Unravel(82)

“Don’t tell me how this place runs,” he says harshly. “I’ve been practicing much longer than you.”

My palms are splayed on the desk as I lean close and say very slowly, “Then act like it.”

His eyes narrow into thin slits.

I grab my coat from the back of my chair and my purse from the floor. Anger makes my blood boil, and if I’m being honest, there’s a small bit of fear there too. I make my way to the door.

Tim shifts in the chair. “Where are you going?”

I hold the door open with my foot. “To talk to the facility director to put a stop to this.”

Tim takes off his glasses, inspects the lenses and cleans them with his white coat. “Naomi left with her mom an hour ago.”

I gape openly at him. His indifference to this entire situation speaks volumes. I realize that I would rather feel too much for my patients than nothing at all. I never want to turn into Tim Woods.

I look at him with disgust. “She’s not ready to go back in the world. If you were any kind of doctor, you would have pushed aside your relationship with her parents to do what’s right for her.”

I walk out of the room, not caring what he has to say.

“She’s just a patient. That’s it, Genevieve!” Tim yells. “Stop treating this girl like family!”

A nurse and two patients stop in the hall and stare at Tim with shock. I ignore all of them. As I hurry toward the entrance, I dig through my purse, searching for my keys.

“I’m just here to see Naomi,” a deep, male voice says.

I stop short and see Lachlan Halstead standing there.

I forget about my keys and make my way over to him. I interrupt his conversation with the nurse. “Have you talked to Naomi?” I ask impatiently.

I don’t have time to make polite conversation. Time is against me.

His brows furrow. He stands up straight. Those hazel eyes instantly become alert, as though Naomi’s name is a switch for him. Every single powerful memory in Naomi’s life comes from this man.

“No. Why? What’s going on? Where is she?”

I go to answer him when I notice the nurse behind the counter staring at us. I guide him away. “Her mom signed her out today.”

Blood drains from his face. He clenches his jaw, closes his eyes and looks away. There’s a terrifying second where I think he’s going to explode and lash out right in front of me.

“Lachlan, did you hear me?”

He nods and turns back to me.

“Did you—”

I speak up. “It wasn’t me who released her. I would’ve never let that happen. I just found out that her mom picked her up over an hour ago.”

He rubs a hand across his face. “Shit,” he whispers heatedly. “So who did?”

Lachlan has this look in his eye. Blank and void. It’s a look that someone has when they are driven by their anger. They won’t stop until they get to act out their aggression.

“That doesn’t matter,” I say smoothly. “I just need to find Naomi. Right now.”

Lachlan stares at me a second longer before he gestures to the parking lot. “Just follow me.”

I give him a grateful smile. My heart calms down and for a second I think everything will be okay. Lachlan and I are almost out the door. Just a few more steps. Then I hear Dr. Woods’ voice. So does Lachlan. He stops walking and whips his body around. I also turn. Dr. Woods walks into the reception area, laughing with the nurse next to him. He looks at the front doors, his gaze flitting away before he does a double take. His eyes widen, not at the sight of me, but at Lachlan. I realize these two know each other outside of Fairfax.

Lachlan advances. He doesn’t stop until he corners Dr. Woods, completely towering over him.

“Do you know what you just did?” Lachlan roars.

Dr. Woods turns pale. The nurse behind the front desk stands up. A few patients stop their activities and stare.

I run over to Lachlan and grab his arm, trying to push him back. Not for Dr. Woods’ interest, but for Naomi’s, because the quicker we get out of here with everyone scratch free, the better.

“You’ve turned a blind eye to everything. Fuckin’ makes me sick!” Lachlan’s voice is starting to turn hoarse.

I’ve got him a few steps away. A few more tugs and he would be out the door. But then Dr. Woods speaks.

“Lachlan, I did what was right. Her parents were concerned about her—”

“You’re a mother f*cker!” Lachlan continues. “Do you hear me?”

“Now wait a minute, I—”

I pivot around and glare at Dr. Woods. “Just shut up,” I hiss.

My back has been turned no more than a few seconds, but by the time I turn around, Lachlan’s already peeling out of the parking lot.

I swear underneath my breath and run back to the front desk. The nurse is sitting there with a shocked look on her face.

“Give me Naomi Carradine’s address!” I say to her.

Her eyes widen. “Dr. Rutledge, I don’t think that’s the best idea.”

“Just give it to me!” I snap.

She quickly looks up Naomi’s file and rattles off the address. I write it down, my hand shaking the entire time.

Dr. Woods steps into my way, holding his hands out. “Genevieve, calm down. You and Lachlan are clearly upset and—”