Alejandro's Sexy Secret

by Amy Ruttan

  “Can you send me over the medical records you do have on the boy and I’ll apply for an emergency injunction? I don’t see why a court wouldn’t approve of you having guardianship over the boy, especially if they can’t locate the family in the next forty-eight hours. For now, I can at least keep him at Buena Vista.”

  “Thank you, Emilio.” Alejandro was relieved. “I’ll get those medical records over to your office as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll watch for them.”

  Alejandro hung up the phone and ran his hands through his hair. He hadn’t believed it when he’d heard that little cry from behind the Dumpster.

  He’d been so angry that the board was cutting the pro bono cases that when he’d heard the cry it had shocked him. And then to find that little guy, premature, barely clinging to life in the hot Miami sun...

  It had infuriated him.

  There was no one to fight for this baby. Just him. Dr. Bhardwaj had made it clear that the onus was on him. Last night he’d tossed and turned, thinking about how Kiri had appeared to be angry about the fact he was willing to pay for the baby but not adopt him. Having a family was something he’d never planned on. Not with his uncertain future. His heart, his father’s heart, which beat inside him, could fail. In fact, the median survival rate for a pediatric transplant patient, such as he had been, was twenty-two years. He was nearing that. Once he started to have problems, he’d be put back on to UNOS to wait for a new heart that might never come. And Alejandro wouldn’t leave any child without a parent.

  He knew the pain all too well. His future was far too unpredictable.

  Yeah, he loved kids, but he knew the pain of losing your parents. He wouldn’t wish it on anyone. The best thing would’ve been to let the baby go to County instead of getting involved, but he couldn’t just let this baby get lost in the system.

  The baby would die if they moved him now. Of that Alejandro was certain so there was really no choice, he had to fight for the boy.

  Just like Dante, Rafe and Santi had done for him.

  He, at least, had had someone to fight for him when he’d been lying in a coma, his parents dead. His brothers had made the decision to take their brain-dead father off life support and direct their father’s heart to him because it was a good match and without it Alejandro would also have died that night because of the robbery.

  Alejandro had been a priority on the list back then. And at least he hadn’t been an infant. Children as young as six could receive a heart from an adult. It was harder to find an infant or a child’s heart.

  Alejandro and his father had been a perfect match.

  His brothers had given him a second chance to live. They’d sacrificed so much to give him a life. This little boy had no one and Alejandro seriously doubted that they would find the baby’s family.

  The baby was alone, fighting for life, and Alejandro was going to make sure he had a chance.

  What about after you save his life?

  The thought caught him off guard.

  You’re lonely.

  He was lonely, but he was used to this life. This was what he’d resigned himself to when he’d finally been old enough to understand the ramifications of his lifesaving surgery. Any chance at happiness like Santiago had found had died that day. And when his transplanted heart stopped beating, no child would mourn him like he mourned his parents.

  There was a knock at his office door and he looked up. “Come in.”

  Mr. Snyder walked in. “Dr. Valentino, a word.”

  Great. Apparently word got around fast.

  Alejandro gritted his teeth. “Of course. Please have a seat.”

  Mr. Snyder took a seat. He smoothed down the lapels of his expensive designer suit and cleared his throat. “I wanted to speak to you last night, but you’d left.”

  “My shift was over,” Alejandro said, “so I left for the evening.”

  “You’re certain it wasn’t because of your dressing-down?” There was a glint of pleasure in Snyder’s eyes.

  Alejandro fought the urge to toss him out of his office. “I’m quite busy today. How can I help you, Mr. Snyder?”

  “It’s come to our attention that you’re trying to keep that abandoned baby here.”

  “Yes. What of it?”

  “I’m surprised you’re trying to do this. Hasn’t Dr. Bhardwaj told you that all new pro bono cases have been suspended pending a restructuring of the board?”

  “Yes,” Alejandro snapped.

  Mr. Snyder sneered. “Dr. Valentino, are you purposely disobeying the board of directors’ decision?”

  “No, I’m not. That baby is not a pro bono case.”

  Mr. Snyder blinked. “I don’t see parents and the last I heard the infant is now a ward of the state of Florida.”

  “Not for much longer, Mr. Snyder.” It took every ounce of strength not to belt Mr. Snyder across the head. He knew these kinds of men. They got a bit of power and they thought they ruled the world, and he knew Mr. Snyder was taking great pleasure in it.

  Mr. Snyder was a pretentious snob.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I have contacted my lawyer and very soon I will be guardian of that baby, meaning that I will be financially responsible. I will be paying all the medical bills.”

  “Why would you do that?” Mr. Snyder asked.

  “It’s my money. I’ll do what I like with it.”

  Mr. Snyder shook his head and stood. “No good can come from this. That child should be sent to County, like all the other wards of the state.”

  “Well, he’s not. And if we’re done talking, I do have to get back to my work. Paying patients, as per your request.” Alejandro smiled at him a little too brightly. It was enough to tick off Snyder, who left his office in a huff.

  Alejandro raked his hands through his hair.

  Oh, Dios mío.

  This was not how he wanted to start his week at Buena Vista, with the president of the board of directors breathing down his neck and the new head of pediatric surgery being his one and only one-night stand who knew about his sordid past.

  There was another knock at the door and Alejandro cursed under his breath, wondering if Snyder had come back to spew more vitriol and threats at him.

  “Come in.”

  Kiri opened the door and his pulse quickened at the sight of her, but he also didn’t really want to see her either, since she was the one who had delivered the devastating news about the pro bono program.

  It’s not her fault.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked, trying not to look at her.

  “You know I had to dress you down yesterday.”

  “I know,” he sighed. “My apologies, Dr. Bhardwaj. I was angry yesterday.”

  “I get that,” she said. “Dr. Valentino, you can’t take responsibility for that infant.”

  “I have to,” Alejandro said. “He doesn’t stand a chance if he’s shipped off to another hospital. Especially not County.”

  “You know that I don’t want to do that either, but the board—”

  Alejandro held up his hand. “You don’t have to explain board politics to me. I’m very familiar with that. Snyder was just here.”

  “Oh, great,” she said sadly, then she looked concerned. “I told him I’d handle it.”

  “Your job is safe, I’m sure. It’s me he doesn’t like and he never has. Probably because I don’t kiss his ass,” he snapped.

  “I don’t either,” Kiri said defensively.

  “And what about Dr. Vaughan?”

  “What about Dr. Vaughan?” she asked, confused.

  “Oh, come on, I’m sure there was some smooching involved.”

  “I ought to slug you,�
�� she hissed. “I worked hard and Dr. Vaughan recommended me for the job.”

  Alejandro felt bad about his gibe. He was just on edge. “I’m sorry. Snyder has got me all riled up.”

  “I can see that. Can I sit down?” she asked. “I hate hovering by the door.”

  He may be angry at board politics, but that was no reason for him to behave like an animal. Especially in the presence of a lady. Carmelita had smacked him upside the head numerous times in his youth when he’d stepped out of line when it came to the fairer sex.

  “Eres todo un caballero. Comportarse como tal.”

  You’re a gentleman. Behave like one.

  “Of course.” Alejandro stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Sit, please.”

  She sat down and then he took his seat again. “So what do I tell the board about the baby?”

  “My lawyer is getting an emergency injunction to stop the transfer. I’m hoping as the head of pediatric surgery you can delay things on your end for a couple of hours.”

  She nodded. “I can, but if that injunction doesn’t come by the day’s end then I have to send him to County.”

  “Not Seaside?” At least at Seaside he had family who could watch out for the boy.

  “No,” she said sadly. “Wards of the state are to be sent to County.”

  Damn.

  “Well, I appreciate you doing all you can do to delay it. I’m dead serious about taking financial responsibility for the boy.”

  A strange expression passed across her face, like pain, but whatever it was it was quickly gone. “Why are you doing this?”

  Alejandro shrugged. “Wouldn’t you if you could?”

  “Your job is worth this?” she asked.

  “Are you going to fire me?”

  “No.”

  “Then, yes, it’s worth it. The boy needs medical attention, the best medical attention that this city can give him, and that’s here at Buena Vista. He needs a chance at life. I can give him a shot, even if it’s only financially.”

  That strange expression passed across her face again. “How very gallant of you.”

  “What’s with the sarcastic tone?”

  “There’s no sarcastic tone.”

  He frowned. “Why does this make you so mad?”

  “Look, I want what’s best for that baby too, but doing this is just throwing it in my face. In the board’s face. You’re basically saying that you don’t care about the new policies being handed down to you by your boss or the board, you’re just going to do what you want.”

  “That’s not it at all,” Alejandro snapped. “This is about saving that child’s life.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I understand that.”

  * * *

  She couldn’t believe that she was trying to talk him out of it. It was so unlike her. When had she changed so much? When she’d decided to become a pediatric surgeon she’d wanted to save them all too. She was just as idealistic as Alejandro. And then reality had hit her hard. She’d lost patients and had learned how cruel life was. She’d become jaded, but never had she shared those dark thoughts with another surgeon until now.

  Strange emotions were raging inside her. Watching him fight so hard to save this little baby melted her heart, but also reminded her that he hadn’t been there to save theirs.

  Not that there had been anything that could be done about that. She knew that, but he hadn’t been there and he’d made it clear he never would be.

  It just hit so close to home.

  When she’d seen that little baby in the dirty box, covered with newspaper and thrown away, it had cut her to the very core.

  And it had ticked her off.

  Alejandro had stepped up to take responsibility for the boy.

  Would she have done the same as him? Kiri would like to think so, but she wasn’t sure if she could as head of the department.

  So she envied him a bit, envied his bravery in doing such a thing.

  “Look—” Her words were cut off as Alejandro’s cell phone rang.

  “Hello? Yes, this is Dr. Valentino.” He listened to the voice on the other end. “Where is it? I see. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Is everything okay?” she asked as he hung up the phone.

  “Yes, but I have to go.” Alejandro stood up.

  “Who was that?” Kiri asked.

  “A liver for José. It’s in New Orleans and I’m going to retrieve it.”

  She was shocked. “Do you always do your own retrievals? Why don’t you send a resident?”

  Alejandro shook his head. “I want to make sure that our piece of this liver is done right. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly for José’s new liver. This is his last shot.”

  Kiri nodded. “I’ll make a call to the airport and charter a plane.”

  “Thank you.”

  Kiri stood. “Can I go with you?”

  He was surprised. “You want to go with me? Why?”

  “I want to see you in action,” she said. “I was planning on observing this surgery once a match was found. And right now I’m still getting my footing.”

  “I’d rather you stayed here,” Alejandro said. “To make sure they don’t ship that baby off to County.”

  Kiri smiled at him. “I’ve already put a stop to that. The baby is having tests. I have to be the one to release the baby to County. No one else. The baby is safe.”

  She waited while he mulled that over. He dragged a hand through his dark curls, making them wild and unruly. Sexy as hell too.

  “I can’t go,” he shouted in frustration.

  “Why not?”

  “No other doctor speaks fluent Spanish and I have to prep José. I’m going to have to leave the recovery to a transplant team in New Orleans and a resident.” He cursed again. “I don’t want to do it, but I don’t really have a choice.”

  “I’ll go and retrieve José’s liver. You stay and prep José,” she offered.

  “Are you sure?” Alejandro asked. “Have you done a retrieval before?”

  She shot him a look and he chuckled. “What am I talking about? Of course you can. You sure you don’t mind?”

  “I wouldn’t have offered if I minded. Prep José and I’ll call you when the liver is retrieved. Also, call the charter. I want to leave as soon as possible,” she said.

  Alejandro nodded. “I’ll see you at the ambulance bay in fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay.” Kiri stood and then let herself out of his office. She’d be missing a board meeting, but she didn’t care. She was a surgeon and this was her job. To help little José out. It would be better for the parents and for the boy if Alejandro prepped them for what was going to happen.

  Kiri changed out of her business attire and into scrubs. She grabbed her new identification and a Buena Vista jacket, which would let the Parish Hospital in New Orleans know where she was from, since they were expecting Alejandro.

  Fifteen minutes later she was in the ambulance bay. An ambulance was waiting to whisk her to the airport. Alejandro was standing there, waiting for her, holding a cooler that would transport José’s liver.

  “Thank you for doing this.”

  “It’s no problem. Look, I know I’ve been a bit of a hard ass and dropped quite a bomb on you yesterday and then we had our public disagreement, but part of my vision for the pediatric team of Buena Vista is working together as a team.”

  He nodded. “I like that vision. You’d better go. Call me when you have the liver.”

  “I will.”

  Kiri glanced back once more to see Alejandro still standing there, watching her climb into the ambulance, an unreadable expression on his face. She knew that look. He wanted to do the retrieval himself and he’d be pacing until she called him with the news
that it was okay.

  She understood that. She respected it.

  “You ready to go, Dr. Bhardwaj?” the paramedic, Mike, asked.

  “You betcha. Let’s go.”

  As much as she hated flying, at least the flight to New Orleans would be short and a life depended on her.

  She may not have been able to save her baby or everyone, but she could save this family’s son.

  And that gave her an inkling of hope that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THIS WAS THE PART she didn’t like and Kiri hoped that no one knew that she was shaking in her boots as she was called to the operating table to retrieve the liver. It was the ending of a life.

  And she hated that.

  The worst part of a job. Which was why she specialized in general pediatric surgery over transplant surgery. She gave props to Alejandro for dealing with this every day. Life and death involving children.

  Parish Hospital had a surgical resident helping her as she watched another surgical team remove a kidney. It was decided she would remove the entire liver out of the donor and then an attending from Parish, who was a bit of a specialist in dividing livers, would do just that. One piece for José and the rest of the liver would go to another person, because the liver was an amazing organ that had the ability to regenerate itself.

  It was just that in José’s case neither of his parents were a good match for him and were unable to do a living donation. Which was why the boy had gone on the UNOS list and why she was here.

  She’d done several retrievals, but in New York she had just overseen them as she’d become an attending. The retrieval had been done by the student she’d been teaching, but only when the transplant attending hadn’t done it themselves, that was.

  There was a lot of pressure riding on this retrieval. She was very aware of that. Alejandro had made it clear that this was José’s last shot.

  You should’ve stayed in Miami. You should’ve hired an interpreter.

  No, it was better that Alejandro was there. If she had been that boy’s mother and couldn’t speak the language, she’d want the surgeon she was familiar with to stay and look after her child. If she were a mother, she’d feel the same.