All Chapters of THE DON'S DOCTOR : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The gunshot victim was bleeding on my table and I had sixty seconds to decide if I was the kind of doctor who let patients die just because someone was holding a gun to her head.Spoiler alert: I wasn't."He's dying," the gunman said. The cold press of metal against my temple told me he wasn’t narrating the obvious. He was warning me.I clamped the femoral artery with hands that miraculously weren’t shaking. Six years out of med school, and apparently my hidden talent was performing vascular surgery while someone threatened to redecorate the walls of my clinic with my medulla oblongata."He needs a neurosurgeon," I said, tying off the bleeder. The bullet is near his spine, one wrong move and he's either dead or paralyzed.""Then don't make a wrong move.""That's not how medicine works."His hand moved before I could process it, catching my chin, tilting my face up with exactly enough pressure to make his point without breaking bone."That man is my brother. And he won't die in some ba

I made my decision at midnight.My mind replayed every scenario. The failed escape, Vito, the snipers, Frank’s words. There was no running.Found Frank still in his office. Massive desk, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the compound. Didn't get a proper look the previous time. He looked up from his laptop. "Jane. I wasn't expecting you until morning.”"I made my decision.”"And?""Three months. I work for you, treat your people, keep quiet. After which you give me enough money to disappear and never contact me again."He stood and walked round the desk, stopped close enough that I could smell his cologne, something expensive that reminded me of whiskey and cedar, with an undertone of gunpowder."Deal."He extended his hand, deliberate and steady.I stared at it, at the tattoos covering his forearm, a family crest, words in Latin I couldn't read. Probably something about honor, or blood or loyalty unto death.This was a mistake. I knew it was a mistake, but I'd made worse mistakes

Elowen agreed to meet in New York.Frank arranged everything. The location, security and a backup plan in case anything went wrong."I'm coming with you.""That's not necessary.""It's completely necessary. You're walking into a meeting with someone who might be compromised. Who might be working with Dr. Chen.” He checked his gun. "I'm coming.""Fine."The meeting was set for 8 PM. At a restaurant Frank owned. Where he controlled the exits. The cameras. Everything."She won't come if she knows this is a setup.""It's not a setup. It's protection." Frank adjusted his suit.At 7:55, Elowen walked in.She looked older, but it was her. Same steady hands, same way of scanning a room before entering."Jane. Oh my God. You're really alive."I stood. She ran towards me and grabbed me, held on like I might disappear again."I went to your funeral Jane," she whispered against my shoulder. "I gave the eulogy. How are you?”"I know. I'm sorry. I had to disappear.""Why?"We sat. Frank remained st

Three days.That's how long I avoided Frank.Three days of treating minor injuries, organizing supplies with Rosabella, and pretending I wasn't thinking about his offer.Stay or go.Simple question. Impossible answer."You're thinking too loud," Rosabella said, pulling me back from my thoughts."Sorry.”"Don't apologize, you have to decide if you want this or not.”"How did you know?""Everyone knows. This isn't exactly a large operation. So what's it going to be?""I don't know.""Yes, you do. You're just scared to admit it."She was right. I'd known since Boston what I was going to choose.I found Frank in the compound's private lounge at sunset. He sat at the bar, laptop open, whiskey beside him."Jane. I was wondering when you'd show up.”“I have an answer.”“Alright.” He closed his laptop, gave me his full attention. I took a deep breath, counted to two then let it out. “I'm leaving.”His expression didn’t change, no anger, no disappointment. Just… nothing. “I see.”“I can't do

I woke up sore.Not the bad kind. The kind that came with a specific memory attached. Frank's hands, the way he'd said my name, the particular look on his face right before—I turned my head.He was already awake. Lying on his back, one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling with the focused expression of someone running through problems in order of priority. Then he felt me watching and looked over."You're staring." I sat up slowly. Found the sheet. Wrapped it around myself in a way that was probably pointless given the night we'd just had but felt necessary in the daylight.The room was quiet. Outside, somewhere in the compound, I could hear the distant sounds of the morning shift changing. Guards. Voices. The ordinary machinery of Frank Costello's world continues to turn."Frank.""Mm.""I need to tell you something." I looked at my hands. "Something I should have told you earlier."He turned onto his side. Gave me his full attention the way he always has. Completely, with