Beck spun around on his heel and flashed her an incredulous stare. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
She shrank back. “I’m sorry. I’ll call a cab.”
Seth sent her an equally stupefied glare. “You’re fucking serious?”
“Yes!” Why were they making this so hard on her? “I can’t pay the rent anymore. I know you understand what happened here tonight. I already feel horrible enough that I’ve put my comfort over my father’s well-being.” Tears rushed to her eyes like acid again as she threw the rest of his clothes, his meds, and his lone pair of shoes in the basket. “Why are you trying to make me feel worse?”
“How much money do you have right now, little girl?” Beck snarled.
“Not enough, obviously.” She stomped to the kitchen and grabbed the food out of the pantry. She refused to leave behind the coffee cup and wine Seth had given her. They were some of the few happy reminders she had left. Sniffling, she returned to the main room. “Do you want it in exchange for taking us somewhere safe?”
“How. Much?”
Heavenly reared back. With her, Beck had always been kind, affable, patient, wry, intellectual, and sexy enough to make her shiver. She’d never heard the hard edge in his voice. She’d never seen his temper. If he wanted to humiliate her, he wouldn’t be the first person to try, but no way would she cower before him—or anyone.
She settled all the kitchen stuff in the basket, then lifted her chin. “Fifty-four dollars.”
“Total? To your name?” Seth looked somewhere between horrified and heartbroken. “Damn it, angel…”
“I don’t want your pity. And I’m not asking you for anything.”
“Oh, you don’t have to ask. Let me tell you exactly how this is going to unfold, little girl. We’re loading up your things and taking your dad to the hospital tonight so our neurological team can do a full evaluation in the morning. After we leave there, Seth and I are taking you to my condo. I’m going to fix you a massive fucking plate of food and watch you eat every bite. Then we’re going to tuck you into the huge, clean bed alone. And you’re going to sleep until the dark circles and worry disappear. Tomorrow, you’ll visit your father, shop for a whole new wardrobe with Raine, then explain how the fuck you got into this mess.” Beck leaned close, nostrils flaring. “All of that is nonnegotiable, and you will do it without a word of disobedience. Is that clear?”
“No.” When Beck’s eyes narrowed, she shook her head. “I-I can’t. I can’t ask for that much. I can’t pay you. I can’t miss work. You’re trying to help, and I appreciate it. But—”
“Don’t you dare say they aren’t my problems and that you’re not my responsibility.”
“Why not?” She tossed her hands in the air. “It’s true.”
“Bullshit,” Seth tossed in, grabbing papers from the drawers of the old desk in the corner. “We just made you our responsibility. And we don’t have time to argue. We’ve got a handful of minutes to get this shit in the car and leave before the police start asking questions.”
Heavenly almost dropped everything. “The police?”
Seth grabbed the basket and slid her laptop and their papers inside. “Angel, do you think all this blood on our clothes came from a simple busted nose?”
Her eyes widened. “He’s…really injured?”
“We beat the shit out of him, so we don’t exactly have time to chat. If you’re done packing, get in the car.”
“Heavenly?” Abel woke, sounding disoriented. “Boo?”
“I’m right here, Dad.” She speared both the men with frantic glances, then tuned them out and focused on her father. “We need to get you up and—”
“We’re going to take you to a better hospital, Abel.” Beck helped the man to his feet and grabbed his nearby walker, completely ignoring her blinking stare.
“I need to go back?”
“Not to the VA. We’ll take you where Heavenly and I work.”
The frail man frowned, bewildered. “Where is Heavenly going, then? I don’t like the thought of her staying here by herself. Not the best neighborhood.”
“We don’t like that, either.” Seth nodded. “So…”
Heavenly pleaded silently with him not to worry her dad. He’d been through enough and didn’t need to fret about her virtue, too.
“So Beck knows of an empty condo near the hospital in a very secure building. The owners aren’t using it right now, and Heavenly can stay there as long as she wants.”
“Absolutely,” Beck promised, helping the older man slide into his slippers.
“Well, that sounds wonderful. Hear that, boo?”
“Yeah, Dad. It should be great. You and Beck head for the car. Seth and I are right behind you with our stuff.”
“In fact, why don’t I help you, Abel?” Beck didn’t wait for his reply, just lifted her father and carried him in one arm, dragging his walker behind.
Her dad gave a grunt of surprise but nodded. He must still be half asleep. His nighttime meds were meant to help him nod off, so they often left him groggy.
As soon as they were out the door, Seth lifted her box with a scowl and tucked it under one arm. “What the hell is in here?”
As he grabbed her suitcase with his free hand, Heavenly took hold of the picnic basket that included her father’s clothes, the food, her computer, and their papers. “My mother’s sewing machine. Sorry it’s heavy.”
“It’s fine. Is that everything? Take a quick look around. You’re not coming back.”
Heavenly scanned the room, scooping up her pillow and blanket, along with the princess mouse ears Beck had bought her at Disneyland. She clutched those to her chest. “What about the hospital bed?”
“We’ll call the rental company to pick it up tomorrow. Let’s
