BOOK 1: A BILLIONAIRE MASK

CHAPTER 1

The Patient Who Refused to Die

"Doctor Arias, he's refusing anesthesia."

Brielle stared at the patient on the table.

"Of course he is."

Siege Valentino lay there, shirt off, a bullet lodged dangerously close to his abdomen. He looked irritatingly calm. Like this was a board meeting, not an OR.

"I don't need anesthesia."

Brielle crossed her arms. "You absolutely do."

"I've had worse."

"Wonderful." She picked up the syringe. "Then this should be easy."

Siege’s dark eyes tracked her. "You're enjoying this."

"I'm enjoying the possibility of you being unconscious for five minutes."

One of the nurses snorted and quickly covered it with a cough. Siege raised an eyebrow at Brielle.

"You're very brave."

"I have a medical license."

"That doesn't make you brave."

"No. It makes me legally qualified to tell you to shut up."

The nurse turned away to hide her grin. Siege actually laughed. Low. Genuine.

Brielle frowned. "What?"

"You're the first doctor who's spoken to me like that."

"Then you must have terrible doctors."

For half a second, the arrogant billionaire mask slipped. She saw pain behind his eyes. Exhaustion. Then it was gone.

"Do your job."

Brielle’s smile faded. "I am."

She scanned the wound. "Bullet is lodged close to the artery."

Siege looked at her. "How bad?"

"Bad enough that you should stop moving."

"I don't like hospitals."

"Then you should stop getting shot."

He almost smiled. "You're funny."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

The surgery lasted three hours. Brielle didn’t leave once. Her hands were steady even when the vitals dipped. When it was finally over, she stripped off her gloves.

"Successful."

The nurse exhaled. "Thank goodness."

Brielle sighed. "Now I need coffee."

"You need sleep."

"Coffee first."

She stepped into the hallway, still in scrubs, hair in a messy bun. A man in a black suit was waiting.

"Doctor Arias."

She stopped. "Yes?"

"I'm Marcus Reed. Security."

"You're here for Mr. Valentino?"

"Yes."

"He's stable."

Marcus nodded. "Thank you."

Brielle turned to leave.

"Doctor."

She looked back. "Yes?"

"You should forget tonight."

She frowned. "Excuse me?"

"What happened here isn't your concern."

"I treated a patient."

"Exactly."

Brielle crossed her arms. "I don't appreciate threats."

Marcus’s expression softened. "It wasn't a threat."

"It sounded like one."

"Leave her alone."

The voice came from behind her. Siege stood in the doorway, pale but already in a black shirt and slacks. Like he’d just rolled out of bed instead of surgery.

Brielle stared. "You should be in bed."

"I hate being told what to do."

"I noticed."

Siege looked at Marcus. "She saved my life."

Marcus nodded once. "I know."

Siege turned to Brielle. "Thank you."

That caught her off guard.

"You're welcome."

He stepped closer. "Doctor Arias."

"Yes?"

"You shouldn't involve yourself in my problems."

She smiled. "Don't worry."

"Good."

"You're not interesting enough."

Marcus coughed. Siege stared.

"Not interesting?"

"You're just another patient."

"I'm a billionaire."

"Congratulations."

"You're unimpressed."

"Very."

He smiled. Then—

CRACK.

Glass shattered down the hall. Siege moved instantly, grabbing Brielle and yanking her behind a wall. Gunfire erupted.

Brielle’s heart slammed. "What is happening?"

"Stay down."

"I know how to hide!"

"Apparently not."

"You dragged me here!"

Another bullet hit the wall. Siege looked at her. "Can you run?"

"I just did a fourteen hour shift."

"That's not an answer."

"Yes."

He grabbed her hand. "Then run."

They bolted down the emergency corridor. Caspian appeared at the end, in scrubs under a police jacket, g*n drawn.

"Brielle!"

"Caspian!"

Her best friend skidded to a stop, eyes flicking to Siege.

"You."

Siege frowned. "You know me?"

"Everyone knows you."

Caspian looked at Brielle. "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Then Charmaine came running behind him in heels and a designer coat, looking like she’d walked off a runway into a trauma bay.

"Brielle!" She hugged her tight. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

Charmaine glanced at Siege. "Is that him?"

Brielle sighed. "Yes."

Charmaine whispered, "He's hotter than the magazines."

Caspian shot her a look. "Charmaine."

"What? I can appreciate handsome men during emergencies."

Siege looked amused. Brielle covered her face. "Can everyone stop talking?"

Another gunshot echoed. Caspian stepped in front of them. "Everyone behind me."

Siege studied him. "You're police."

"Sergeant."

"And doctor."

"Yes."

Siege nodded. "Interesting combination."

Caspian narrowed his eyes. "And you're exactly the problem I expected."

Brielle groaned. "Oh, fantastic."

She looked at the three men around her.

"This is going to be a long night."

She was right.

But she had no idea it would last weeks.