, remember?”

“I’m sorry,” she muffled a sob, curling her tiny hands around her exposed torso. “I forgot.”

“It’s okay.” I brushed her golden locks away from her face, smiling softly. “I brought you a cake and a new book, but,” I paused dramatically, raising an index finger, “I need to check all the bandages first.”

“It will hurt.” Her mouth turned downward in a pout.

“It won’t,” I promised, moving the bear away because I had no place to sit. “And then I’ll read you a story. We’ll have a nice afternoon.” I wiggled my brows playfully, finally pulling a smile from her. “Deal?”