“Because of you,” I tell her. “You gave her a chance when no one else would.”
“We both did.”
She stares at the envelope of money in her hands. Seven thousand five hundred dollars. Blood money from a forced marriage contract.
“I know what I want to do with this,” she says. Her face is determined, a look I’ve seen so many times before.
“What?”
“Stephanie. The nurse from my unit.” She looks up at me. “She’s a single mom, been working doubles just to keep up with rent. Her car broke down last month and she’s been taking the bus with her kids in the snow.”
Of course, my Angel wants to give away the money to help someone else. I’d never expect any less.
“Can we stop by the hospital on the way to the Shea’s?” she asks. “Drop it off anonymously?”
I cup her face, this brilliant, compassionate woman who always thinks of others before herself. “Yeah, Angel. We can do that.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into the hospital parking lot. Blake tucks the money into a plain red envelope—no name, no note, nothing traceable, just Stephanie’s name on the front. She scans her ID and we head inside.
The fourth floor is quieter than usual. There’s only a skeleton crew of staff wanting that sweet holiday pay. I spot the nurse Blake mentioned at the station, hunched over charts.
“Wait here,” Blake says, squeezing my hand before letting go.
I watch her approach the nurse station, walking casually like she’s here for a friendly visit. The nurse, Stephanie, looks up and she points to the bandage on Blake’s head.
They exchange a few words. Blake gestures to something, and Stephanie gets up to check. The second her back is turned, Blake’s hand darts into the bag hanging on the chair, slipping the envelope inside.
So slick…like a true professional.
My little vigilante.
Stephanie comes back, they talk for another minute, and then Blake walks back to me with that satisfied smile on her face.
“Done?” I ask as we head to the elevator.
“Done.”
I take her hand, lacing our fingers together. “You’re incredible.”
“Do your cameras reach the nurse’s station? I’d love to see her face when she notices the envelope.”
I raise a brow. “Of course they do. I’ll make sure I set it to record the rest of the night.”
God, I love her.
We drive to the Shea’s, and I keep my hand on her thigh the whole way. I can’t seem to stop touching her. It’s like my body needs the constant reminder that she’s here, alive and safe beside me.
Their house is lit up like a Christmas explosion with lights on every surface, blow-up decorations everywhere, warmth pouring out from the windows. It looks like a Hallmark movie threw up.
“Amanda has added to her collection this year,” I say, taking notice of a few inflatables I’ve never seen.
Before we’re fully out of the car, the front door bursts open. Bailey comes flying out first, Jasper right behind her.
“Blake!” Bailey crashes into her, careful of her head but still fierce. “Oh my God, how are you doing? We’ve been so worried!”
“I’m doing great,” Blake says, hugging her back. “I promise.”
Jasper pulls her into a bear hug next, and I see his jaw clench. “You scared the shit out of us.”
