Goldie pauses the video, the omega’s guilty face filling the screen. “That’s about it. I got him to repeat a few things, and he admitted it was more likely harassment than a prank, but he didn’t have any other details to add.”
Pitt stares down at me, his brow furrowed. “Does this make any sense to you? Have you had issues with a doctor that fits that description?”
I’m already shaking my head. “No. I mean, occasionally there’s an argument between the therapists and the clinical physicians, but nothing like this.”
“Can you tell us more?”
“Well, doctors are all about healing the body, but with trauma victims, the mind is often too damaged to give consent. Some of them are alphas, as well, and the patients can react badly…” I frown, trying to think of anyone who would set up something like this instead of simply coming and having it out with me, face-to-face. Granted, a lot of doctors only come in for consults, so it’s not like I know everyone, but I honestly think they’re all too busy – and self-involved – for such an obscure prank. “There might be tension sometimes, but we’re all professionals. We all want the same outcome. The note really said something about losing our loved ones?” Goldie nods and I get to my feet, nausea unfurling in my stomach. “Maybe I treated a family member, or someone in their pack, and it didn’t go well.”
“You can’t know that,” Goldie says quietly. “Until we find the guy, the motive could be anything.”
Yes, but would he have gone to all the trouble if I had cut in line at the cafeteria and swiped the last tuna salad?
“Thanks, Goldie.” Pitt puts an arm around me as he leads me out of the hub and back into the sunlight. I take a shaky breath, turning to stare hard at the ground, but Pitt tilts my chin up. His eyes are soft with sympathy, but there’s a hard note in his voice as he says, “You can’t beat yourself up over this. Whatever statement this guy was trying to make, it’s not your fault.”
“Unless I failed to give his loved one proper care.”
“You do your best, and if he’s really a doctor, he knows that better than anyone.” He sighs as I shake my head, still too rawfor his reassurances. “We’ll look into it further. But maybe the best thing for now is to stay away from the clinic…”
I whirl on him, my fears and frustration bubbling to the surface. “Is that right? I should just stick to carting around wheelbarrows and making rhinestone underwear while omegas are out there, suffering and in pain?”
Pitt’s eyes widen. “You’re making rhinestone underwear?” He rubs a hand over his face, and I’m pretty sure he’s hiding a smile, but then he shrugs. “Do something else, then. You could always help out at the refuge center here.”
He sounds reasonable - I know he’s being reasonable – but that doesn’t stop my spine from stiffening. “You don’t tell me where to work, Pitt. I’m not one of your little security soldiers.”
“I know that. But I’m responsible for your safety, and until we know more, you need to stay where I can see you.”
I narrow my eyes at him, an old suspicion resurfacing. “Like when you were on my couch? Was that more of this?” I wave my hand in the direction of the hub. “I thought you were there for Wings, not to spy onme.”
He gives me a tired look from under his lashes. “Abbie, I’m the club’s enforcer. I go where Ark sends me.”
I scoff. “And he sent you to my couch?”
“Pretty much. My instructions were to stay close to you both but not get in your face. And definitely not in your bed, if that’s what you’re pissed about.” A tiny smile hooks the corner of his mouth. “Why do you think Ark flipped out so badly when you asked for the pack suite?”
Something flutters in my chest, an old, needy ache, but I ignore it. “Is this some kind of joke to you?”
“It’s a relief, actually. I’m loyal to Ark and what he’s trying to do here, but you and Wings come first. I didn’t like going behind your back, even if it was for the right reasons.”
I’m pretty sure he thinks there’s an apology in there somewhere, but with the mood I’m in, it doesn’t cut it. “You’re seriously telling me Ark would waste his best enforcer on something like that? When you’ve got Vipers and omega traffickers to worry about?”
“One hundred percent.” He folds his arms over his chest, raising his brows at me. “You already know about Goldie being placed at the clinic. Face it, Abbie, there isn’t much Ark wouldn’t do to protect you.”
“From what?” I fume, throwing my hands in the air. “Everything bad that has ever happened to me was a result ofthisplace.”
The faint amusement in his eyes fades, his scent thickening with something that tastes like sorrow. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. I know you don’t want to talk about the things you went through, but if I can do anything to help, you know I will.” I shake my head at him, but when he puts his hands on my hips, I don’t push him away. All my anger feels like a sticky weight on my skin, and I sigh as he presses a kiss to my temple. “It might have started as a job, but I wanted to be there. Same way I want to be here right now, for as long as you’ll let me.”
His voice is a soothing rumble, and I close my eyes, breathing in his scent. It would be so easy to just give into the comfort he’s offering, but what happens when it falls apart? Club life is notoriously unstable, and at the end of the day, Pitt is the Flyers’ Sergeant-at-Arms. If Ark needs him to go camp out on some other omega’s couch, what choice would he have?
“Can you at least give me a chance?” he murmurs into my hair. “Let me court you, like we’re starting over.”
I sigh, because he makes it sound so easy, when it’s anything but. “How can I trust you if you hide shit from me?”
“You can’t.” He brushes my hair back, his warm palms cupping my face. “Which is why I promise not to do it again.”
“And I just believe you?”
“No, Iconvinceyou.” His thumbs feather over my neck, skimming my scent gland. “Plus, when you take my bite, you’ll be able to see all the way to the bottom of my dark, murky soul.”
