Chapter 2 - The Patient Who Knew Her Name
Lucian Maro opened his eyes eighteen hours later.
Ara was checking his chest tube when his hand suddenly closed around her wrist.
Not hard.
Just fast.
She looked down.
His gray eyes were clear.
“You’re awake.”
“Apparently.”
His voice was rough.
Ara checked the monitor.
“Do you know where you are?”
“Mercy General.”
“Your name?”
“Lucian Maro.”
“Date?”
“Wednesday.”
“President?”
Lucian stared at her.
“Is that medically necessary?”
“It tells me whether your brain works.”
“Then ask me something difficult.”
Ara almost smiled.
“Release my wrist.”
He did immediately.
She checked his pupils.
“You were shot twice.”
“I remember.”
“You lost enough blood to make your survival inconvenient.”
“For whom?”
“The nurses.”
Lucian watched her.
“You’re Dr. Voss.”
Ara stopped.
“You've been asking questions.”
“No.”
“Then how do you know my name?”
“My people told me.”
“Your people threatened my staff.”
Lucian’s expression changed.
“Who?”
“The large one with the shaved head.”
“Bruno.”
“He put a gun near me.”
Lucian was silent.
Ara adjusted his IV.
“If you're expecting gratitude for not letting him shoot me, save it.”
“I wasn't.”
“Good.”
“I was deciding what to do to Bruno.”
Ara faced him.
“You're going to do nothing.”
One eyebrow lifted.
“He threatened a surgeon while she was saving my life.”
“And I don’t want violence in my hospital.”
Lucian stared at her for several seconds.
Then he reached for the bedside phone.
Ara caught his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Bruno.”
“For what?”
“To tell him you outrank him.”
Despite herself, Ara laughed.
Lucian watched her carefully.
It was the first time she noticed what made him dangerous.
It wasn't volume.
It wasn't size.
It wasn't the men outside.
Lucian Maro barely moved.
People moved for him.
---
Bruno arrived three minutes later.
He looked at Lucian.
“Boss.”
Lucian pointed toward Ara.
“Apologize.”
Bruno blinked.
“What?”
Ara folded her arms.
Lucian’s voice remained quiet.
“You threatened Dr. Voss.”
“We didn’t know if—”
“Apologize.”
Bruno looked as though he'd rather swallow the hospital bed.
“Doctor. I apologize.”
Ara nodded.
“Accepted.”
Lucian continued.
“And no weapons visible anywhere on this floor.”
“Boss—”
“Did you misunderstand?”
“No.”
Bruno left.
Ara stared at Lucian.
“You actually control them.”
“That surprises you?”
“I assumed men like Bruno were uncontrollable.”
“Nobody is uncontrollable.”
Lucian’s gaze settled on her.
“They simply haven't met the right consequence.”
Before Ara could answer, Detective Helen Ward entered with her partner.
“Mr. Maro.”
Bruno immediately appeared behind her.
Ara stepped between them.
“Not in my ICU.”
Ward raised both hands.
“I'm here to ask questions.”
Lucian said, “Then ask.”
Ward approached.
“Who shot you?”
“I don't know.”
“That's difficult to believe.”
“Believe whatever helps you sleep.”
“You were ambushed near the river.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Your driver is dead.”
For the first time, Lucian’s expression cracked.
Only slightly.
“What?”
Ara watched him.
Ward continued.
“Anthony Bell. Forty-six. Died before paramedics arrived.”
Lucian looked toward the window.
“How many others?”
“Two injured.”
“Names?”
“That's enough,” Ara interrupted.
Ward turned.
“Doctor—”
“His pressure is climbing.”
“I need five minutes.”
“You have zero.”
Ward looked annoyed.
Lucian looked amused.
“Detective,” he said, “you should listen to her.”
“Why?”
“Because I did.”
Ward left.
Ara checked his monitor again.
Lucian spoke quietly.
“Anthony had two daughters.”
Ara said nothing.
“I was supposed to attend the older girl's graduation next spring.”
“Then recover.”
He looked at her.
“That sounded almost compassionate.”
“It was medical advice.”
“You're very committed to pretending you don't like people.”
“And you're very committed to talking after major surgery.”
Ara headed toward the door.
“Rest.”
“Dr. Voss.”
She turned.
“Thank you.”
This time there was no power in his voice.
No command.
Just a man who understood that he should have died.
Ara nodded once.
Then Bruno rushed into the room.
“Boss.”
Lucian immediately became someone else.
“What?”
Bruno looked at Ara.
Lucian said, “Speak.”
Bruno lowered his voice.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“Hospital access records.”
Ara frowned.
May you like
Bruno looked directly at her.
“Someone tried to enter Dr. Voss's apartment building forty minutes ago.”
