Lincoln Hospital (Trauma #1) by Cassia Brightmore Read Free Book Online Page A

gave her a hard time every chance he could, but Athena seemed to take it all in stride.
    He finished closing up his patient, and peeled off his gloves as he exited the OR to scrub out.  His mind drifted back to the first time she’d stepped into his OR, the same day they’d crashed into each other and he’d got a feel of that lush little body of hers.  Her breasts had been smashed into his chest and the top of her head had been at the perfect height for him to inhale the scent of her fragrant hair.  Something had passed between them that day in those few moments she was in his arms; he knew she felt it too.
    When she’d stepped into the OR a short while later, gowned, gloved and scrubbed, it felt right. As though she belonged as a part of his team.  He didn’t allow her to touch any instruments that day—she was still an intern after all—but he was still impressed with the way her intelligent eyes tracked not only his every move, but every move of the the nurses, residents, and other doctors involved in the surgery.  A good surgeon knew how to anticipate, who to rely on and what each of their team member’s strengths were.  With the way Athena absorbed every tiny detail in that room, he knew she would be a pro at that particular part of the game in no time.
    Her confidence might not have been the highest, but she was starting to come out of her shell. She observed the procedure with a watchful eye and answered every question he threw at her, even ones beyond a first year intern’s comprehension. When they’d finished, he caught up with her in the scrub room.
    “You did well.  I hit you with some tough questions,” he commented.
    “I’ve been studying and reading, tracking down research articles on all of your cases.  I want to learn; be prepared.” she answered without looking up.
    “My cases?  I assume you have an interest in cardiothoracic surgery then.”
    “Yes.  It’s what I want to specialize in, I’ve dreamed about this chance for years.” A slow grin formed on her face and lit up her eyes.  “I know this is going to sound unprofessional, but God, I loved it in there!  The rush, the adrenaline, the feeling of power pumping around the room.  I may have just stood there but I was actually in a surgery.  With you—Dr. O’Reilly.  I can’t tell you what this means to me.  Thank you,” her voice was filled with sincerity and she was looking at him with such awe.  Innocence such as hers didn’t have any place around someone like him.  The depraved soul that lived beneath the exterior he showed the outside world would devour her in seconds, feeding on her purity until she was destroyed.  And worst of all, he’d find pleasure in every second of it.
    Shaking himself back to the present, he paged Reynolds to the attendings’ lounge.  Grabbing a quick cup of coffee while he waited, he debated whether he had time to coax one of the Pediatric nurses into an on-call room to help him relieve some of the stress that had him wound up.  Before he could make a decision one way or another, the door opened and Reynolds entered, looking frazzled.
    “Sorry, Cian.  It’s been a bad luck shift.  Lost two on the table.” He made his way over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.  “Fuck, I wish this was scotch.”
    “Is everything set?  I’m ready to leave now to get the package.” Cian cut right to the chase, eager to get started.  He needed this, to hunt, to kill.  The desire was starting to unfold in him; working its way up from his toes until it consumed every inch of him.  His skin was singing in anticipation as he relished the thought of what was to come.  This man, this piece of scum they’d marked for death had no idea what was coming for him.
    “We’re set.  See you in the OR in thirty.” Reynolds knew Cian well enough that when he slipped on the mask of his alter-ego, there was no talking to him.  He became something else; something sinister and dark.  His