Future Investment: (Taboo Romance Series) (Forbidden Fruit Book 2) Read Free

hand as his arm shook slightly. "Nice to see you, sir."
    "You as well, Max." I shook his hand and turned to extend my hand to the pretty red-head who stood next to his bed. Her tears had left an ugly black trail down her cheeks, but it was moving. She was in love, and just the thought of losing him had her at the hospital with us non-stop for almost a week. I yearned for that deep acceptance, but the rest of the bullshit that seemed to come along with it was what stopped me from trying years before.
    "So tell us the news, Doc. I know you're a busy man, and we don't want to waste any of your time. What's the prognosis?" The hope in his voice twisted my insides until I had trouble breathing. I could play off the trauma that wrecked my emotions easily, but I hated like hell how it left me feeling afterward. Cold. Unattached. Alone.
    I pulled out his file and opened it, glancing down and taking a short breath before looking up and staring the dying man in the face. "We've run every test we can think to run. I've had your file reviewed by three of the best cardiologists in the nation. We're out of options."
    "What?" The woman took a step toward the bed as she pressed her hands to her mouth. "No. No. You don't get to tell us that."
    "Cindy." My patient reached for the woman and tried to grab her, but she moved back as her face flushed red. He gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. We've been together since we were kids."
    "No! This isn't right. Check again. Do something." She moved around the bed, and I stood my ground. She needed someone to hit, to hurt, to hate. It could be me. It had been numerous times over the last ten years.
    Max tried to get out of the bed, but I lifted my hand toward him. "No. She's right to be upset."
    She pushed against my chest as her voice rose. "Upset? Upset?! Try destroyed. What kind of doctor are you? You come in here, running your stupid fucking tests, and just because you don't find what you can fix easily, you're done? No! Fix him. Fix..."
    "Baby." Max had tears dripping down his face as I reached for his wife and pulled her into a tight hug. I didn't know the woman, but I hated her pain all the same.
    "I'm sorry. I wish like hell there was something... anything I could do. I really do." I glanced over at Max as his wife sobbed against my chest. "I've searched high and low for an answer that might not force me to have this conversation."
    "It's okay." Max extended his hand to me as he began to cry harder. I reached out and took it, forcing back the tears that wanted to burn my eyes. I didn't get to cry. It was their time to weep and mourn. Not mine. I was the one unable to help. The one with no resolution.
    "I'll keep looking, but you needed to know." I released Cindy as she moved back and crawled into the bed with her husband. He wrapped her up tightly and gave me a weak smile.
    "I know you will. Thanks, Doctor Crawford." He pressed his lips to the side of her head and turned his attention from me.
    I closed the file and walked to the door, stopping only to answer her question as she called out. The agony in her voice seared my soul and I didn't care how long I'd been a doctor, or how long I would remain one, I would never become callous toward someone dying. I couldn't. It just wasn't me.
    "Doctor?"
    I turned around. "Yes, ma'am?"
    "How long?" She pursed her lips, and Max turned his attention back to me, his eyes wide as if he'd just realized that there was an expiration date on his life.
    "Four to seven days." I let out a shaky sigh.
    "Shit." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back as I slipped out of the room. They needed their time together, and I honestly couldn't handle another minute of watching their agony.
    "Aiden. Wait up, man." Parks was one of the younger doctors on the floor, and I had made a point to take him under my wing as much as I could. He wasn't nearly as interested in our profession as I thought he should be, but he was a good guy, and a decent friend.
    "Now is really