Page 5 of The Oath Operation
The words hit Fish like a punch to the gut. He felt the air leave his lungs, and a tightness gripped his chest. He swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure. "I have some prep work to get done at Chow Town. Excuse me."
Without waiting for a response, Fish turned on his heel and walked away, his mind racing. The cool air did little to soothe the storm brewing inside him. He reached the restaurant and pushed through the door, the familiar scents of soy sauce and sizzling garlic greeting him. The kitchen was a hive of activity, but it did nothing to calm his turmoil.
His mind worked furiously. Thoughts fired in every direction, like little bombs exploding inside his head. As a former EOD specialist, it was disorienting. His instincts were to defuse the situation, but his wires were literally crossed. That's why he nearly crashed into Noah.
"Hey, Fish. You okay, man?"
Fish gave his friend a head bob, trying to brush off the remnants of the fireworks between his ears. "Got some prep work to do."
Noah wasn’t fooled. The man had seen him in life or death situations as they hovered over an explosive set to blow. They had the same poker face. "This is about Jules and the bakery?"
The emotional fuses in his chest rubbed him the wrong way. He opened his mouth to let the sparks out. "She’s going to marry Amari to get her inheritance and rebuild the bakery. That’s what she wants."
"And you're gonna just stand by and let that happen?"
Fish said nothing. Inside, more fuses got exposed. They rubbed against one another and caused more sparks, but this time he held his words in.
"If you care about her, you need to fight for her."
Fish shook his head, his jaw set in stubborn determination. "I’m not a fighter anymore, Noah. That part of me is gone. What matters is fixing the bakery. If she thinks marrying Amari will help her do that, then I’ll support her."
Noah grabbed Fish by the shoulders, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Listen to me, man. You’re still that guy. You’ve got more fight in you than anyone I know. Don’t let her slip away because you’re too afraid to take a chance."
Did everyone know he had feelings for Jules? It certainly hadn't come as a surprise to Jacqui. So much for his poker face.
"I have to get to work," Fish muttered, turning toward the prep station.
As he started chopping vegetables, his thoughts were a tangled mess of frustration and longing. The rhythmic sound of the knife hitting the cutting board did little to calm his nerves. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice how close his fingers were to the blade.
Pain shot through his hand when the blade gave his flesh unwanted attention. He cursed under his breath, dropping the knife and clutching his bleeding finger. The sharp, metallic scent of blood mixed with the aroma of garlic and onions, making his stomach churn.
"That went deep." Noah was at his side in an instant, grabbing a clean towel and wrapping it around Fish's hand. "You need to get that checked out."
ChapterFour
The imposing structure of the hospital towered above Jules. Most people in the town looked at the building's façade, a mix of cold glass and concrete, as a haven. It made her feel small, a familiar sensation that stirred memories of childhood visits when she was sick and vulnerable. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, not from the summer heat but from the echoes of those past anxieties.
She remembered standing here as a young girl, clutching her mother’s hand, her heart pounding with fear of needles and tests. The revolving doors had always seemed like a portal to a world where she had no control, where her body’s betrayals were laid bare.
Today was different. She wasn’t a frightened child anymore. Nor was she here because she was sick.
Jules took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. The nerves were still there, but she pushed them aside. She was strong now, resilient. She had faced the challenges of her diabetes head-on, and she would tackle this new problem with the same energy. Fixing her bakery was a task she would handle on her own terms, with Amari’s help. This was her plan, her solution, and she would see it through.
As she approached the entrance, she wiped the sweat from her brow and walked inside. This place wasn't so bad. It was here she’d learned how to care for herself with Dr. Edwards' help. Dr. Edwards had guided her through the ups and downs of managing her blood sugar and diabetes. The old man who looked more like a trim Santa than anything was set to retire soon, a thought that filled her with both gratitude and sadness.
Amari had arrived two years ago as Dr. Edwards’ replacement, though the old doctor hadn’t yet fully stepped away. Jules approached the receptionist, her nerves fluttering like a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She wasn’t here for another check-up or a routine appointment today. She was here to propose a marriage of convenience to Amari, a plan that felt both desperate and necessary.
"Hi, I'm here for Dr. Mensah."
"Do you have an appointment?"
The woman didn't even bother looking up. This wasn't the regular receptionist. They changed every few months nowadays. Jules missed the kind face of Nurse Bidelow.
"No. I'm his girlfriend."
The receptionist looked her up and down as though she didn't believe Jules. "I'll see if he's available."
Instead of arguing, Jules found a seat in the waiting room, her mind racing. She looked around, taking in the pale blue walls, the soft murmur of conversations, and the occasional beeping of medical equipment. Time stretched interminably, the seconds ticking by with excruciating slowness.
