Chapter Ten

Chantal escorted the elderly gentleman out of the treatment room and directed him to the exit. Happy with the spinal adjustment, he pressed his palms together and bowed. Chantal did the same.

“He’s here!” Alexis called from down the passage. “Sunil is outside.”

“You saw Sunny?” Chantal turned to the excited blonde, her spirits rising.

“He’s waiting in line. He has to be in pain to turn up now.”

“Is his sister with him?”

Alexis shook her head as they both headed for the front door. Wyatt and Dishan fell in from behind once they saw where the women were heading. Chantal pushed open the doors and followed the line of patrons alongside the building. She hated that patients had to wait for treatment and wished that they had additional staff. Although, the center had more therapists than ever before—there was still such a great need.

“Whoa!” Gage moved to her side. “Where are you going?”

“Not far.” Chantal turned her back on the large operator and scanned the line, hoping Sunny hadn’t pulled another disappearing act.

Alexis nudged and pointed near the door, at a skinny kid leaning against the wall. Damn, the fourteen-year-old had lost weight since they’d last seen him. Last she’d heard, the kid worked in a sweatshop as a sewing machine operator, earning only a hundred dollars a month.

“You’re exposed out here.” Gage touched her arm and Chantal tamped down on irritation.

“Leave me alone—I’m doing my job.” Feeling claustrophobic, Chantal stepped away from her generous security detail. Sunny had spotted them, and looked like he’d bolt. Damn, Chantal couldn’t lose the teenager again.

“Dishan, send your team inside,” She ordered.

“The hell he will.” Gage bit out the words.

“You’re getting in my way—I need to talk to a patient. Thanks to PTSD, he’s not comfortable around guns and soldiers. I need you to back off.”

“Not gonna happen.” Gage widened his stance as two of his MSD teammates walked over. “I’m anchored to your side.”

Wyatt agreed and her local team scanned their surroundings.

“Anchor your cocky ass ten feet away. You’re getting on my last nerve.” Chantal shoved past and pasted on a reassuring smile as she approached Sunny. He’d pushed off the wall and now watched her entourage like they were vipers about to strike. She’d love to shepherd him inside, but the rest of the patients would protest if he jumped the line.

“Sunny, it’s good to see you. Is the prosthesis giving you problems?”

He didn’t answer, just watched Gage’s team behind her.

“Where’s your sister today?”

“Safe. With a friend.”

“Good.”

Sunny pointed at his leg. “Doctor, I need more of the…” He searched for the right word.

“Chafe ointment? Do you have blisters?”

Sunny nodded. “I can’t wait long. I need to get back.”

Chantal knew he’d traveled a long way, but needed to talk to him in her office. There were seven patients ahead of Sunny and Chantal hoped that he’d stay.

“Chantal. A moment?” Gage moved into her line of sight and Sunny tensed.

Goddammit.

“I’ll see you in a minute.” She smiled at the wary kid and stepped away.

Gage’s body heat felt intimate as his arm brushed hers. “I’ve noted two suspicious vehicles doing drive-bys. We’re not comfortable with you milling around on the street.”

“And I’m not comfortable with your interference.” Chantal marched back to the reception area. “I’ve been waiting for months to see that child. He’s an orphan who’s trying to take care of his little sister. A church bombing killed his parents and took his leg when he was just seven.”

“Your safety comes first.” Gage pushed open the door and allowed her through.

“My patients come first.” Chantal headed for the desk and grabbed the next file.

“Look, all I’m asking—”

Reaching her limit, Chantal swung around to face her tough nemesis. “Don’t interfere with my job. I won’t ignore a patient for the sake of security and if you’re concerned about cagey vehicles in the vicinity, then work harder. That’s your mission, not mine.” He stood too close and she had to look up to glare into his harsh face.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “There’s a difference between loitering on the street and being minimally exposed when we walk you to a vehicle. We briefed you this morning on what to expect and how to be a cooperating principal.”

Gage was correct. They’d even run through scenarios if the clinic were attacked.

“Let me make this clear.” He pinned her with a flat stare. “Your clinic is under surveillance by unknown targets. We’ve spotted a cell of informants—a large cell. What would we prefer if we’re attacked?”

Chantal rolled her eyes and looked away.

“What do we prefer?”

“A defensible space.” She ground out between tight lips.

“Is that busy street an ideal location for a showdown?”

Chantal shook her head.

“I’d love to have a happy principal all of the time, but that doesn’t always equate to a safe principal.”

“What if I gave you a thirty-minute heads-up next time I exit the building?”

Gage grinned. “Not ideal, but sure. You can ask…”

“And you’d say no.”

He shrugged and stepped back. “Carry on… you have that lunch date to worry about.”

Shooting him a glare, Chantal headed for a treatment room. Gage took up too much space—both in her clinic and in her head. What an arrogant jackass… with that confident swagger. Acting all tough in his MSD gear which looked to be heavy. The bullet-proof vest alone looked like it weighed a ton. Chantal wondered when last he’d had a spinal adjustment. It helped that he was in peak physical condition. Shoving aside thoughts of MSD agents, Chantal focused on her next patient, hoping to soon see Sunny and to make a difference in his young life.