Chapter 2 - The Awakening
Dr. Chen arrived twelve minutes later, his coat thrown frantically over his pajamas. By the time the surgeon burst through the doors, Clara had already stabilized Gabriel’s vitals, prepped the surgical field, and initiated the first unit of O-negative blood.
"You saved his life, Vance," Dr. Chen muttered, reviewing the chart as they wheeled Gabriel toward the operating room. "That needle decompression was flawless."
"Just doing my job, Doctor," Clara replied smoothly, stepping back as the surgical team took over.
The surgery took four agonizing hours. Clara spent the remainder of her shift dealing with the usual chaos—a broken arm, two drug overdoses, and a minor car accident—but the heavy presence of Victor Russo and his men in the waiting room was a constant, suffocating reminder of the predator sleeping in recovery.
At 6:00 a.m., Clara’s shift was officially over. Her feet ached, her back was tight, and she was desperate for the quiet sanctuary of her apartment. She changed out of her blood-stained scrubs into a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a loose sweater, throwing her hair into a messy bun.
As she walked out of the locker room, Victor was waiting for her.
"He’s awake," Victor said. It wasn't an observation; it was a summons.
"He should be resting," Clara sighed, too exhausted to be intimidated. "Visiting hours don't start until eight."
"He doesn't want a visitor," Victor replied, his massive frame blocking the hallway. "He wants you."
Clara followed him to the VIP recovery suite. The room was dim, the rhythmic hum of the heart monitor the only sound. Gabriel Thorne was propped up slightly, his chest heavily bandaged. Without the blood and the gray pallor of death, he was devastatingly handsome. The jagged scar on his cheek only added to the dangerous, raw magnetism he exuded.
"Clara Vance," Gabriel murmured, reading her name tag from memory. His voice was a deep, gravelly baritone that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. "I owe you my life."
"You owe Dr. Chen," Clara corrected, standing at the foot of his bed. "I just plugged the leak."
"Victor told me what happened," Gabriel said, his dark eyes narrowing. "He told me what Leo said. I apologize for my man's disrespect. It will be... handled."
Clara crossed her arms. "I don't need you to fight my battles, Mr. Thorne. I deal with arrogant men every day. Just focus on healing."
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Gabriel watched her, thoroughly fascinated by the curvy, exhausted woman who refused to cower. "You aren't afraid of me, Clara."
"I'm too tired to be afraid," she said honestly.
