Despite the anger searing him, he managed a tender smile. “You didn’t. It will be my pleasure to deal with her, little girl. Right now, why don’t we leave and grab a quick burger? I’m not in the mood to sit in the cafeteria with the bitches of east wing.”
She laughed through her tears. “That sounds great. Thank you.”
He took her hand and led her toward the parking garage.
“That’s a terrible name for them.” Heavenly bit her lip. “But it’s true.”
He was glad he could get Heavenly away from the hospital and make her smile. She needed it. Hell, Beck wished he could erase their vindictive shit from her memory, too. The fact he couldn’t chafed.
After a lunch spent resolutely not talking about anyone or anything related to the hospital, he escorted her back to the ER. As soon as he stepped into the unit, Kathryn’s stare all but singed him. The rebel in him wanted to pull Heavenly to his chest and kiss her in front of God and the entire staff, professionalism be damned. But that would only be detrimental to Heavenly’s career and encourage more retaliation at her expense.
“Text me if you find any more…surprises,” he whispered in her ear, tenderly cupping her elbow.
“I will. Thank you again for everything.”
“No thanks needed. Whenever I’m with you, the pleasure is all mine.”
With a sharp nod at the rest of the nurses, he glanced past Kathryn and pushed out the double doors.
Once in his office, Beck set up a meeting with Bridget Lewis that afternoon, who was all too eager to speak with him. Then he leaned back in his chair and tried to figure out how to keep his promise to Heavenly and stop Kathryn’s reign of terror. He had to bust that cunning whore before his girl shed another tear.
She’s not your girl yet, a voice in the back of his head poked.
No. He had to let her date that pompous prick of a PI until she could choose between them.
PI.
P. Fucking I.
“That’s it!” Beck slammed his fist on his desk.
Then he realized the implications.
Enlisting Seth’s help would be as much fun as swallowing acid. But no matter how much he hated it, she needed the prick right now. And Beck had to believe that if Seth was willing to cross the country to throw down a gauntlet, then he’d do whatever it took to help Heavenly.
Wearing a snarl, Beck snatched up his phone and forced himself to dial.
Seth answered on the first ring, not even bothering to say hello. “If you’re calling to yank my chain—”
“I’m calling for Heavenly. She needs your help.”
“What’s happened?” All hint of animosity left Seth’s voice. “Is she all right?”
“Physically, yes. But one of the nurses at work is terrorizing her, and the situation escalated to a death threat today.”
“What the fuck? I want details!” Seth’s voice assured Beck that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her, either.
After clearing his throat, Beck explained everything, from the minor pranks to today’s threat. By the time he was done, the PI was equally livid.
“You knew all this time that she was being harassed and did nothing to stop it?”
“Heavenly didn’t tell me shit herself until today, and I didn’t get involved because nothing had occurred that the hospital’s HR channels couldn’t handle. Until today.” He hated that he’d underestimated Kathryn. He hated even more how much Heavenly had suffered. “But now that Heavenly has been threatened, I suggest we step in to fix this shit.”
Seth got straight to business. “Got anything in mind?”
“Catching Kathryn red-handed. But that will require a video recording device.”
“I’ll get you one. Where do you plan to put it?”
Beck sighed and came to one conclusion. “In the nurse’s storage room. Their lockers are in there. I’m not exactly sure where to put it.”
“Every stunt this nurse has pulled happened inside Heavenly’s locker, right?”
“Yes.”
“Can you get me access without anyone in her unit finding out?”
“I think so.” He’d do whatever it took to get Bridget Lewis on board. “You’re willing to rig up a camera for me?”
“Not for you. For Heavenly.”
Beck rolled his eyes. If the prick needed to play her knight in shining armor to feel big and strong, whatever. All he wanted was to nail Heavenly’s tormenter so she could work in peace. “Fine.”
“I’ll swing by your office in a couple of hours. I need to stop at a store or two to grab a few things first.”
“Excellent. I’ll be here.”
On Saturday night, Heavenly eased onto the back patio at Raine’s house, a smile breaking across her face. She didn’t love everything about living in Los Angeles, but if she still lived in Wisconsin, she’d never be attending an outdoor party in late February. And this one, with its floating candles in the pool and the fairy lights strung through the trees, was magical. The surprise gathering to celebrate Hammer’s birthday and the thankful end of his legal troubles had dovetailed together perfectly.