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Not that it would change their strategy.
“We’ll make sure she spreads her wings.” Beck couldn’t promise more because Heavenly belonged with them. He and Seth would help her grow until she realized that, too.
“I know that look. You’ve already decided to chain Heavenly down.” Abel sighed. “I need to see her.”
Beck’s guts seized. If Abel was cutting this man-to-men chat short, he knew his time was running out.
“I’ll get her,” Seth volunteered.
Before the big guy reached the door, Heavenly stumbled in, blinking and shell-shocked. Seth cupped her elbow and squeezed. She didn’t acknowledge him, just sent a plastically bright smile her father’s way before sinking onto the bed next to him and taking his hand between her shaking fingers. “Hi, Dad. I’m back.”
Abel smiled fondly, then looked at him and Seth. “Leave us.”
Beck didn’t like it, but he nodded. “We’ll be just outside the door.”
The older man didn’t reply, just fixed his attention on Heavenly with equal parts adoration and regret.
Worried like hell, Beck stepped into the hallway.
Seth followed. “Holy shit. Abel took a huge downturn in a matter of hours. I never thought we’d be bringing Heavenly to his fucking deathbed. What happened?”
“It’s not the Guillain-Barré.” He explained Abel’s new complication. “Unfortunately, a pulmonary embolism can occur anytime.”
“So…this might have happened even if we’d known sooner that he was sick?”
Beck nodded. “We’re damn lucky he’s held on this long. That tells me how tenacious he is.”
“How long does he have?”
“Minutes…if we’re lucky.”
“Oh, fuck.” Seth raked a hand through his blond hair. “She’ll be devastated.”
“Utterly. And since she’s not talking to me right now, you’ll have to pick up the pieces.”
“But she’ll need us both. You’ve got to fix things with her, man. And that massive slab of guilt Abel just laid on us—”
“Doesn’t help anyone. She’s going to need anchors once he’s gone, so I’m not letting Heavenly explore the world alone.”
“Fuck no. I uprooted my entire life for her. I’m not letting her leave now.”
Beck understood. He’d erased all his usual subs and booty calls from his phone weeks ago. “Then we’ll have to figure out how to give her freedom while keeping her close.”
The PI scowled, his expression saying that a thousand thoughts spun in his head. “Maybe Abel is overreacting? Do you see Heavenly leaving suddenly like her mom?”
“At first I thought he was projecting his experience onto us. But when he listed the qualities Heavenly shares with her mother, I started having doubts.”
“Maybe you’re right. She’s already kept more than one secret, and you’ve got to admit she’s damn good at shutting us out.”
Beck nodded. “And once Abel is gone, she’ll try to crawl back inside herself. We can’t let her. We have to stay close and stand strong while she grieves.”
“Which won’t be overnight.”
“Nope. But I’ll do whatever it takes to see her through.”
Seth clapped him on the shoulder. “Same. But strap in. The ride is about to get bumpy.”
* * *
