“What?” she breathes.
“You heard me.”
The blonde to Vivian’s left makes a small, affronted sound. The third one is frozen in place, the way people do when they suddenly remember the floor they’re standing on isn’t stable.
I shift my gaze to Vivian and let some of the wolf surface behind my eyes. Just enough to register on a primate brain. Just enough that her smile freezes at the edges.
“I don’t usually go after women,” I tell her conversationally. “It’s not my style. But you should know there are plenty of ways to hurt you without laying a finger on you. I can make sure you never work at a hospital in this state again. Money has a beautiful way of moving things around. And my money is my fiancée’s money.”
Vivian’s mouth opens.
“If she has a problem with you, I have a problem with you.”
I tug Miranda’s hand up between us and lift it, deliberately, so the ring sits between her body and theirs.
“Look at her,” I say to the three of them. “Look at my fiancée. These two haven’t said one word that compares to what you just did. You’re envious of her, so all the ugliness inside you ends up on your face. It’s actually a little sad.”
The blonde makes a strangled sound.
“How dare you?” Vivian’s voice climbs. “You chose the hospital slut over—”
A laugh punches out of me.
“Really? That’s what we’re going with?”
“Yes.” Her teeth are showing now. “Everyone at the hospital knows it.”
I pull out my phone.
I dial Sterling.
He picks up on the second ring. “Grayson, I was just about to—”
“Sterling, you’re on speaker. Quick question. How strong are the defamation laws in this state?”
A small silence. Then his voice comes through, dry as bone. “Pretty ruthless, actually. Why?”
Miranda stiffens against my side.
“I want to sue Silverpeak General,” I say. “And every single member of its staff who has been participating in slandering my fiancée. We’ll start with the medical board.”
“Grayson—” Sterling’s voice has gone careful.
“Pay close attention to the name Dr. Vivian Banks. She seems to think she’s someone important to the hospital. Pull her contracts, her board memberships, her speaking fees. Everything. I want to see how she’s able to look my woman in the eye by the end of this week.”
Vivian’s face has lost most of its color. The blonde takes one small step backward.
“You can’t do that!” Vivian’s voice cracks on the last word. Her eyes dart to Miranda. “You can’t do that, can you? Tell him to stop!”
Miranda just shrugs against me. “Sorry. I’m too busy being the hospital slut to intervene.”
I want to pin her to the nearest wall.
“Say goodbye to your career, Doctor.” I tip my chin at the three of them. “Sterling, I’ll call you back.”
He’s wise enough not to argue. The line clicks off.
I tuck Miranda’s arm through mine and turn us both toward the restaurant. The three of them haven’t moved. I can hear Vivian’s breathing climb as we walk away, the start of a sound that might be a sob.
