Shadows of Recovery (Everhart Family #3)

Chapter 16

Sixteen

T he atmosphere inside the hospital was oppressive, every corner of the building under the Eldon Sect’s control. Sophie sat on the couch in the doctor’s lounge in her underwear, her arms wrapped around herself. She knew that time was critical, especially for those in the ER. They needed medical attention, and she was determined to provide it, no matter the cost.

Damon’s attention was absorbed by the ongoing negotiations on the phone. She seized the opportunity, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. "Damon," she said softly.

He turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "What is it, pretty doctor?"

Sophie swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I need to check on my patients in the ER. Some of them are very sick. If they don't get the care they need, they could die."

Damon remained unreadable. "And why should I care about that?"

Sophie knew she had to appeal to his ego and his desire for control. "Because if you let me take care of them, it will show everyone that you have some humanity. It will buy you goodwill with the negotiators outside. They might be more willing to meet your demands."

He seemed to consider this, his fingers absently playing with her hair. "Goodwill, huh? And what do I get out of it? What's in it for me if I let you play doctor?"

Sophie leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "You get to prove you're in control. That you're calling the shots. Plus, if any of your men get injured, you'll need me to treat them. Keeping me on your good side might just save your life too."

Damon's eyes glinted with interest. He obviously enjoyed the power play, the sense of having someone entirely at his mercy, she speculated. "Alright, Doctor. I'll let you check on your patients. But don’t get any ideas about trying to escape. I'll be watching you closely."

Sophie nodded, relief flooding through her. "Thank you, Damon. I just want to help them. That's all."

“Hmm, but you’re right. You need to take care of me.” He pressed her onto the couch.

“No, don’t,” she begged. “Please stop.” He was a monster.

“Oh, pretty doctor. I told you, you belong to me.” He let his full weight rest upon her, his body pressing into her.

Sophie lost track of time. Eventually, Damon stood up, secured his clothing and moved to the door, motioning for two of his men to enter the lounge. "Get her some scrubs and take her to the ER. Make sure she does exactly what she says the patient needs, and nothing more. If she tries anything, shoot one of the patients. That should keep her in line."

Sophie was led down the hall. Her balance was off. She remembered the first time she put on scrubs to work. Now they were her suit of armor.

When they reached the ER, Sophie immediately began checking on the patients. Her professional demeanor kicked in.

The waiting room had become a makeshift holding area, filled with frightened patients and hospital staff under the watchful eyes of the Eldon Sect. Sophie, despite her own fear, moved through the room with a calm resolve, checking on the patients huddled together. Her nursing staff and an intern, equally terrified, followed her lead, trying to provide what comfort they could.

"We need to stay strong for them. Let's check vitals and make sure everyone is stable," Sophie asked one of the nurses.

The head nurse, Sarah Franklin, nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she took out a stethoscope. The fear in her eyes was palpable, but she focused on her tasks. "What did he... what did he do to you, Sophie?"

"I’m alright. We have to stay calm and do our jobs. The police are working on getting us out of here. We need to keep everyone safe and as comfortable as possible until then." Sophie squeezed her shoulder.

Moving to a patient, Sophie spoke in soothing tones, "How are you feeling? Any pain or discomfort?"

"Just scared. My ankle stopped hurting. What’s going to happen to us?"

Sophie forced a soft smile. "We're doing everything we can to make sure you're safe. Help is on the way. Just hang in there a little longer."

Another nurse, Laura, trying to steady her own nerves, approached her. "Sophie, Mrs. Jacobs in the corner seems to be in distress. She came in with back pain from a slip on the ice. Should we give her something to calm her down?"

Sophie looked over at her. "Yes, but make sure it's just enough to help her relax. We need to keep everyone alert and aware of what’s happening."

“They took all the narcotics,” the nurse said.

Sophie tried to think of an alternative, but her thoughts were turning to mush. “What did they leave behind?”

“We have Robaxin.” It was a muscle relaxant.

“Try 250 milligrams. That should help her,” Sophie said.

As they worked, one of Damon’s followers watched them closely, his expression menacing. Sophie felt his eyes on her, but she forced herself to focus on the patients, her heart pounding in her ears.

Sarah whispered, "Sophie, what if they don't come in time?"

Sophie met Sarah's eyes with quiet determination, her focus fish-eyeing. "They will. We just have to hold on and keep everyone as healthy as we can."

Despite the terror surrounding them, Sophie and her nursing staff continued their rounds, their dedication to their patients shining through the darkness of their situation. They were scared, but their commitment to care and their hope for rescue gave them strength.

Another one of her patients, a young boy who came in around the time of the takeover with an asthma attack, was now struggling to breathe, the attack worsening. Sophie quickly prepared an advanced nebulizer treatment and IV meds, her hands steady.

She held the mask to the boy’s face, speaking soothingly to him, "Just breathe slowly, in and out. You're going to be okay." She showed his mom how to hold the mask. The boy's breathing gradually eased, and Sophie felt a small measure of relief. She offered some reassurance to his mom and continued to move from patient to patient.

She wrote an order for the nurses to follow when she was out of the ER. She was grateful Damon hadn’t stopped them from following written orders. Throughout it all, she kept an eye on Damon’s men, aware of their constant scrutiny. She had to be careful and, above all, compliant.

Hours seemed to pass in a blur of medical procedures and tense negotiations with her captors. Sophie’s head ached from the constant stress, but she pushed through, driven by her duty to her patients. Finally, as she was finishing up with the last critical case, one of Damon’s men approached her. "Time’s up, Doc. You’re coming back with us."

Sophie nodded. She had done everything she could for her patients, but she knew their safety remained in jeopardy. As she was led back to the doctor’s lounge, she silently prayed the negotiators outside were making progress, that they were finding a way to end this nightmare.

Back in the lounge, Damon was waiting for her, his eyes lighting up as she entered. "How were your patients, pretty doctor? Did you save any lives today?" His tone was mocking.

Sophie met his gaze, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "Yes, I did. But they still need care. Regular monitoring, medication. If you won’t let them go, I need to be able to check on them again."

Damon chuckled, clearly enjoying the control he held over her. "We'll see about that. For now, sit with me. I need my pretty lady doctor." He patted the couch beside him.

Ignoring the dread pooling in her stomach, she approached him. "What do you want now, Damon?" Her voice was laced with thinly veiled frustration.

Damon's smirk widened as he rose from his seat, towering over her with an intimidating presence. "Oh, Sophie, always so feisty," he cooed, his tone dripping with condescension. "I just wanted to remind you of your priorities. Don't forget who holds the power here."

She clenched her fists, trying to hide the rising tide of anger within her. "I'm not interested in your power games, Damon. I have patients to attend to. That's where my priorities lie."

Damon’s laughter suddenly echoed through the room, sending shudders down Sophie's spine. He approached her, sneering, “Oh, how noble of you. But let's not pretend you're not indebted to me. You breathe because I let you breathe.”

Sophie squared her shoulders, refusing to back down despite the terror gripping her heart.

"I won't let you intimidate me. I've worked too hard to let someone like you dictate my life." She trembled with defiance. “I want you to let some more patients go.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. "Is that so? Tell me, Sophie, what would your precious Tristan do without you?"

Sophie’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Tristan. She tried to keep her face neutral, but the fear was evident in her eyes. "Tristan has nothing to do with this."

Damon's expression darkened, and he stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "Don’t lie to me. I know about you and Tristan. Do you think you can hide anything from me?"

Sophie shook her head, desperation creeping into her voice. "It's not true. There's nothing between us."

Damon’s anger flared, and he grabbed her by the arm, his grip painfully tight. "Liar! Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I didn’t hear the way he spoke to you? The way you spoke to him? And what about the note in your lab coat pocket? This must have come with those roses.” He waved Tristan’s love note like a flag.

Sophie winced as his grip tightened, pain shooting through her arm. The sound of bones snapping filled the air. "Please, Damon, you’re hurting me."

Damon’s face twisted with rage, and he shoved her hard against the wall, his hand wrapping around her throat. "You dare lie to me? You dare defy me?"

Sophie gasped for breath, her vision blurring as tears filled her eyes. She struggled to speak, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm not lying... please..." She clawed at his hands.

Damon’s laughter echoed through the room again, but this time it was filled with cruelty and madness. "You’re mine, Sophie. I control your fate. Remember that."

He released her suddenly, and she collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. She looked up at him, her body shaking with pain and fear, but her eyes still held a spark of defiance.

Sophie was hoarse but resolute. "I won’t give up. No matter what you do to me."

Damon sneered down at her, his eyes cold and calculating. "We’ll see about that, Doctor."

As he walked away, Sophie curled into herself, fighting back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm her. She wouldn’t let Damon break her. She couldn’t. For her sake, and for the sake of everyone else trapped in the hospital.