4/4
Chapter 22 ~ Dr. Martinez
Alex
Athena’s head snaps in my direction, and for a second, I think she’s about to fire off some smartass comment – tell me I’m imagining things, that I’m overreacting again – but she doesn’t.
Instead, she swallows hard, her hand gripping the thin hospital blanket like it’s the only thing keeping her anchored.
“I’m fine,” she says, but her voice lacks the bite I’m used to.
It’s flat.
I step closer, ignoring the doctor now. He’s just an annoying blur in the corner of my vision.
“What did he do?” My voice is lower this time.
Her eyes widen just a fraction. “Nothing. He did his job, Alex. That’s it.”
But I see it
–
the slight tremble in her fingers, the way her throat bobs when she swallows again. She’s not okay.
“I need to speak to the nurse’s station,” the doctor interjects, clearly uncomfortable with the tension swirling in the room. He’s
already edging toward the hallway like he can feel the noose tightening around his neck.
I let him go. For now.
The door shuts again, leaving us alone.
“Athena,” I say, stepping closer, my voice rough. “Tell me the truth.”
She looks away, her jaw clenching. “There’s nothing to tell. Just drop it.”
Like hell I will.
My hand grips the edge of the bed frame, my knuckles turning white. “Did he touch you wrong? Say something?” My words are
clipped, hard enough to cut through the thick air.
Her lips press together, and that’s when I know – something happened.
Whatever he did has messed with her and she’s trying to convince herself it wasn’t a big deal.
But it is.
To me, it is.
“I’m fine,” she repeats, quieter this time.
I don’t believe her.
1/5
Athena is very stubborn and doesn’t easily give in.
So I try another approach.
“Should I get the footage and check?”
She snorts. “We both know there isn’t any footage. He’s not that stupid.”
“So he tried something? Just tell me I just want to know.” I coax.
“No. Then what? Stop acting like you care. It’s starting to annoy me.”
“Tell me what he did and I won’t annoy you,” I respond.
She sighs.
“Just sign my discharge papers Alex.”
So this approach doesn’t work? Fine.
“I’m not signing shit. And since you’re okay, I’ll ask Ryan to come over. I have a meeting and Granny is not feeling well, so mum
might be gone for a while. Stay here and get better. Tell your doctor I’ll even tip him for taking care of you.” I stand and fix my
shirt.
Her eyes look horrified as she looks at me. I raise a brow, prompting her to speak.
“You can’t leave me here.”
“Why?”
“He… he touched my ass while checking for injuries and said when I get better, I should call him.”
I nod, my expression unreadable.
“Do you need some water?” I ask, voice calm, almost detached.
“Is that all you can say?”
I give her a smile.
“What? Do you want me to cuddle you?”
Athena shakes her head and hugs herself, her body curling inward like she’s trying to disappear.
My jaw tightens, the muscles ticking as I watch her. I exhale slowly, forcing myself to turn away before I do something reckless.
The door clicks shut behind me.
I make my way down the hallway, my insides burning with rage. The hospital smells like antiseptic and bad decisions, but right
now, all I smell is blood.
2/5
I want to see that fucker bleed.
I walk by the reception and the nurse smiles at me as she gives me his office number.
“Thank you.” I nod at her and her face reddens.
Women worship the ground I walk on except one with long black hair and doll eyes who happens to annoy me.
But yet here I am, walking into an office all because I saw her shaken.
What is becoming of me?
[Dr. Martinez]
The label is in bold black letters.
The door is slightly ajar, and when I step inside, the bastard looks up, oblivious.
He’s shuffling papers, probably filling out some bullshit report about how well he “treated” Athena.
When he looks up, his lips curl into a smug smile. “Oh, it’s you again. Is there a problem with my favorite patient?”
That’s when I know–he has no clue who he’s dealing with.
He’s new.
Because if he knew, he wouldn’t be sitting there so comfortably.
I smile, and push the door shut behind me. The lock clicks into place.
“She’s doing fine, Doc,” I say, my tone light. “How about you?”
Dr. Martinez hesitates, something in my voice making his skin prickle I suppose
“I’m… I’m good.”
I nod. “Good.”
“Did you just move to this country?” I ask.
He looks at. Like I’m annoying him, but he finally nods. “Yes. Moved here last night on transfer.”
“Ahh. I see. So Athena is your first patient here?”
“Something like that.” His tone is clipped.
My fingers move to my belt, unbuckling it with ease. His gaze flicks between the belt and my face, confusion slipping into unease.
I step closer, dragging my fingers along the edge of his desk. “Does the name Alexander King sound familiar to you?”
His breath catches. He blinks, then shakes his head. “I–no. Should it?”
3/5
I smile again. “Figures.”
Then, casually, I grab his wrist. Fast. Too fast for him to pull away.
His breath stutters. “What the hell are you doing?”
I tighten my grip, my fingers digging into his skin. “Which hand did you use to touch her?”
His jaw clenches. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You touched her ass, doc. Were you checking for injuries there too?”
I apply pressure. His face twists in pain, but he still shakes his head.
“She wasn’t uncomfortable. I was just doing my job-‘
CRACK.
“”
I slam his wrist against the desk, hard enough to make him jerk forward. Not enough to break it.
Yet.
He grits his teeth, biting back a scream.
“I–I didn’t do anything wrong!”
I twist his arm. His skin burns under my grip. “Wrong answer.”
“Wait-”
CRACK.
His forehead hits the desk as the pain rips through him. His body shakes.
I lean down, voice low.
“I’ll ask one more time. Which hand did you use?”
His breath shudders. He clenches his jaw, stubborn even now.
“You’re not even close. What the hell is your problem?”
“Did she forget to mention that she’s my wife?” I ask sarcastically.
So I grab his fingers–one by one–and start bending them back. Slowly.
The first pop makes him choke. The second makes him break.
“Left! It was my left!”
I hum, like I’m considering it.
4/5
Then I grin.
And grab his right wrist instead.
“No–wait!”
CRACK.
The bone gives way with a snap. His scream pierces the room.
I shake my head, disappointed.
“Shouldn’t have touched her.”
Then I do it again.
By the time Ryan walks in, Dr. Martinez is a gasping, broken mess, cradling his broken wrist against his chest.
Ryan takes one look at the scene and sighs. “Messy morning?”
I adjust my belt, then put it back around my waist. My rage is barely settling.
“Clean this up. Have him arrested. His license revoked.”
Ryan nods like this is just another Tuesday.
“Yes sir.
I move toward the door, but pause.
“Only female doctors touch Athena from now on.”
Ryan makes a face but knows better than to question me.
“Yes sir.”
