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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 go.” Seth shooed her to the door.
She walked out for the last time, and she couldn’t say she was sorry to see this place go. Nothing good had happened inside these four walls.
Seth gave her a nudge and slammed the door closed as she heard the first wail of sirens a few blocks over. “Go!”
“I don’t have my key to lock the door.”
“This place is Sanchez’s problem now. We’ve got to move!”
Or he and Beck could get arrested. Right. Everything was happening so fast, and the shock of tonight, coupled with the exhaustion now tugging at her after all those pointless tears, was making it hard to think straight. It probably didn’t matter if she didn’t lock the door. After they’d beaten the crap out of Sanchez, the man wasn’t going to return her five-hundred-dollar deposit.
They made a mad dash to Seth’s SUV. Beck was waiting by the back with her dad. He grabbed everything from her hands, stare lingering on the embroidered ears. “Backseat. Now.”
She didn’t hesitate. The last thing she wanted was for either man to suffer consequences for trying to help her. And maybe she shouldn’t be surprised they’d stayed and dragged her from that miserable apartment. Beck had been feeding her for months. Together, they’d slayed the Kathryn dragon for her. They’d said they both wanted a future with her. Hell, Seth had uprooted his entire life for her.
Was it possible they’d still want her now that they had seen the mess she’d made of her life? It seemed incredible they would when her own mother hadn’t.
As she rushed Dad into the backseat and followed, she mentally gnawed on the fact that, despite the worst possible circumstances, sometimes people stayed. After all, she hadn’t once considered leaving her father. And she saw people at the hospital every day who stuck by their loved ones, no matter what. So what made the difference? The character of the person? The strength of their love?
Heavenly didn’t know.
“Give me the keys.” Beck held out his hand to Seth.
“I can drive.” Seth fished them from his pocket.
“I know where I’m going.”
With a sigh, Seth tossed Beck the ring.
Seconds later, the capable doctor turned the engine over and shot down the street, lights dark. He was already at the stop sign at the end of the street and sliding into sparse traffic on Figueroa, heading for the freeway, when Heavenly caught sight of flashing red-and-blue lights in the rearview mirror. She turned to look out the back window. Sure enough, the police were stopping in front of her old building.
