“How bad was last night?”
Sasha sighed and half-sat on the bed, her hand touching Lazarus’. Liam had seen the love-hate relationship between Sasha and Lazarus, and the beautiful doctor seemed to have decided on a ceasefire between them, for now at least.
“The fever was unexpected. He was doing so well, and I was hopeful with his progress. We’re running some tests as I suspect he may be fighting an infection of some sort.”
“An infection? That’s all?”
“It better be, because I don’t like the other option.”
Catriona rounded to the opposite side of the bed. “What would that option be?”
Sasha looked gloomy. “The other option would mean his system is shutting down.” She turned to look at Lazarus, grim determination on her face. “And it better not be, because I can still kick his stubborn ass, even if he is in a coma.”
Liam saw how Sasha was holding down the fort, and Catriona offered endless compassion by taking his brother’s hand in hers, even though he didn’t know it.
Standing in the middle of the room, Liam was unsure what to do. Should he hold his hand too? Lazarus was his brother, but as his concept of family was skewed from early childhood, apart from loyalty and a manly tap on the back, he didn’t know the appropriate behavior in this situation.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to worry about it as Sasha came and offered him her half-drunk coffee that he declined. The doctor went to the window and he followed, keeping his voice low. He glanced back at Catriona, and she was still holding Lazarus’ hand and whispering to him, her angelic face close to his as if in confidence.
“She the financial miracle worker Gabrielle was talking about?”
“Yeah, she sicced her on me, as I’d already started digging. Also, Sam and Kai were already on guard duty with you, and Archer and Aleksei are trying to manage everything else, including your safety.”
“This girl doesn’t need more protection. I’m mostly here with your dead weight of a brother, with Sam or Kai, and even Aleksei watching over me. You guys are stifling at best.”
It was hard keeping his calm, and his voice low at her words when all Liam wanted to do was shake her. “Stifling? You haven’t seen the half of it. Do you think I like seeing Oz like that because we took a risk and failed? Do you think that Oz or any of us would put you on the front line for your pride and comfort? That fucker Finch got us even with our guard up. Oz wouldn’t want to risk you, so you can’t ask me to dismiss your safety either, Sasha.”
He noticed the sudden flare in her pale eyes in reaction, but her gaze flickered to Lazarus before she sighed deeply. “I’ve come to hate that father of yours and how he’s uprooted all our lives. I’ve seen enough violence in my life to despise it, but I wouldn’t be against shooting him in the head if I ever came face to face with him.”
“And I’d give you the gun to do it, but until we have that opportunity, don’t put more strain on us than necessary. Please, Sasha. We need you to see this through.”
“You’re not playing fair, Liam. But I wouldn’t either if I needed to protect Deva. Here’s what I can promise, I’ll stick around until Oz wakes and is secure in a safehouse. Deal?”
Liam knew when to push and when to retreat, and there would always be time to renegotiate the deal between them later.
The doctor retreated back to the bed, and Liam went to Catriona. She’d stopped speaking, but he still could see her lips moving, probably in a prayer. His eyes slid to his brother, and for the first time since Lazarus was injured and lying there like the dead, he reached out and touched his forearm. He felt warm and strong still. The contact steadied him, bringing him a sense of peace and control he’d lost lately. He also made a silent promise to see this through, to keep everything going until Oz was awake and back leading the operation. Unless he brought Finch down in the meantime.
Catriona softly stepped away, leaving Lazarus’ side, putting her hand on Liam’s back, and his gut tightened at the gentleness. However, it was the wave of lust for the forbidden woman that shattered all his newfound peace and made him feel like a fucking pervert.
Releasing Lazarus, Liam stepped aside to put much-needed space between the little nun and himself. He needed to go, but felt terrible at abandoning his brother so soon, and leaving Sasha, who was sacrificing for his family, to carry the load.
Sasha resumed her seat by his brother's side and frowned when she touched his brow with her hand. Immediately, she jumped up to check the monitors.
“What? What’s going on?”
She didn’t answer him right away, and turned again to Lazarus, and this time put her cheek on his forehead before relaxing and gifting them the first smile since they arrived. “I can’t believe it. His fever has finally dropped.”
The doctor’s relief swamped all three of them and, before he could avoid her, Catriona had jumped into his arms, giving him the tightest of hugs.
Surprised for a second, Liam considered fighting her and stepping back, but instead, he closed his arms around her smaller frame. He’d indulged in her taste earlier, but now, having all her enticing curves plastered against him, and the scent of her hair filling his nose with so many sinful fantasies, he had to untangle himself quickly before the little nun noticed his hard-on.
Sasha went to tell Sam before returning. “Sam’s going to inform the others. It may be just a short reprieve, but I’ll take it.”
That statement pulled his mind and cock out of the gutter. “What do you mean, reprieve?”
Sasha dialed a few keys on a monitor by the bed before answering him. “Liam, as long as Lazarus stays in a coma, his body is more vulnerable to infection. Not only that…” The doctor seemed to search for her words and that didn’t bode well. “His chances of regaining consciousness decrease the longer he stays in that state. I’ve called in a favor from a friend from medical school, and he’s going to check Oz’s tests and hopefully formulate some kind of treatment.”
Sasha touched Catriona’s hand who took it in hers. “Do what you have to do. Finch no longer breathing will bring much-needed peace around here and will probably help wake Lazarus. It was a miracle his fever dropped so quickly, maybe we can hope for another one.”
