Page 53 of Free
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Considering Beau had pretty much already interviewed Rani as far as job skills went, D wasn't sure what he was going to say when the two doctors showed up. Mostly, he just needed to know that Rani would have the stomach to deal with the things they dealt with every day.
It also made him wonder if he could find a team counselor like they had in California. He had no idea how Katie had joined the team. It was another thing he needed to talk to Bryon about when he got time. As much as he hated that Bryon had forced them to go talk to a counselor every so often, it did help. While he never opened up about his past, he had talked a lot about the things he'd seen while with the team. Seeing children raped and tortured took its toll on a mind, and he wanted his team to have someone to speak with if they needed it.
The front door opened, and D glanced at Jeremy as they waited at the kitchen table. He sensed Jeremy's nervousness. This was all new to him. He'd been uprooted and forced into a life he'd never imagined. It had to be hard on him.
"Hi, guys." Beau walked in, followed by a tall, dark-skinned, Middle Eastern man. He wasn't what D had expected at all. The man was at least six-foot-four and thick like a linebacker on a football team. A neatly trimmed beard covered his face, but it didn't hide the friendly smile. "I'd like you to meet Rani."
D and Jeremy both stood at the same time. He waited as Jeremy introduced himself and shook Rani's hand before he moved forward and did the same. "I'm D. It's a pleasure to meet you. Beau speaks highly of you."
"Ah, thank you, but I can't say enough good about Beau. He saved my niece's life when he was visiting my country. That's something I'll never be able to pay back." Rani smiled at Beau.
"It was nothing. I was just in the right place at the right time." Beau waved him off as he walked to the fridge. "Would you like beer, soda, or water?"
"Water is fine," Rani said as he took the seat Jeremy offered to him.
"So, how are you liking Colorado so far?" D asked as he sat back down.
"I haven't had much time to see it. I just got into town today, but from our short drive here, I think it's beautiful. Much nicer than all those buildings in New York." Rani took the water Beau handed him. "I'm hoping I get to stick around long enough to explore it more."
Jeremy smiled. "So are we."
Rani sat forward, his gaze moving between D and Jeremy. "Beau has filled me in on what my job would be."
"I warned him about all the sprained ankles." Beau winked at D.
D flipped him off. "Kasey is just as bad."
"I'd have to sit down and remember each time, but I'm pretty sure you have him beat." Beau grinned. "Anyway, sorry to interrupt."
Rani smiled. "I'm more than okay handling the simple things like sprains and cuts, even if they aren't related to your… Um, business?"
Jeremy shrugged. "I guess you could call it that."
"Beau also warned me of the more severe things he's had to deal with. I'm used to stabbings and have seen my share of gun violence, and even a few terroristic acts during my career. While I'd like to think I can handle everything, and I am pretty sure I can handle anything Beau could, I can't promise I can work miracles, especially alone." Rani stared at Jeremy. "Beau stressed how important it is to not use a hospital, but before we talk any further, you need to know, if it comes down to life or death, and I can't manage it alone, I will call for an ambulance."
Jeremy glanced at D.
"Good, because so would we. No member of our team is expendable just so the others are protected. If there is a real danger of death or even permanent injury, we wouldn't stop you. By joining this team, it would mean we put full trust in you for all medical decisions. We would trust that you would do all you could, protect the team at all costs unless it was something so drastic that you could not handle it on your own. We're aware at some point, something that serious might happen. We'll deal with the fallout when and if it does, but life comes first always for the team." D looked at Beau, then at Jeremy. "There isn't a member of this team or any other that I wouldn't give up my freedom for. I'd give up my life to protect each and every one of them." It was something he was sure every member of STK would do. What they did was important, but not enough that they would let any member die because of it. "You have my word, if you say it's serious enough for a hospital, we go that route, no questions asked." He looked at Jeremy, hoping he was speaking for them both.
"I agree. When it comes to medical things, you are the final say." Jeremy nodded.
Beau sighed. "Let's just hope it never gets to that point."
"Exactly." Rani nodded. "I don't plan on ever having to, but then none of us plan on coming close to dying. That was my main concern. Even though Beau assured me you'd be okay with that, I needed to hear it from you."
"You know what we do? The graphic details?" D asked.
"I do. Castration is a justifiable punishment for the people you hunt. And what you do to the women, well, that is deserved as well." Rani leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "As Beau told you, I was fighting against female genital mutilation in my country. Women are treated as property by many in my region. It's not as bad as it used to be for females, but most are still mutilated when they are young. The infection, the damage, the irreversible carnage that was done to some of these young girls made me sick. I wanted to do the same to the men who hurt them. This is no different. I am okay with what the team does."
The determination and anger in Rani's eyes gave D the confidence that Rani wouldn't change his mind once he started and became more involved with what they did.
"I have a question, and I'm sorry if it offends you, but I heard in Islam that castration is banned. I know Beau said you'd left Islam, but being raised in the religion, I wanted to be sure this won't be an issue for you."
"It won't be. I've left it completely behind. I disagreed with many of the teachings. I won't go into a rant about why and what was practiced in the region I was raised in, but I will just say, I'm glad to be gone. I'm looking forward to living here in America where everyone is treated equal and is free to think and do what they please for the most part. To be in New York for the time I was able to see men and women both free to live as they choose, women doing jobs I'd never dared think of them doing back home. In Oman, you are told who you will marry, how you will live, and sometimes even what job you will do. Here, it's not that way. People have choices." Rani glanced at Beau. "In my country, Beau would be hanged for living with another man. It's a different world there. One I will not miss."
D reached for Jeremy's hand. "So you won't have an issue if Jeremy and I are sleeping together?"
