Unbreakable (35 page)

Then I turned and walked away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Drake

Unfortunately, Lisa was not going to give up easily.

After a long morning of surgery and rounds, I was only too happy to leave the hospital early so I could meet Ken and the band at O’Riley’s for an early practice. I had to check on patients before I left the hospital, but then we’d meet and have a meal, practice in the bar, working on a new set of Brit Invasion songs by the Yardbirds and Dave Clark Five.

“Where are you going in such a rush?” Lisa asked as I tried to slip out of the conference room without making any small talk with her.

“Checking on patients before I leave.”

“You’re going to happy hour with us?” she said and it was then I remembered that our group had decided to go out together for Thursday happy hour.

“No can do. I’m meeting my band for a bite and then we have a practice. Gotta run,” I said and tried to slip through the doorway without stopping.

“Sounds like fun. Where are you playing?”

“Gotta run,” I said, feigning that I didn’t hear her. I turned and walked briskly down the hallway to get the hell out of there before she could ask me any more about the practice. I did not want her coming.

“
Drake
,” she called out, her voice sounding exasperated. “Wait up.” I heard her footsteps behind me and rolled my eyes. I didn’t slow down. Instead, she ran to keep up.

“Where are you playing?” she said again.

“You can’t come,” I said, trying not to sound too impatient. “We’re working on a new set and I’d rather not have anyone hear it yet.”

“So you’re practicing in a studio somewhere?”

I didn’t say anything, stopping in my office to remove my lab coat and slip on my jacket.

“You can’t come, Lisa,” I said more firmly.

“Yes, I can,” she said and frowned, her hands on her hips. “You have to be
nice
to me, remember?”

I shook my head but didn’t say anything. Then my office phone rang and I saw it was Kate.

“Hi, sweetie,” I said when I answered, smiling at hearing her voice. “I’m just on my way out to meet Ken and the boys for supper before practice.”

She told me she was going to get something to eat at her favorite deli close to Central Park.

“Be careful walking along 8
^th
Avenue,” I said, sorting through files on my desk while I held the phone against my ear with my shoulder. “It’s busy this time of day.”

“I’ll be careful,” Kate said and I could hear the amusement in her voice. “I’m a big girl, and know how to cross the street.”

I smiled. “I’m sure you do, but still. I’ll be home around eleven. See you then.”

“I’ll be waiting for you,” Kate said. “I love you.”

“Me, too,” I said and smiled. “I love you, Ms. Bennet. I’ll be ready for you.”

I hung up and turned to see Lisa still standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, listening.

“I think I’ll come tonight,” she said again, matter of fact as if it was up to her alone. “Where are you playing?”

“No, Lisa,” I said firmly. “I said I’d rather you not come.”

“Where are you playing?
Tell
me.

I said nothing in reply. “Gotta go. See you,” I said and closed the door to my office before making my way down the hallway to the stairwell. When I reached it, I looked back and she was angry. I could see it in her face and the way she held her hands in fists.

I’d won, and she didn’t like it. I didn’t want her at the practice and was glad that she wouldn’t know where I was.

When I arrived on the main floor, I sat in a small empty office and thought about the situation. Lisa scared me. I checked my watch and had a few moments free before I had to meet Ken and the boys so I texted Fred Parker. I knew what I had to do. I had to talk to Fred and tell him the truth.

Can we meet briefly? I have an HR issue.

He texted me right back.

Sure thing, Drake. I’ve got a few minutes open. What’s up?

I sat and considered my response.

A problem with one of the residents has arisen and I need to discuss.

I waited for his response. Finally, my cell dinged and I read his text.

Do I need an HR rep with me?

I texted back right away.

No, please. This is between us. Thanks.

He responded.

Okay. See you at my office in five.

I put my cell away and exhaled heavily, wondering how to word my confession about Lisa. I wasn’t sure how much to reveal or whether it was better to just withdraw and not say anything. Discretion is the better part of valor, or so I had read.

Then I went to his office.

I arrived a few moments later and saw that his door was open and he was seated behind his desk, his reading glasses on and a file open on the desk before him.

“Hey, Fred,” I said and went inside his office, closing the door behind me.

“Have a seat, Drake,” he said and closed the file. I took the chair across from him and waited. “Tell me what this is about,” he said and leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled.

“I may have to withdraw from the program,” I said softly.

“What?” he said and leaned forward. “Why? I thought everything was going well. You have less than two months left. Your residents like you, you’ve had some great cases, your research project is doing well.”

I took in a deep breath and told him the truth.

“I’m having problems with Lisa Monroe. She’s interested in some kind of relationship, but I’m married and she doesn’t seem to want to take no for an answer.”

He closed his eyes. “I was worried she was going to be a problem after the incident in the bar. Just ignore her. Tell her it’s impossible.”

“She has something on me, and threatened to use it if I wasn’t ‘nice’ to her.”

“What’s she got?” Fred asked, frowning. “If you can tell me. If you can’t, I really won’t be able to help.”

“I,” I said and hesitated. “I was involved in the kinky lifestyle before I met my wife,” I said and watched his face. If he was shocked, he didn’t show it. “Lisa and I had a couple of encounters in the past that I had no memory of because we wore masks. She threatened to reveal my participation in the lifestyle if I wasn’t her friend.”

Fred shook his head. “What?”

“It was after my divorce,” I said and shrugged. “I played around, met a woman who was into kink and tried out a few things. Lisa and I were what’s called play partners a few time at a party.” I didn’t say more, not wanting to reveal more than I had to.

“Drake, you should have told me as soon as you knew,” Fred said and shook his head. “The good thing is that she’s not your resident, so there’s no conflict there and as long as that was in the past, I don’t see an issue unless either of you are harassing the other.”

“She’s threatened to reveal my past. I wanted you to know the truth. If I have to withdraw, I will.”

Fred shrugged. “I lived in Japan for a few years a while ago and know all about the lifestyle. It’s nothing in Japan – every man wants to be tied up by a dominatrix and every woman wants to play at being a top.”

Relief flooded through me that at least Fred understood. However, he was just one person in a supervisory position over me. There was no guarantee that others would be as liberal or accepting.

“You’re not involved at all with her now?” he asked, pulling out a file and opening it as if he was ready to move on to something else. “With Lisa, I mean?”

“Not at all.”

He shrugged. “I don’t see this as a problem, but I can’t promise everyone will be like me.”

“I honestly don’t know if she’d carry through with her threat to reveal my past, but I can’t take the chance.”

“Is she going to be a problem for the program? I mean, is she unstable?”

I pursed my lips and thought about how to phrase things. “She seems very bright and a talented surgeon from what I’ve seen and from talking to Brodinski. She doesn’t seem to accept that nothing is going to happen between us. If she’s going to insist and threaten me, I’ll have to pull out.”

He frowned. “That’s entirely your decision,” he said, his expression serious. “I hate to see you withdraw. You’re so close to finishing your accreditation.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to. If I do withdraw, I’ll apply somewhere else. I really don’t want to leave Manhattan since my wife’s doing her MA at Columbia but if I have to, I have to.”

“Like I say, we can probably work around this. Let me know when you’ve made your final decision. Of course, I’d be happy for you to stay and in fact, I’d encourage you to stay. We really appreciate having someone with your expertise supervising our residents and contributing to research at NYU and don’t want to lose you. I’ll speak with her, find out what’s going on.”

“No, don’t do that,” I said quickly. “I don’t want to cause any problems with her.”

“You understand I have to speak with her now that you’ve brought this up.”

I sighed. “I understand,” I said. “I didn’t want it to get to this point, but she’s harassing me.”

Finally, Fred stood and we shook hands, and I was sorry that I had to pull out but while Fred was fine about my past, others in the administration might not be.

I hoped I’d never have to find out.

On my way back to my office, I felt a huge sense of relief flood over me. I didn’t realize until that moment how much stress I felt dealing with Lisa and her constant threat to reveal my past. Fred had been really understanding, but I couldn’t be sure everyone else would be. There were people who could never understand kink. Hopefully, it wouldn’t get to that point. If I could only manage Lisa for a few more weeks, I’d be finished and through with her.

I arrived at my office and sat at my desk, looking at the files without being able to read them. I was torn.

Could I handle seven more weeks of her?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Kate

Drake called me on Thursday to let me know he would be late due to a practice with the band so I knew I wouldn’t see him until really late. I decided to walk down to a deli close to Central Park, grab a sandwich and something to drink, and sit in the park. I loved watching the sun set, the long orange-red sunbeams falling between the buildings surrounding the park, glinting on the windows.

I checked my watch and saw that it was close to five o’clock. I finished my sandwich and threw the wrapper into a trash can. When I went to cross the street, I saw my trusty security detail parked a few cars down the block. Its lights flashed on as the black SUV pulled out of the spot so he could trail me as I walked along the street. I told him I didn’t want a ride, because I needed the fresh air and so he followed me down the street, keeping a few car lengths behind.

I decided to take a more circuitous route back to the apartment, so I could walk along Central Park, so I stepped off the curb and heard the screech of tires…

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Drake

My world came crashing down when my pager went off while I was on my way from my office to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich for supper.

I assumed it was one of my residents, reminding me about getting off early for drinks and food, but I had already told them I had a practice and was staying over the supper hour to wrap things up before I left for the night.

I checked my message. It was from John, Kate’s bodyguard.

If you’re at NYU, get to the ER right away. Kate’s on her way there in an ambulance. She was involved in a hit and run when crossing the street. I told them to take her to NYU where you are. I tried to call you but your cell went to voice mail.

I ran to the ER, my heart pounding almost out of my chest, a constriction in my throat.

When I arrived, I spoke to the nursing staff, who informed me that Kate was being brought in and would arrive any minute. I stood by the ambulance bay waiting, taking in deep breaths trying to calm myself, running everything I’d learned about trauma to pregnant women in my time working the ER. The last thing Kate would need would be me panicking, but in those minutes while I waited, my heart racing, adrenaline pumping, I couldn’t help it.

Kate, oh, Kate…
Katie
… My hands were shaking and I felt close to tears.

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. The minutes seemed to stretch interminably, as I ran down a checklist of what to do. Finally, her ambulance drove up and I ran to meet it. The doors opened and I saw her on the stretcher, an oxygen mask covering her face.

I introduced myself. “I’m Dr. Morgan, her husband. What have you got?”

“She was struck in a pedestrian crosswalk and has a head injury and vaginal bleeding. How far along is she?”

“Twenty-nine weeks,” I said, thinking about the odds of the baby surviving if they had to deliver her now. From memory, I thought she had a pretty good chance of surviving if they had to do a crash C-Section but that would depend on how much blood Kate lost.

The EMTs brought her in on a stretcher, rolling her in with grim faces. She was on a backboard, was wearing a cervical collar, had an oxygen mask on and they had already started an IV and were giving her Ringer’s.

I took Kate’s hand as they wheeled her into the trauma bay. Already, nurses and ER docs were waiting for her, and I knew I had to step back and let them take over. I let go of her hand with reluctance, but had to trust that they were the most capable of dealing with her. One of the nurses came to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

“Dr. Morgan, I’ve contacted Dr. McAllister. She’s on her way but she was just finished in the OR and so she won’t be able to scrub in but can consult, if she’s needed.”

I nodded and watched while the EMTs transferred her care to the ER staff, letting them know her vitals and the specifics of her case. I listened as I stood in the entrance to the trauma bay, my chest tight, my throat choked, hands still shaking.