Page 65 of Mountain Impact

“It’s been a good day. The colonel kept up his side of the bargain. He’s given me the resources I asked for, so François and I have started looking for a psychologist to take over the program.”

“That’s great. You can tell me all about it on the way home.”

“Home?” Isolde sounded surprised. “What time is it?”

“Almost nine p.m.”

“Wow, the day really flew by.”

“Come on. That way I won’t have to worry about you driving that tin can you call a car.”

She laughed. “Is that the only reason you came to see me?”

“Not the only reason. I’m also hoping you’ll let me take your clothes off tonight.”

At his words, Isolde’s pupils got wider. She worried her lower lip gently with her teeth. Drake barely kept himself from groaning.

The woman has no idea what she does to me.

At the parking garage, they bumped into his friend Hugo.

“How are you, man?” Drake said, clapping him on the back. “We’ll meet at the gym on Tuesday morning?”

His friend smiled widely. “Looking forward to kicking your ass, Drake, as usual.” He turned towards Isolde and was silent for an instant, as if debating whether to say something. “Pretty impressive work you’re doing, Dr. Durant. I have a wife and two little boys … so I wanted to say thank you.”

Isolde blushed the prettiest color. “Any ideas you or your colleagues have, I would love to hear them, Hugo. I will do everything in my power to make sure we do this right.”

After a couple minutes of chit-chat, Hugo left. Drake pressed the fob and unlocked the doors to his car.

“You’ve become a bit of a rock star, Isolde,” he laughed.

Isolde went very serious. “That’s not what I―”

“Hey. I’m kidding. I know that. Everybody knows that.”

“Good. Good. It’s not my program, you know. It needs to be everyone’s program.”

“And it will be. Relax, Isolde. You’re doing all the right things.”

She nodded, still looking worried. “Drake, can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I spoke with the psychiatrist at the hospital this morning.”

“The one treating Amélie?”

Isolde nodded. “Amélie’s doing much better now. Her mother has come down from Paris to be with her, and she’s finally getting the professional help she needs. Her doctor thinks that having a session together with us would be good for her file, when it comes time for the authorities to review it.”

Drake forced himself to loosen his hold on the steering wheel. “Is that a good idea?” he asked, careful to keep his voice steady.

“I know she hurt you,” Isolde continued, pointing at his arm, “and that it might not be easy for you to―”

“You really think that’s what bothers me?” he asked. He felt his pulse skyrocket.

“You’re human, Drake. You were attacked―”

Drake didn’t answer until he’d parked outside his apartment building. He unclipped his seatbelt and turned towards her. He grabbed her small hand lightly in his. “Every time I close my eyes, Isolde, I see her pointing that gun at you and asking you to jump. I need to know you’re thinking of yourself, not just of Amélie’s well-being.”