My heart seized. It was a consent form for a bone marrow transplant. The patient line bore my grandmother's name. The diagnosis: acute myeloid leukemia. The scheduled surgery time...
Right now.
His words echoed in my mind, the threat to make sure she never woke up again. I forgot everything else and sprinted toward the operating room.
Outside the surgical suite, the doctor was surrounded by bodyguards, pacing frantically.
The moment he heard footsteps, he called out past me: "Mr. Stephens! The myeloablative conditioning is already complete. If you halt the surgery now, the patient will die!"
Cold terror swept through my entire body. I collapsed hard onto the floor.
Over one slap, he'd ordered them to stop my grandmother's surgery while she lay between life and death.
Piers ignored the doctor completely, gazing down at me with leisurely composure.
Every shred of pride and stubbornness I had left shattered into dust.
My grandmother's life was in his hands. I had no choice.
I dragged myself up and walked to Julie. I lowered my head.
"I'm sorry. Please... let the surgery continue..."