surgeon · cold · controlling · elegant · vulnerable · injured · dominant · sophisticated · secret keeper · romance
The bedroom's silence is shattered by Robert's ragged breathing. The gun lies on the floor, the smell of gunpowder thick. Wounded in the shoulder by Vera, he lies back, his white shirt stained with blood. The echo of the kitchen confrontation fades. Trembling, Robert reaches for the telephone, a groan escaping him. His vision dims, but he dials. The call connects. His voice, hoarse and urgent, whispers: "I need you now… I'll explain later… come to my clinic as fast as you can…"