"Ah!" It finally dawned on Lindsay just what she had grabbed, and embarrassment jolted her into motion. She hastily withdrew her hand and sprang to her feet, hurriedly retreating to create some distance.
Her clumsy movements sent the chair skittering across the floor, and her hand swiped dangerously close to toppling a tray of instruments.
Before disaster struck, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly to a stop.
A husky, teasing voice sounded right at her ear. "Trying to trash my office, are you?"
A fierce blush crept up Lindsay's cheeks. Tears of embarrassment shimmered in her unfocused eyes as she fumbled for words, lashes fluttering. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"
Anthony looked down at the woman pressed awkwardly against him. She felt impossibly soft and delicate, as if a single careless move might shatter her. He felt an odd restlessness stir inside, something he'd never expected.
Moments earlier, he had forced himself to stay perfectly still, terrified any sudden movement might cause further damage to her injured eyes. But now, with her pressed close, warmth spread through him, making his heart stutter in his chest. This didn't make any sense. Normally, he wouldn't feel a thing for a patient. What was wrong with him?
A ridiculous thought flashed through Anthony's mind—had someone spiked his morning coffee? He found himself actually wondering if that could be the case.
Anthony's brows drew together in a deep frown. He was about to let go of her when something caught his eye—a small, vivid red birthmark just behind her ear.
It matched the mark on the little girl who had pulled him from the brink all those years ago, right after he had been kidnapped. The mark was shaped like a crescent moon. Could this woman—blind and trembling before him—really be the one who'd saved his life years back?
Stunned, Anthony leaned in, trying to get a better look.
But Lindsay slipped from his grasp, backing until her back met the wall. "Dr. Dixon, how soon will you have the results?"
He watched her in silence, studying her face for a long moment before closing the gap between them with two purposeful steps. His presence brought a chill to the room, the air around him turning sharp.
"Your eyes have been damaged for three years. Why the sudden rush for the test results now?" he asked.
Lindsay dropped her gaze, fingers twisting the hem of her sweater. She had no allies, no power. Confronting Matthew and Kyra alone would be suicide. Still, she'd made her decision. "I'd like to strike a deal, Dr. Dixon." Her words came out steady, a strange sense of peace settling over her as she found her way to the nearest chair.
Her eyes were unfocused, but Anthony could still see it—the fierce, unyielding determination burning behind those clouded eyes.
Intrigued, he folded his arms and took the seat across from her, waiting to hear just what kind of bargain she intended to propose.
"Help me get my sight back, and I'll help you bring down the Riley Group." The words tumbled out, her voice trembling slightly. As she uttered Riley Group, her pulse raced, and shadows darkened her features.
"Why would you think I have any interest in your proposal? I don't even get involved in my own family's power games—what makes you think I want to take on the Riley family? If you're here as a patient, my obligation is only to your eyes. Anything else is your problem. Unless, of course, you have something a little more tempting to offer."
He studied the woman sitting across from him, something unreadable flashing through his eyes. He couldn't believe for a second that Lindsay truly meant to team up against the Riley family. Rumors had painted her as blindly and hopelessly in love with Matthew for years.
Anthony leaned back, his interest fading, his face smoothing back into polite indifference. His tone returned to the chilly professionalism from before. "Mrs. Riley, your initial examination meets surgical requirements. Come back on Monday for a second assessment, and we'll finalize the details. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other patients to see."
"Alright. Thank you, Dr. Dixon. Please keep this visit private." She hadn't expected to sway him on her first try.
Rising, Lindsay used the wall to guide her way to the door and then slipped quietly into the hallway.
The instant she left, Anthony pulled out his phone and called the private detective he'd hired. "Any progress on the person I've asked you to look for?"
The voice on the other end sounded hesitant. "It's been years. It's hard to trace."
"I'll send you a new lead. Look into this woman—find out if she was anywhere near the scene of my kidnapping when she was a child. And while you're at it, dig into Matthew Riley's background." With that, Anthony ended the call.
His eyes drifted to the passport photo attached to Lindsay's file, and his expression gave nothing away. If she truly turned out to be the little girl who'd saved his life all those years ago, he would move heaven and earth to protect her—no matter what it cost him.
