Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T AFRAID
The first thing I did after Faith Willis left my room was order Carmine to find out everything about her.
Not because I trusted her.
Because I didn't understand her.
For six months, people had treated me like a loaded gun.
Doctors spoke carefully. Nurses avoided my eyes. Even men who once feared my name now looked at my wheelchair before looking at my face.
Faith had done neither.
She'd knelt in front of me, held my spasming leg, and told me to breathe as though I were simply another stubborn patient.
And I'd listened.
"Boss?"
Carmine stood near the doorway.
I looked up.
"What?"
"Should I dismiss her?"
I stared at him.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"She touched you without permission."
I looked toward the hallway where Faith had disappeared.
"No."
Carmine blinked.
"No?"
"She's staying."
Mrs. Gable released a breath she'd apparently been holding.
I turned toward her.
"Get the rug cleaned. Replace the dishes."
"Of course, sir."
"And tell Faith..."
I stopped.
What was I supposed to say?
Thank you?
The words felt unfamiliar.
"Tell her dinner is at seven."
Mrs. Gable smiled faintly.
"Yes, Mr. Carter."
That evening, Faith returned carrying grilled chicken, vegetables, and a fresh cup of coffee.
She placed the tray beside me.
"No oatmeal," she announced.
I stared.
"Are you mocking me?"
"A little."
Nobody had ever admitted that to my face.
I should have been furious.
Instead, something dangerously close to amusement stirred inside me.
"You have a remarkable talent for getting fired."
Faith shrugged.
"Then it's lucky you're having trouble finding replacements."
I nearly laughed.
Nearly.
She noticed.
Her expression softened.
Then her eyes moved toward my right leg.
"Has the pain returned?"
I looked away.
"No."
"Any tingling?"
"No."
"Muscle spasms?"
I turned sharply.
"Are you a doctor?"
"No."
"Then stop interrogating me."
She studied me for a moment.
"Fine."
She turned toward the door.
Something made me speak.
"Wait."
Faith stopped.
I hated how difficult the next words felt.
"How did you know what to do?"
She looked back.
"With your leg?"
I nodded.
Her expression changed.
For the first time since entering my house, she looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"My brother."
I frowned.
"What about him?"
"He had a spinal cord injury."
The room went quiet.
Faith looked toward the window.
"I helped care for him for years."
I swallowed.
"Is he still alive?"
She hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"No."
Something tightened in my chest.
"I'm sorry."
She gave a small smile.
"So am I."
Before I could ask anything else, Mrs. Gable knocked.
"Mr. Carter, your attorney is here."
I frowned.
"At this hour?"
She nodded.
"He's insisting it's urgent."
Faith stepped aside.
A moment later, my attorney, Richard Hale, entered carrying a sealed envelope.
His face was pale.
"Dominic, we have a problem."
I stared.
"What?"
He placed a document on my desk.
It was a medical authorization from the hospital where I'd spent three months after the attack.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
Except I'd never signed it.
"What is this?"
Richard swallowed.
"Authorization for an experimental treatment."
I looked up.
"Treatment?"
He nodded.
"Someone approved a procedure involving your spinal injury."
A cold feeling spread through me.
"When?"
Richard hesitated.
"Four days after the accident."
I stared at him.
May you like
Then he whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Dominic, the procedure was never listed in your medical records."
