"Who are you?!" Irene shrieked, stumbling to her feet, staring at me in terror.
Vivian burrowed under his blankets like a frightened child.
I didn't spare him a glance. I grabbed the doctor by the collar with one hand, lifted him clean off the ground, and slammed him into the wall.
"Who gave you the guts to touch his marrow?"
The doctor shook so hard his teeth chattered. He jabbed a trembling finger at Irene. "It was... it was Mrs. Harding's orders! I was just doing what I was paid to do!"
I drove my knee up into his stomach.
He screamed, crumpled to his knees, and retched bile onto the floor.
Bruno and Harry stormed in with the rest of the crew and locked down the surgical suite in seconds.
I rushed to the operating table and fumbled with the restraints around Thomas's wrists.
Deep purple welts ringed both wrists where the straps had bitten in.
His skin was ice under my fingers. Not a trace of warmth. Not a trace of life.
"Thomas! Thomas, wake up!" I slapped his cheek, and my voice wouldn't stop shaking.
His eyelids fluttered open. His pupils were unfocused, drifting.
When he recognized me, his cracked lips pulled into a thin, bitter ghost of a smile.
"Reggie... you came..."