Page 80 of Hades

I reach into my bag and pull both out before sliding them over to her.

“We highly recommend that you meet with your union representative,” Lana adds.

“I will. Is there anything else?” I ask, my voice flat.

“No, you are free to go.” Mr. Bradford nods to me.

I stand and turn toward the door. Right as I reach for the handle, someone calls out behind me.

“Dr. Kingston, I really hope this comes out as some sort of misunderstanding. While you have this time off, please take the time to consider the company you keep and the reflection they have on you.”

My body tenses, and slowly I turn toward Dr. Pembrooke.

“There is nothing wrong about the company I keep. You should remember that you are a doctor and swore an oath to protect everyone with no prejudice.”

Before he can say anything, I walk out of the conference room and back to the elevator. My hands shake as I hit the button for the ground floor, and I will myself to keep it together.

I do, all the way until I step outside and I see him leaning against my car, waiting for me. As soon as he sees me, he straightens.

“Come here,” he rasps, holding out his arms.

I step into his hug, and as soon as my face touches his chest, the tears begin to fall.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Hades

Reaper bangs the gavel on the table, calling the meeting to order.

“I tried talking to her, but she wouldn’t say shit. How is she?” Reaper asks me.

My jaw clenches as I think about the way she sobbed in my arms. The way her body shook as she cried.

“She’s as well as you would expect.”

Reaper shakes his head. “She’s shut down.”

“Can’t blame the girl. She worked hard for that degree and is one hell of a doctor. All for it to be ripped away in a mistake we damn well know she isn’t guilty of doing.” Kicks shakes his head.

“Did she tell you anything about the meeting?” Trigger asks.

“Only that the woman died of a calcium gluconate overdose that she administered by mistake,” I tell him.

Trigger nods, turning back to his computer.

Usually all electronics are banned from meetings, but with Trigger working overtime on this, he has been allowed to bring it in. Besides, if anyone has bugged Trigger’s shit, they have to be a fucking god because Trigger is already a genius.

“So Melanie was killed on purpose. We already suspected that, but we have proof now. The hospital itself is claiming it, as is Dansworth. He went on TV for a press conference talking about his former lover. He is claiming that she was beat up by bikers due to his campaign against them, and when she sought medical assistance, she was killed. The bodyguard is claiming he was forced to stay in the room, and only seconds later, his ward was dead. They haven’t named Evelyn, but they are stating it was a doctor with ties to the biker gangs,” Colt informs us all.

I curse, rubbing my hand down my face. “She’s out there with Tara right now. She hasn’t turned on the TV since she got home. I don’t think she has even looked at her phone. I doubt she knows, but we need to tell her.”

I look to Reaper. The pain on his face matches my own.

Neither of us wants to hurt her any more than she already is. There’s nothing we can do, though. Our hands are tied.

Midnight hums. “Dansworth’s temper is getting shorter. If he’s taking out liabilities at the drop of a hat, who knows what he’s willing to do?”

As they throw out theories, my heart aches. I hate the fact that I am in here when she needs me out there. We aren’t even getting anywhere with all of this. I fucking hate it. I wish I could give her the comfort she needs. If not me then…