Heal My Wounds, Babygirl

Chapter 6

My grip tightened on the ridiculous fabric as a mix of anger and embarrassment washed over me. He was enjoying this way too much.

"There's more." Dante's voice dripped amusement as he gestured his head toward the box.

My fingers found something else beneath the costume. Red lace spilled through my hands – lingerie with a matching garter belt. Blood rushed to my face as fury and humiliation warred in my chest.

I slowly raised my eyes to find Dante's stoic mask finally cracking. Deep, rich laughter filled the room as he watched my reaction.

"Your face was worth it, babygirl." His gravelly voice sent unwanted shivers down my spine as he passed by.

Words of rage burned on my tongue, but Maier's return cut them short. "All boxes are in, boss."

"Wait in the car." Dante dismissed him with a nod before turning back to me. "Wear whatever you want to work. Just nothing you're afraid to ruin." His eyes glinted with dark humor. "Simon will get you started Monday right after your classes. You’ll get the address."

Then he was gone, leaving me alone with my rage and a box full of mockery.

I slammed the nurse costume onto the floor, my mind already spinning revenge scenarios. Dante might own this game for now, but everyone had secrets. Everyone had weak points.

I just had to find his. And use it against him.

Monday came too fast. My phone buzzed with an address and directions, at the end of it was a short “Have a great day!” followed by enough emojis to fill a teenager's diary.

Maier, obviously.

He’d spent most of yesterday checking on me, trying to strike up a conversation. At first, I found it annoying. I’m not exactly used to people being overly friendly, especially in this kind of situation. But after thinking about it, I realized it might be good to have someone like Maier around—someone who wasn’t Dante. At least I wouldn’t feel completely alone in this strange, dangerous world. And he seemed... genuine. Dangerous words in this world, but still.

Honestly, I don’t have close friends. A few people in my university classes are friendly enough, but between studying, working long shifts at the bistro, and saving every penny for my loans, there’s no time for anything else.

And then there’s the constant fear. No matter how much I try to tell myself I’ve covered my tracks, I can’t stop worrying that Kaiden or his people might find me. That fear never really goes away. It’s always there, in the back of my mind, like a shadow I can’t escape.

I tried to focus on my lectures that morning, but it was useless. My head was somewhere else—thinking about what I’d gotten myself into. I was supposed to be a surgical assistant for a mafia doctor.

My university lecture hall felt surreal after everything. Normal students with normal lives, worrying about normal things. Not about mafia bosses or underground surgeries or whether they'd live to graduate.

I used to be one of them. Back when my biggest concerns were bistro shifts and student loans. Back before I'd made the mistake of saving a devil's life.

And then there was Dante. I hated how much he kept creeping into my thoughts.

I hated how much I regretted saving him that night. But now I can't undo it. I’d saved his life, and somehow, that had turned into him owning mine.

Still, I couldn’t stop wondering about him. There was something about Dante I couldn’t figure out. He was cold, ruthless, and completely intimidating, but there was more to him.

I didn’t know what it was yet, but I wanted to find out. Maybe it was just curiosity. Maybe I thought I could use it against him someday. Whatever it was, I needed to stay sharp. Dante was dangerous in more ways than one, and I couldn’t let myself forget that.

After the classes, the bistro manager took my resignation better than expected. One less thing to juggle, at least.

Finding Dr. Simon's office proved harder than expected. The building's guards looked carved from stone, their directions leading me through a maze of identical corridors. Each wrong turn felt like another reminder: this wasn't my world. Not yet.

But Dr. Simon... Dr. Simon was different. Hours flew by as he walked me through everything – procedures, paperwork, schedules. His voice carried the same steady kindness from before, treating me like a student rather than a prisoner.

"Our patients require... discretion," he explained, showing me their filing system. "But medicine is medicine. The body doesn't care who's bleeding."

My weekly salary made my bistro checks look like pocket change. The equipment was better than my university's teaching hospital. And Dr. Simon's knowledge... God, the things I could learn here.

"You have good instincts," he said, reviewing my work on Dante. "Quick decisions, steady hands. That's rare."

"I was lucky," I muttered.

"Luck had nothing to do with it." He fixed me with a knowing look. "You chose to help someone who needed it, regardless of circumstance. That's what makes a real doctor."

The praise warmed something in me, even as guilt gnawed at my plans for betrayal. Dr. Simon was offering real mentorship, a chance to learn things I never would in traditional settings.

But his next words chilled that warmth. "Of course, some of our patients can be... challenging. Especially the ones who think medical attention is an invitation for more."

I thought of Kaiden's wandering hands, his sense of ownership over everything he touched. "I can handle myself."

"I'm sure you can, dear." Dr. Simon's smile held steel. "But remember – you have protection now. This isn't the streets anymore."

Protection. The word echoed as I drove home that night. Protection from Kaiden, yes. But at what cost?

And why did thoughts of Dante's mocking laughter still burn under my skin?