The Chase

Beck did his part, coming forward to use his body as a visual barrier between her and Abel’s corpse. Together, they led her out of the room, pausing while Beck asked an orderly to sit with Abel before they left the hospital.

Heavenly looked exhausted.

In silence, Seth helped her into the SUV and buckled her in when she didn’t reach for the seat belt. As he rolled out of the parking lot, he didn’t like the way she withdrew into herself beside him.

He drove through the dark night down Wilshire, worry gripping him, and exchanged a glance with Beck in the rearview mirror. The surgeon looked equally concerned.

Now that Abel was gone, they’d soon have to ask her two things Seth absolutely dreaded: how she wanted to lay her father to rest and whether she saw any future here with him and Beck.

After a few painfully silent minutes, Beck rang Hammer. In low tones, he delivered the bad news about Heavenly’s father and asked if their girl could see Raine, despite the late hour. After murmuring his condolences, Macen assured him they would all be waiting.

When Seth pulled into the driveway, every light in the house burned bright. As he parked, Raine approached, her gait something like a waddle now that she was five months pregnant with twins. The second Heavenly caught sight of her, she flung off the seat belt, shoved open the door, and leapt from the vehicle. Raine opened her arms, and Heavenly rushed into them with a terrible, mournful wail.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Raine crooned. “So sorry…”

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” Her body bucked with another sob. “It happened so fast.”

“I know. I know.”

“H-he was too young. We should have had years together. Decades…”

Hammer and Liam both strode closer, hovering protectively as Raine led Heavenly to the front door.

The Irishman looked their way with a grim expression as they exited the SUV. “Come in. You look like you could use a Scotch.”

“Got a whole bottle?” Beck quipped as he watched the women disappear inside the massive house.

“Make that two.” Seth sighed.

Hammer nodded. “She looks devastated. You two don’t look much better.”

Seth’s urge to stay close to Heavenly rode him as they all filed inside. The men headed to the kitchen while the women sank onto the sofa in the adjacent living room, Raine’s arms enfolding Heavenly as much as her belly allowed. He couldn’t hear whatever murmurs they exchanged, but the sobs wracking their girl were unmistakable. He wanted to punch something because he couldn’t simply step in and soothe her fucking grief. She needed a few minutes with Raine, and he couldn’t judge where she found her comfort now. God knew he didn’t want to admit where he’d found his when his world had fallen apart.

As he leaned tiredly against the kitchen counter, Liam slid glasses of amber liquid their way. Seth grabbed his gratefully and swallowed it back. “What a clusterfuck.”

Hammer glanced over their heads, toward the sofa. “That poor girl… The man’s death was unexpected?”

Beck nodded. “We finally met him last night. When we left him at the hospital, he was looking better, so this is an utter shock to her. Hell, to all of us.”

“I had no idea she had an ailing father or that she was so close to him.”

“We didn’t, either,” Seth muttered.

“Since Raine has Heavenly in hand, we’re happy to help with the funeral. Do you know what kind of service she wants?” Liam asked.

“We haven’t broached that yet. I doubt she’s even thought about it.” Seth raked a hand through his hair. “She was too busy taking care of him, attending school, and trying to make her rent.” He turned to Beck. “Did she ever say anything to you?”

“Nothing. He probably didn’t have any kind of a will, either.”

Good point. “Abel had nothing to leave her. You should have seen the shithole they were living in. Gang central, man. Even the cockroaches were heavily armed.”

Hammer scowled. “Seriously?”

Beck nodded. “We were shocked. And her landlord… He’ll be eating through a straw for a while. He deserves the beating we gave him for expecting Heavenly to pay her rent on her back.”

“Bloody hell.” Liam gripped his glass. “I knew the wee thing was in trouble, but why didn’t she ask for help?”

Seth sighed. Because she had walls they still needed to tear down, and after tonight, he worried he’d never get the chance. “She doesn’t know how.”