Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
There was total silence meeting his revelation. He didn’t look at Joe or Ezekiel, or even Rubin. He brought Leila’s hand to his mouth and pressed kisses into her palm.
Joe cleared his throat. “I want to be very clear on this, Diego.”
That was a command to look at him. Diego did so, keeping his expression blank. The many predators in him reacted to any challenge. Learning to control the roaring voices, the adrenaline and testosterone, hadn’t been easy, but he had done so.
“Are you saying you were able to perform psychic surgery on Leila?”
“I had no choice. As it was, I had to remove her spleen. She had massive damage, but the trajectory of the bullet was what really saved her.”
Again, there was a brief silence. Joe continued to stare him down, triggering the predators in Diego. He breathed evenly. In and out. Counting his breaths.
“Did you know he could do that, Rubin? Ezekiel?” Again, Joe’s voice was very quiet.
“I didn’t have a clue,” Rubin admitted. “Not in all these years.”
“I didn’t either,” Ezekiel said. “But now that I know, I’m not surprised. Rubin and Diego are very much like twins. I should have realized what talent one has, so does the other.”
“Diego,” Joe said, a note in his voice that Diego didn’t recognize. It was almost a hesitation, something Diego had never known Joe to do. “You do realize there are most likely under ten people on this earth who can perform psychic surgery.”
Diego hadn’t thought in terms of numbers. He didn’t want to think of the repercussions. He had guarded his brother on the pretense of ensuring his brother’s gift survived, but in reality, for Diego, it wasn’t about his brother’s ability to execute psychic surgery. He did know, for his team and every other GhostWalker team, that was the reason the surgeon was guarded so carefully. He didn’t want the restrictions he knew his brother lived with.
“You know I’m capable of healing, but I can’t perform surgery. I wouldn’t even attempt such a thing, knowing the outcome would be disastrous,” Joe continued. “You can tell us you felt you had no choice, but the fact that you could do actual surgery under the conditions you had, when you were alone and most likely giving blood as well, attests to the fact that you have a very strong talent.”
Diego didn’t want to hear that and was already shaking his head in denial before he could think how to react.
Joe leaned closer. “You can’t deny it, Diego. You know if you were able to do those things, it’s a miracle. Nothing less. You removed her spleen and fixed the damage…”
“Rubin had to reinforce my work. It didn’t hold up,” Diego said.
Joe turned his gaze on Rubin. “I thought you didn’t know about Diego’s ability.”
Diego had to restrain himself from defending Rubin. Rubin wouldn’t have welcomed his interference, and he had the feeling he was already skating on thin ice with Joe.
“I didn’t know about Diego’s ability until I arrived at the cabin and found him in a total crash situation. It was only when I went to examine Leila that I realized what he’d done. Diego, I’d like to agree with you that you don’t have a strong talent because I know where that’s coming from, but if I’m to be truthful, your talent is every bit as powerful as mine. I may have more experience, but you’re every bit as capable.”
Diego shook his head again.
Joe studied his face, making Diego more uncomfortable than ever. “What is it, Diego? Why do you feel you aren’t capable?”
Inadvertently, his grip tightened on the nape of Leila’s neck. She relaxed against him, moving into him despite the arms on the chairs creating a space.
“I don’t feel the compulsion to heal in the way you do or Rubin does. It was a little shocking to feel it with Leila.”
“And Luther?”
Diego shrugged. “It was a matter of necessity to heal him. That’s what I did, but I wouldn’t call it a compulsion.”
“Is it possible that you trained yourself not to feel the need to heal because Rubin’s talent was strong?” Ezekiel asked.
Diego despised the conversation. He knew it had to take place and that none of the men present would give his secrets away unless Joe decided he had to be as guarded as Rubin. He needed to convince Joe that he couldn’t do surgery on just anyone.
Diego, you know that’s more than possible, Rubin whispered into his mind. From the time you were a child, our mother would tell you anything you were capable of came from a dark, evil place.
I’m an adult, not that child. I should know what I feel. But he wasn’t certain if that was true. Sadly, it was very possible that he had trained himself not to feel the need to heal a human. The need was extremely strong around animals. Over the years, he had convinced himself that healing animals, not humans, was his calling.