She wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep the secret, but it was sure worth giving it a damn good try.
Chapter 4
At home, Romy set an alarm for two hours and fell onto her bed still fully clothed. She groaned when the alarm went off and hauled herself out of bed, finally discarding her work clothes and stepping into the shower. As she ate a quick breakfast, she flicked on the television and watched the reports of the murders. It was an awful idea but she needed to see it somehow, as though it helped atone slightly for being unable to save Yasmin. As thought it might help her understand even slightly.
The four deceased young women, savagely attacked in their sorority house, have now been named as Rebecca Fulsome, 20; Oona White, 19; Madelaine Culpepper, 21; and the youngest victim, Yasmin Levant, who at just 18, died last night of her wounds at The Rainier Hope Hospital. Hospital officials say that their best surgeons worked tirelessly to save Miss Levant, but she succumbed to her injuries in the early hours of this morning. Police say the attacker broke in through an open window and attacked each girl in her bedroom, before leaving the premises. So far, no suspects have been identified, but the murders mirror a similar case in New York two years ago.
Romy swallowed the last of her cereal, feeling sick. She’d forgotten all about the murders in New York. God, there were monsters everywhere. She remembered her own personal monster, the midnight beatings, the forced sex.
Rape. Call it what it was, Sasse. He raped you. Bastard.
She drove into work and was assailed by her friends, wanting to know about working with Blue in an emergency situation. Romy, exhausted, was grateful when Mac rescued her, shooing everyone away and bearing her off to the cafeteria. “Allende sent me. He saw you come in and knew you’d get caught by the pack. Damn hyenas.”
Romy smiled at him and at Blue’s thoughtfulness. “Mac, if it had been someone else but me, we would have been hyenas too.”
Mac shrugged. “Fair point. Are you okay? You look done in.”
“It was a long night.” In more ways than one. “Is Dr. Allende all right? He had it worse than me.”
“He looks good, but then he always does.”
“True story.”
Mac grinned at her. “So you’re not immune to the good doctor’s charisma then? I thought you were the one hold-out.”
Romy cursed silently but faked a smile. “I’m here to work, not get laid.”
“I’m just saying … out of all us, I reckon you’d be his type.”
Romy shrugged off the conversation. “Did you hear the news this morning? The murders in New York? The same as here?”
“Yeah. Jesus, humans, huh?”
“Humans.” She agreed. Her pager went off a second before Mac’s. “We’re summoned.”
It was evening before she even saw Blue again. There was so much paperwork from the murders and the subsequent medical procedures that Romy was sequestered with a police team most of the day. They went over everything again and again. Romy told them again how Yasmin Levant had been stabbed so viciously that her abdominal artery had been shredded, that she had simply bled out before they could attempt any kind of repair.
“What about her left femur?” Det. Halsey asked her eventually. “Did your orthopedic department attend the surgery?”
Romy nodded. “But, to be honest, it was secondary to the abdominal wounds. I’m not an expert, but I assume he—or she—broke her femur to subdue her enough that she couldn’t fight him—or her—off.”
“We’re pretty sure it’s a him,” Halsey said quietly.
Romy, overtired bristled. “Because women aren’t strong enough to do that to a person?”
Halsey held his hands up. “I meant no offense, Dr. Sasse. We found DNA on the victim. Male DNA.”
Romy backed down. “I’m sorry. Bad day.”
“Of course. Look, we need to talk about the survivors’ injuries. We got the report that they weren’t as serious as the deceased victims.”
“No, that was strange,” Romy said. “They were badly beaten, and they’ll probably need serious psychiatric counseling, but yeah, it is odd that he didn’t finish the job, so to speak. God.”
“And Ms. Levant was the only one with a broken femur?”
Romy’s own leg ached and she rubbed it unconsciously. “Detective, the femur is the longest, strongest bone in the human body. The force it takes to break it … it would take anger. Rage. It’s sadistic too … but then, that’s what we’re talking about here, isn’t it? He’s a sadist.”
“He is,” the detective agreed, then smiled kindly at her. “You’ll tell your friends to be careful when they leave at night?”
Romy gave a hollow laugh. “Detective, you’re talking about everyday life for a woman in this world.”
Not even halfway through her shift, Romy was hollowed out through and through. She didn’t know if she even had the strength to walk out of the hospital for a breath of fresh air, when Blue appeared in the breakroom. He didn’t say a word, helping himself to coffee nonchalantly before stepping into the supply closet.
She knew he was giving her a chance to choose, and choose she did. Dragging herself out of her seat, she joined him in the small room and locked the door.
“This isn’t ‘keeping it out of work’ Dr. Allende.”
Blue reached for her. “Shut up and kiss me, woman.”
He crushed his lips against hers, his arms snaking around her waist, pulling her hard against his body. Romy moaned as she felt his erection, hard against her belly. For just a moment she let herself sag, let him carry her weary weight … “God, I want you, but …”
Reality reasserted itself and gently she extricated herself from his arms. “Bad boy.” She wagged her finger at him and he laughed.
“Come home with me tonight and I’ll show you just how much of a bad boy I can be.”
Romy hesitated, but then the lure of his green eyes, his dark curls and that body …
“Piccolo, unless you want to sleep,” he said softly, studying her face and holding her more gently. “No pressure, you understand. It’s been a long two days. Another day, if you prefer …”
“No.” Romy made up her mind. The best way to honor those who have gone before us is to continue living our lives fully. “I’m off tomorrow, so I can risk it.”
Blue flashed a huge grin. “Oh, you’re off tomorrow … funny thing … so am I.”
Romy started laughing. “I wonder how that happened?”
“Come here.”
They kissed again, and Romy reached down to squeeze his diamond-hard cock. He groaned and buried his face in her neck. “It’s a good thing we’re off, because I’m going to make sure you can’t walk straight for the entire day.”
“Is that right?”
“God, yes.”
Romy giggled as he pretended to ravish her. “Easy, soldier. You’re the one who’s not going to be able to walk properly, and we still have rounds.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Get over it, Doc.”
Romy’s body felt electrified all day at the thought of what Blue had promised. That electricity gave her a much-needed boost that, paired with caffeine, got her through the remainder of the long hours. But as the day wound down and she walked down to the concessions stand to grab a new toothbrush, she groaned inwardly as she saw a tall, blonde, and very familiar figure looping towards her.
“Yo, sis.” Juno grinned, flinging her long arms around her diminutive sister.
“Hey, Boo … what are you doing here?”
“Just finished a class and wanted to say hi. Also, to check out the famous doc … is he here?”
Romy opened her mouth to answer just as Blue came toward her, grinning. She gave a quick, almost imperceptible shake of the head, and cut her eyes to Juno. Blue slowed his pace, his smile faltering in confusion.
“Dr. Allende, do you have a moment?” Romy said formally. “My sister Juno would like to meet you.”
Understanding now, Blue smiled
at Juno, shaking her hand. “Hey, nice to meet you at last.”
“You too.” Juno’s amazed expression was written all over her face as she took in the gorgeous man. “Can I call you Blue?”
“Of course. Listen, would you ladies like to grab a coffee?”
Romy was gesturing wildly behind Juno’s back, but Blue didn’t understand her signal, and when Juno agreed—a little too enthusiastically—Romy sighed. She knew Juno—any excuse to stay at Romy’s place overnight in the city, especially if there was a chance to gossip. Damn it.
They went for a coffee at a little independent place on 6th Avenue. Blue smiled at Juno. “So, we’re about to be siblings?”
“Looks like.” Juno was stuffing a Danish pastry into her mouth. “We haven’t met your brother yet, either. Mom’s looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner—just a warning, she cooks brussels sprouts, and given it’s …” she checked her watch, “two weeks until Thanksgiving, she’ll be putting them on to boil about now.”
Blue laughed. “Duly noted. Dad and I are looking forward to spending that day with you.”
“And your brother?”
There was a pause, a beat too long. “And Gaius. Of course.”
“You don’t mention your brother much,” Romy said and saw a flicker of something in his eyes before he gave them a half-smile.
“We’re not as close as you three appear to be. I always wanted a sister. Juno, Romy tells me you’re quite the musical prodigy.”
“Ha.” Juno grinned at him. “She flatters me. But it is my passion, and I’m about to start working for the Gabriella Renaud Foundation down in New Orleans.”
“Just when I move back to Seattle, she moves out,” Romy grinned. “I might take it personally.”
“Then you’ll have to make the most of me while I’m here. Like tonight … I could stay over at your place?” Juno looked hopeful, and Romy had to work to keep the disappointment out of her face.
“Of course, Boo.” She shot an apologetic look at Blue who winked at her and mouthed ‘don’t worry’ at her. “But,” Romy added, thinking quickly, “I have to be out early tomorrow for a training seminar. All day, I’m afraid.”
“Yes, she does,” Blue caught on, trying not to smile. “I’m leading that seminar, and I’m very strict about time. One of my things, I’m afraid, punctuality.”
“He is.”
Juno shrugged, surprisingly clueless. Usually she picked up on these things with a terrifying radar. “What’s the training about?”
“Orthopedics,” Blue said smoothly, “mostly about the recovery time of someone’s gait after strenuous exercise.”
Romy snorted her coffee from her nose and was embarrassed, wiping her nose. “Sorry, went down the wrong way.”
“That’s not like you,” Blue said innocently, and Romy had to hide her laughter in her tissue. Juno still didn’t notice anything, already making inroads on Romy’s carrot cake, which she’d left alone. Romy, trying to stop her giggles, cleared her throat.
“So, yeah, if you don’t mind being left alone in the apartment.”
“Of course not.” Juno shrugged.
Blue’s eyes were twinkling. “Don’t forget we also have that patient we might need to check in on overnight too. I’ll page you if I need you.”
“Please do,” Romy was enjoying their little game, “I’d like to make sure the patient is, um, responding to stimulus.”
It was Blue’s turn to hide his laughter now. “Do excuse me, I have to use the bathroom.”
When they were alone, Juno turned to Romy. “Well, he’s gorgeous and sweet and cute. How do you concentrate on work with a man like that around?”
“A man who will soon be our brother,” Romy reminded her, cringing inwardly. She hated lying to Juno, who was so trusting that she would believe anything Romy told her. “Also, he’s my boss.”
“Ha, flirty boss.” But Juno didn’t push it. She gave up on the carrot cake, licking cream cheese frosting from her fingers. “Look, maybe I will go home tonight. Seems like you’re preoccupied with work anyway. But we must, must, must have a sisters’ night before I leave for New Orleans.”
“Are you going before Christmas?” For some reason, Romy was confused about the timeline. Had Juno told her and she’d just forgotten?
“Only for a couple of weeks, just so Livia can get me trained before she gives birth. Can you believe she’s having a baby?”
“I’m just glad she’s well enough to.” Their friend Livia had been stabbed and shot by a psychopath the year before and had barely survived. “Give her and Nox my love, won’t you?”
“Speaking of gorgeous men.” Juno muttered, then grinned as Blue returned. “It was so good to meet you, bro, but I think I’m going to head back home, leave you your second-in-command.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Faintly surprised, Blue smiled and returned the embrace. “You’re coming to Thanksgiving, right?”
Blue nodded. “Just try and stop me. I’m a sucker for over-boiled sprouts.”
Laughing, Juno kissed Romy’s cheek and then loped out, garnering the appreciative looks of a table of young men as she walked out of the coffee house.
Blue grinned at Romy. “So … you’re free, after all?” He sat down next to her and slid his hand along her thigh. Romy wiggled with pleasure.
“Dr. Allende?”
“Yes, Dr. Sasse?”
“I believe you prescribed me some bone-shattering sex earlier … how about you fill my prescription?”
Blue laughed. “That was the worst doctor dirty talk I’ve ever heard … but yes, I need to do that immediately …”
Gaius Eames tapped on his father’s office door, not waiting for a reply before he opened it. “Hey, Pa.”
Stuart looked up over from his computer, annoyed. “Gaius, why bother to knock if you’re just going to come in anyway?”
Gaius was unrepentant, shrugging as he flopped into the chair opposite his father. “I just get into town and that’s the greeting I get? What would I have caught you doing? One of your secretaries?”
“That’s enough, Gaius.” Stuart glared at his eldest son.
Gaius grinned widely, knowing his barb had hit home. “Jeez, Pa, take a chill pill. I was kidding. How is the lovely Magda?”
Stuart’s face softened. “She’s wonderful, and looking forward to seeing you at Thanksgiving —you are coming, I take it?”
Gaius nodded. “Although Mom’s not happy, yes, I’ll be there.”
Stuart sighed. “At this point, I really don’t care what Hilary thinks anymore, Gaius. She burned her bridges long ago.”
“I don’t want to fight, Pa.” Gaius held his hands up. “So, Thanksgiving. Will I meet the daughters? I’ve done my research, two blondes, one brunette —have they got the same father? I’m just asking,” he added as his father looked annoyed, “no judgement.”
“As far as I know, yes. Artemis and Juno take after Magda, and Romy after her father, I understand. Anyway, you’ll meet all of them then. Have you spoken …”
“To the Italian?” Gaius finished his father’s sentence. “No, but then that’s nothing new.”
Stuart sighed. “Blue is your brother, Gaius, and it’s about time you both grew up.”
Gaius stayed silent. He would never, ever bond with Blue Allende, and not just because he was his bastard half-brother. The jealous that squirmed in his gut when he thought about Blue’s success, his devastating good looks, his decency … goddamn.
“I hear he’s working with one of the Sasse girls.”
Stuart nodded. “Romy. She’s in her last year of residency. Blue says she’s the best he’s ever seen.”
Gaius chuckled darkly. “Is he fucking her?”
Stuart’s blue eyes went gray, and Gaius knew he’d gone too far this time. “Don’t ever talk about one of Magda’s daughters like that again. Ever.”
“Forgive me.” Gaius tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “Look, I just got into town —can I use
the condo? I’m assuming you’ve moved in with Magda already?”
“Close enough. I spend every night there. Here,” Stuart reached into his desk drawer and threw Gaius a set of keys. “You know the rules.”
“Pa, you realize I’m forty-two, right?”
“And Charlie Sheen is fifty-something. No whores, no drugs. Not in my condo.”
Gaius sighed and got up. “Fine. Well, I guess I’ll see you at Thanksgiving.”
Stuart relented a little. The man had a soft spot that made Gaius respect him even less. “Look, have dinner with me, just me, on Tuesday.”
Gaius masked a smirk. “It’s a date.”
At his father’s condo, Gaius unpacked, then grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and stretched out on the couch, flicking through the television channels disinterestedly. It was gnawing at his gut the way his father talked about Blue, the pride, the love in his voice. Gaius had been seventeen when his father had revealed his affair with Blue’s mother. He hadn’t blame his father for straying—he knew his own mother Hilary hadn’t been faithful at any point during his parents’ marriage, but he’d resented the fact that there was a child.
Blue, twelve at the time that his father brought him into their family, was quiet, kind, intense, and everything Gaius wanted to be. Even as a child, Blue’s big green eyes, full of intelligence and compassion, garnered him quick acceptance into their family circle, something Gaius had struggled with. However much Blue had tried to befriend his new brother, Gaius, ridden by jealousy, had been uninterested.
Gaius gave a humorless laugh. Now Blue already had an ‘in’ with his father’s new wife and her daughters too. Fuck him. Gaius grabbed his iPad and typed in a name in the search engine.
Doctor Romy Sasse. Her photograph came up immediately on the alumni page at Stamford’s website, and Gaius studied it. Long, dark hair falling in waves past her shoulders, Romy was a doe-eyed beauty with her olive skin, that faint blush of pink in her cheeks, and the curve of her breasts in her white coat was promising.
The Naughty One: A Doctor’s Christmas Romance (Season of Desire Book 2) Page 3