of charts Dr. Hill had dumped on her threatening to avalanche onto the floor. Her fingers f

e righ

oed, his voic

e death warme

Hattie Case slid into the chair beside her, pushing

ng a sip. "She's been riding you since you got assi

nk." She took a gulp of the scalding coffee, letting it burn a path

ed, her gaze fixed on the entrance to the cardiac ward dow

e could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the way the lo

looked

as if she owned the place. Which, in a way, she did. Her family were major donors. She was dre

ke's stomach clench into a tight, pa

rr

looked perfect together. A power couple straight from the pages of a magazine. The brilliant su

o greet them, her face arranged

nning! It's so good to

I brought you something." She handed over a small, elegant box of pas

She shot a triumphant look over her shoulder at Bla

Blake. A flicker of something-amusement, or maybe just pure contempt-crossed

tone light and airy. "Your residen

s froze over

saw something dark and unreadable in their depths, but it was gone

aid, his voice carrying easily in the quiet hall

er than his public rebuke in the conference room.

r and started to stand up. Blake's hand shot

her voice raw. "Please

r chair, her face a thun

arrett. She looped her arm through his. "Come on, darling. I

rned and walked away with her, n

, disappearing down the hall. Her phone buzzed in the pocket o

ew me

a text alert

as been made to your trus

s from an unknown num

onight. Wear t

was a physical thing, a sour taste at the back of her throat. He shames

er expression full of conc

es. She took a deep, shuddering breath and force

e word back to th

k

bank notification, and stood up. She picked up a

these," she said

back straight, each

d told Gwyneth to go on ahead. He stood in the shadows of an alcove, watching Bl

d said. But what he'd liked even less was the cowed, defeated look on Blake's f

-