The Bad Guy's Doctor

SEVENTEEN

I hold the pin between my lips, teasing my finger against Orlando's knuckle. He yelps, before cursing under his breath. "This is your third fracture on this finger." I press a splint against his finger, before tying a scrap of fabric around it. I pin it together, before giving him a hard look. "Any more damage and it might be permanent. Take a few days off, don't push yourself."

Orlando grumbles, flexing his hand. "Thanks, doc." He slides away from the counter, showing off the splint to the others who clap him on the back. I wave Jasper over.

He slides into the counter seat, blinking at me. "Hey," I hold out my hand, gesturing to the bandages.

"Did you keep them dry?" Jasper nods and extends his arm, showing that the marker wasn't smudged by some sort of liquid. I peel away the bandages, a thick scar remaining. I run my finger over it, the gash still evident.

It was too deep to even picture not leaving a mark, but looking at it now... "Scar cream." I pick it from the bottom counter, sliding it toward him. "Morning and night, apply generously." Jasper picks up the container, glancing at it.

"Is this a new service?" He says, eyes panning over to me.

I shake my head. "It's a one-time thing. Just do it and don't mention it to anyone else." He lets out a low whistle, saluting me.

"Yes ma'am. I am really enjoying this special treatment." I scoff, shooing him away as he tosses the cylinder up and down as he leaves. Arsenio watches him with daggers for eyes.

"I don't like him." He mutters, hands clenched around the counter.

"You were just talking with him about how the roofs are getting easier to access." I interject, turning my attention to him.

"That was then and this is now. I don't like how you smile at him, sweetheart. Please don't do it again?" Arsenio gets nothing but a blank glare. He sighs, relaxing his shoulders as he crosses his arms. "Not fair."

I scoff.

He slides a hand against my own, fingers brushing the tender skin of my palm. I glance down and he pulls away. "Do you follow me all day long?" Arsenio shakes his head.

"As much as I want to, I can't." I raise my eyebrows for him to elaborate and he pressed his lips together. "Are you going to use what I'm going to say against me, love?"

"Speak."

"When I know you're inside, I try to stay in the area. From... morning to around dinner time I try to stick near here, unless I'm really needed at home. I stay until the clinic closes and you lock me out..." Or ask him to stay.  "I stick around for a few hours and finish whatever's left of my work before heading home."

And then he crawls through my balcony door and starts the day all over again.

There's a window of time between midnight and morning that he wouldn't be watching me.

"Are you planning something?" I look at him, this time pausing. Was I planning something? I shrug and he blinks.

"I was just curious."

"Althea—"

"You a doctor?" A gruff voice cuts through our conversation and I turn, ice filling my expression. "Althea, wasn't it?" I can tell by the way Arsenio stiffens that this man isn't some customer. There's a demanding intensity in his aura, one that made my skin prickle.

"I only serve food, sir." The learned words leave my lips with ease as Arsenio rises to his feet. His hand clamps around the older man's forearm and I still. There was...