Chap 1
The automatic doors of St. Gabriel Medical Center burst open just after midnight.
Paramedics rushed a battered young woman through the emergency entrance while nurses cleared the hallway.
"Female, twenty-eight years old!"
"Severe facial trauma!"
"Possible concussion!"
"Blood pressure dropping!"
The woman lay motionless on the stretcher.
Half of her face was swollen beyond recognition.
Purple bruises spread across her cheekbones.
Fresh blood stained the corner of her lips.
Her breathing was shallow.
Behind the stretcher ran Ethan Carter, dressed in an expensive gray suit with a loosened red tie.
His hair was messy.
His hands shook.
To everyone watching, he looked like a devastated husband terrified of losing his wife.
But beneath the performance...
He was terrified for a completely different reason.
He wasn't afraid that Emily might die.
He was afraid she might wake up.
A nurse quickly stopped him outside the trauma room.
"Sir, what happened to your wife?"
Ethan lowered his head, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes.
"It... it was an accident."
His voice cracked convincingly.
"She slipped in the bathroom."
"She hit the sink."
"It all happened so fast..."
Several nurses exchanged sympathetic looks.
Domestic accidents happened every day.
It wasn't unusual.
At least...
That's what Ethan hoped everyone would believe.
The trauma room doors swung open once again.
A tall doctor stepped inside wearing dark navy scrubs.
A stethoscope rested around his neck.
His name badge read:
Dr. Liam Brooks
One of the country's leading trauma surgeons.
Calm.
Precise.
Respected.
He walked toward the stretcher while pulling on a pair of gloves.
"Let's move quickly."
"CT scan."
"Full blood panel."
"Check for internal bleeding."
The nurses immediately obeyed.
Liam reached down to examine the patient's injuries.
Then...
Everything stopped.
His hands froze in midair.
The color drained from his face.
No...
It couldn't be.
Slowly...
He brushed a strand of blood-soaked hair away from the woman's forehead.
A tiny crescent-shaped birthmark appeared near her temple.
His heart nearly stopped.
"Emily..."
The whisper escaped before he realized he'd spoken aloud.
The room fell silent.
One nurse looked at him in confusion.
"Doctor?"
Liam stared at the unconscious woman.
Not as a physician.
But as an older brother.
He remembered teaching her how to ride a bicycle.
Helping her with homework.
Walking her down the aisle on her wedding day after their father passed away.
He had promised her one thing that afternoon.
"No matter what happens... you'll always have me."
And now...
She lay unconscious before him.
Covered in bruises.
His trembling fingers gently touched the swelling around her jaw.
Years of medical experience instantly recognized the truth.
These weren't injuries from a fall.
Not even close.
The bruises came from repeated blunt-force impacts.
There were old yellowing bruises beneath the fresh purple ones.
Healing fractures near her ribs.
Defensive wounds across her forearms.
His chest tightened.
This wasn't one accident.
This had been happening for months.
Maybe years.
Slowly...
Liam stood.
Then turned toward the man waiting outside.
"Ethan."
The husband forced an awkward smile.
"Liam?"
"What... what are you doing here?"
Neither man moved.
Neither blinked.
Finally...
Ethan tried to laugh.
"I had no idea you worked here."
Liam's expression never changed.
"You said she slipped."
"Yes."
"In the bathroom."
"That's right."
Liam stepped closer.
"So explain something to me."
Ethan swallowed nervously.
"The bruises on both sides of her face."
"The fractured ribs."
"The old healing injuries."
"The defensive wounds on her arms."
"How exactly does someone fall enough times to create all of those?"
Silence.
The hallway suddenly felt much colder.
Ethan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Liam's voice became ice.
"She didn't fall."
"You beat her."
Ethan immediately raised his hands.
"No!"
"You've got it all wrong!"
"I would never—"
Liam cut him off.
"Don't."
"I've treated assault victims for fifteen years."
"I know exactly what repeated domestic abuse looks like."
Ethan's breathing became rapid.
People were starting to gather.
Doctors.
Nurses.
Patients.
Visitors.
All watching.
His perfect image was beginning to crack.
He desperately lowered his voice.
"Liam..."
"Please."
"Let's talk privately."
"I can explain."
Liam looked at him with complete disgust.
"My little sister is unconscious."
"She may have permanent brain damage."
"And you want privacy?"
Without another word, Liam grabbed the emergency phone mounted on the wall.
He pressed a red emergency extension.
His voice thundered throughout the department.
"This is Dr. Liam Brooks."
"Initiate Code Silver."
"Lock down every hospital exit."
"Notify hospital security immediately."
"And call the police."
Every staff member froze.
Code Silver.
It was only used when a violent suspect was inside the hospital.
Ethan's eyes widened in terror.
"Liam!"
"Don't do this!"
But it was already too late.
Within seconds...
Electronic doors throughout the hospital automatically locked.
Security alarms echoed through the hallways.
Four hospital security officers began running toward the emergency department.
Panic spread across Ethan's face.
Instinct took over.
May you like
He turned...
And ran.
