*~~Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four~~*

{~~Logan Grey~~}

The patient we were desperately trying to save was entrusted to Avery's capable hands. There was no doubt in my mind that if anyone could pull them back from the brink, it was her. Avery had a calm, steady presence in the operating room, a quality that not only inspired confidence but also had a way of making even the most critical situations seem manageable. Although she isn’t in the OR right now, she’s in the basement trying to create something to slow the brain rot Ms Reynolds is facing. I wanted to be there, to assist her in any way I could, but before I could even scrub in, my phone rang. It was Ryan.

Ryan’s name flashing on my phone immediately set off alarm bells. He never called during work hours unless it was something serious. My first thought was that it had something to do with the case we were both working on, but there was a tone in his voice—urgent yet restrained—that told me this wasn’t about work. He was at my office, and he needed to talk.

I hesitate