Chapter 3 It is non- negotiable

The italian man's jaw tightened, a muscle twitching near his temple, responded " The medical supplies are in the in the bathroom adjoining the room" Rose, go," he ordered, looking at the terrified woman who stood shivering.

Rose rushed back from the bathroom, clutching a heavy, black leather case. She dropped it near my feet, trembling. I flipped the case open my eyes scanning the contents instantly. This wasn't a first aid kit, it was a surprisingly well-stocked field trauma kit, and it was enough.

The next few minutes were a blur of chaos and intensity but I was in my element. "Sir stay with me!, Can you hear me??, Stay awake" I whispered

Hours had blurred into a desperate, focused fight against death. Rose was crumpled on an ottoman, exhausted. Alex leaned against a wall, his face pale and slick with sweat. And the Italian man... was still at the bedside, his white shirt now stained, his gaze fixed on his brother.

I took a deep breath, the sheer relief of having the right tools allowed me to focus. My hands, covered in dried blood, slowly uncurled from the delicate surgical instruments. The patient was stabilized. The bleeding was controlled, the wound was sealed, and the IV drip was slowly pushing essential fluids back into his system.

"He's stable. The hemorrhaging is controlled, but he is not out of the woods. He needs a real hospital, a proper blood transfusion, and imaging to check for organ damage." I spoke, voice hoarse from hours of command.

Then the italian man finally lifted his head, turning his full, cold attention back to me. His expression was utterly devoid of gratitude "Do not worry about that it will be handled " He replied.

I couldn’t wait to go home, take a long bath, and rest; so much for enjoying my off day. I was utterly exhausted. I walked toward the corner where I’d kicked heels. “I think my work here is done,” I commented flatly, reaching down for the heels.

The italian man voice, though still low, cracked like a whip across the silent room. “No, Doctor. Your work here is not done. It has only just begun.”

I froze. “What are you talking about? He is stable, but he needs a hospital for the next phase of care.

“It is non-negotiable,” He stated, his voice brooking no argument. “You will stay here until the morning. You will monitor his progress and ensure no complications arise.”

His cold gaze shifting instantly to Alex who was still leaning against the wall “Where the hell is Dr.Thomas, though?”he demanded, the urgency in his voice spiking. “Why are we paying him so much money if he’s not here when we need him?”He didn't wait for an answer. With a final, furious glance at him. he stormed out of the room.

Marco!”Alex called after him, rushing and shut the heavy door behind him.

"Marco.” He certainly looked like a Marco “Arrogant bastard,” I murmured.

Marco PoV

Alex was following me behind pacing as i hault to talk to him. " What? " i asked with an angry face.

“Dr. Thomas has travelled outside of the country attending to a personal matter, but he is currently on his way back as we speak,” Alex explained quietly.

“Maybe I should put a bullet on his head or one of his daughters,” I voiced out, the suggestion delivered with chilling nonchalance. “Then he will understand that we must always have a back up when he decides to take a vacation.”

"“Lets just be thankful that Emily came in handy," Alex stated, his tone carefully measured. "We should be grateful to her, not kidnap her, man."

I gave Alex a sharp, cold look, dismissing his sentiment instantly. There is no way I am letting her go without Dr. Thomas here. What if something happens?

“Are they handled? I want to see their beheaded bodies within the next hour. I need to send a message that I am not to mess with. Seems like they tend to forget easily.” I spoke while fiddling with the gun, my mind already on vengeance. “I can use a strong whiskey now.”

The ambush that happened should never happen again, I have to do something. What i know is they were aiming for me and not my brother and they are going to pay one by one, I will kill even there familly members and even their dogs.

I headed to the office for a drink and to think of the next cause of action, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.

The office was a study in ruthless order, a complete contrast to the trauma upstairs. The dominant scent here was old leather and cedar, not blood. Marco crossed the Persian rug to a dark mahogany bar and poured a glass of single-malt whiskey, downing it in one swift, throat-burning movement. The burn was the only thing that cut through the adrenaline.

I then leaned my hand on the desk, the polished surface cold beneath his palm. My brother was stable, for now, thanks to the skillful doctor I now owned. But the ambush itself was the wound that needed immediate attention.

I picked up the phone and called Tom, the man in charge of the cleanup team. The call connected instantly. “Tell me what I need to hear,” I said, my voice flat and dangerously low.

A strained voice, heavy with professional caution, answered: “Marco. We secured the area. Three of theirs are down, two escaped. We recovered the weapons.

They were high-grade military issue, and they weren’t looking to wound. They were looking to execute.”

I took another sip of whiskey, my eyes sharp and merciless. “The ambush was too clean. They knew the route, they knew the timing. Find the mole, Tom. And those two who escaped? I want them found and brought to me.

I didn't wait for a confirmation and ended the call, the silence in the office even heavier than before. I, now knew two things the threat was probably internal, and the next twenty-four hours would be war.