Chapter 2

Back in the cabin, Teresa finally snapped. "Dr. Johnston, the patient doesn't have 15 minutes! She won't even last for five! She's hemorrhaging! This is a severe placental abruption!"

Corey whipped around and glared at her. "What does a fresh-off-the-boat intern like you know? I've spent 30 years in medicine. I've forgotten more than you'll ever learn. I said she's fine, so she isn't going to die."

He turned back to me, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Matthew, if you don't do what I say today, you can pack your bags tomorrow. And it won't just be you. I'll have your mother kicked out of the ICU immediately."

The threat against Mom's life made my heart sink.

I gritted my teeth, my eyes burning. "Corey Johnston, you're literally murdering this woman."

He let out a cold laugh. "Murder? That's a heavy word. In this hospital, I am God. My word is the law. I'll ask you one last time. Which way are you turning?"

The emergency dispatch radio suddenly erupted with noise.

As I reached for it, Corey snatched the receiver first.

A man's frantic, heart-wrenching sobs came through the line. "Doctor! Where are you? My wife is fading! She couldn't even talk just now. Please, hurry up!"

Frowning, Corey pulled the receiver away from his ear. "Keep it down. And please, stay calm."

He spoke in an official tone, but his voice was full of impatience. "This is Corey Johnston, director of Ashvale Hospital. I'm personally overseeing this transport. What are you so worried about? Women bleed when they give birth. You families always love to overreact."

The man on the other end was clearly desperate. I could hear the rhythmic thuds of him banging his head against the floor.

"No, Dr. Johnston! She has a blood-clotting disorder! The doctors said a hemorrhage would kill her! Please get her to the hospital. I'll do anything you need me to!"

Corey snorted. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. We're moving at top speed."

With that, he hung up and reached over to kill the power to the entire communication system.

The cabin fell into a haunting silence.

"How could you turn off the radio?" I hissed.

Corey pulled a pack of chips from his bag. "He yapped too much. It's giving me a headache. These country folk have zero class and even less medical knowledge."

He pointed toward an upcoming off-ramp. "Move it. Exit here. I just remembered that the viral bakery in Brackford is having a sale today. My daughter loves their strawberry mousse. If we're late, the line will be out the door."

I kept my foot on the gas and gripped the steering wheel tightly, completely ignoring his commands.

The ambulance streaked past the exit like a bolt of white lightning.

Corey's face turned livid when he realized I was defying him. "Matthew Brock! How dare you ignore me!"

He suddenly unbuckled his seatbelt and lunged across the seat to grab my steering wheel. "Pull over! I'm firing you right now!"

As we struggled in the cramped space, the ambulance swerved dangerously across the lanes.

In the back, Teresa screamed, "Stop it! Her heart rate is down to 40!"

I shoved Corey back with everything I had and locked the doors. "Corey, if you touch this wheel again, I will drive us all off this road and end it right now!"

My eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged beast's, as I glared at him intensely.

Stunned by the look in my eyes, Corey dared not lunge again.

He slumped back into the passenger seat, frantically smoothing out his rumpled white coat. "Fine. You ungrateful bastard. Just you wait. When we get to the hospital, I'm going to make sure you're ruined."