Chapter 6 - UNHOLY ALLIANCE
Nora smoothed her jacket, refusing to let him see her tremble. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I was on my way to give Claire her evening beta-blockers."
Julian walked into the library, his long strides effortless. He set his glass down on a side table and leaned against the edge of a heavy mahogany desk, studying her face in the warm glow of the fireplace.
"My uncle is right about one thing," Julian said quietly. "Your presence here is creating waves."
"Then let me take Leo and leave," Nora offered instantly. "Give me Claire’s treatment protocol. I can monitor her remotely—"
"No," Julian cut her off firmly. "You're safest here. The man who poisoned Claire is still in my inner circle. Until I flush him out, you are under my personal protection."
Nora looked at him, her defensive walls beginning to crack under the sheer weight of her exhaustion. "Why are you doing this, Julian? Men like you don't care about waitresses or disgraced doctors."
Julian walked up to her, stopping close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his broad frame. He reached out, his long, calloused fingers gently touching the side of her face, tracing the soft line of her jawline. Nora’s breath hitched, but she didn't pull away.
"Men like me spend their entire lives surrounded by people who obey out of fear or sell themselves out for money," Julian murmured, his thumb brushing over her lower lip. "You stood in front of a man holding a gun, ignored my bodyguards, yelled at me, and saved my sister's life because it was the right thing to do. You have more courage in your small finger than my entire syndicate."
Nora looked into his dark, intense eyes and saw something she hadn't expected: a profound, heavy solitude. He was an emperor in a castle made of blood and shadows, completely alone.
"I took an oath to protect human life, Julian," she whispered softly. "Even yours."
A ghost of a smile touched Julian's lips. "Then let me protect yours."
Before the moment could deepen, Nora’s phone buzzed sharply in her pocket.
She pulled it out. It was a encrypted text message from an unknown number. Attached was a document scan.
Nora opened it, and her face drained of all color.
"What is it?" Julian asked, his demeanor instantly shifting back to sharp alertness.
"It’s... it’s from the Illinois State Medical Board," Nora whispered, her hands shaking violently as she stared at the screen. "The formal inquiry into my license suspension has been moved up to this Thursday. Someone submitted 'new evidence' claiming I illegally stole narcotics from Cook County Trauma."
Julian took the phone from her hand, reviewing the document. His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
"Dr. Vance," Julian growled softly. "He’s trying to destroy your credibility before you can testify about his negligence in the ER."
"If they revoke my license permanently," Nora wept quietly, the emotional toll of the past six months finally breaking her composure, "I'll never practice medicine again. Everything I worked for... my entire life... gone."
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Julian pulled her into his chest. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her securely against his solid frame. Nora buried her face in his shoulder, letting out a ragged sob as the scent of his cologne wrapped around her like a protective shield.
"Listen to me, Nora," Julian whispered fiercely into her hair. "Nobody is taking your license. On Thursday, you walk into that medical board room with the best legal team in this country. And I will personally deliver the head of whoever forged those documents."
