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“Ms. Young?” The neurologist addressed Heavenly, stare somber.
She turned, still clutching her father’s hand. “Yes?”
Even a blind man could see she struggled to hold herself together. Beck clenched his jaw. He knew what came next. Litchfield would take Heavenly aside, explain her father’s condition…and chip away at her hope. Even if she was pissed and wanted to hate him now, she didn’t need to hear the terrible truth alone.
“Can I have a word in the hall?”
Heavenly froze, denial all over her face.
“Go on, baby,” Abel encouraged, his voice weak and scratchy.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t”—she squeezed his hand—“don’t leave me while I’m gone.”
“I won’t,” he assured.
Beck wasn’t convinced that was a promise Abel could keep.
When he would have followed Heavenly out the door, her father rasped, “Beck, wait. I need a minute.”
Comfort his girl while she heard the worst or listen to whatever her dying father had to say? Praying he would have forever to console Heavenly, he nodded as she disappeared into the hall. “Of course.”
“Come closer. My voice…” Abel dragged in a labored breath. “And I don’t want her hearing this.”
He and Seth exchanged a glance. The detective’s face didn’t give much away, but the tension in his body said plenty.
“What can we do for you?” Seth sank into the room’s lone chair as Beck moved in beside him.
“I’m dying. I hate leaving Heavenly with nothing but memories.”
“We already promised we’d care of her. And we will,” Seth reassured.
“By making my little girl a woman? I’m not blind.” Nor was he thrilled. “Why would you both take her to bed? She deserves better than to be passed around like a sex toy.”
“It’s not like that. Heavenly is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Beck vowed solemnly. “I love her.”
“We both do,” Seth swore. “I’ve never once considered her a toy.”
Resignation settled over Abel’s face. “Then do me a favor.”
“Anything,” they answered in unison.
“Don’t tie her down. Heavenly has done nothing but take care of me since she was a kid. She needs to see the world, experience life. Make mistakes and learn from them. Finish growing up.” He choked, spitting blood into a tissue he held in his trembling hand. “Be free.”
Beck didn’t miss Seth’s side-eyed glance. They didn’t want to lie to the frail man, but neither of them was willing to walk away from Heavenly.
“We understand,” the big blond replied.
Abel coughed again. “You don’t. She can be like her mother.”
The woman who had left behind a teenager to care for a sick man after tragedy struck? That wasn’t the Heavenly Beck knew at all.
“Headstrong. Independent. Proud,” Abel clarified.
That Beck couldn’t refute. After all, she’d almost given her virginity to her landlord to keep a roof over her father’s head, rather than ask him and Seth for help.
“If she doesn’t live before she commits to a future, she’ll leave when you least expect it,” Abel choked out. “Like Lisa.”
The PI scowled his way, then addressed Abel. “Thanks for the warning.”
