Page 19 of Hades

Preston nods. “On it.”

He rushes out of the room.

I take a deep breath and smile at Marie and Melanie. “Everything is going to be okay. All right ladies?”

Marie nods, offering me a weak smile.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Kingston, but could you step into the room next door? We are having a problem with a patient.”

I look over and see Jackie, one of our older nurses.

“Of course.” I look back at Marie and Melanie. “I’ll be right back.”

Leaving them, I go next door and help move a patient for them to take up to surgery. When I’m done, I immediately head back to Melanie’s room only to freeze when I see the room is empty.

Spinning on my heels, I rush over to the nurses’ station where Beverly is.

“Where is Melanie?” I ask.

Beverly looks up at me and frowns. “Imaging called and said they were ready for you. Since you were busy, Pembrooke offered to take her.”

“You know that’s against protocol,” I snap.

Beverly’s head jerks back as others turn to look. “I apologize. He was here and offered. Marie followed after, refusing to leave the patient’s side. Said it was your orders.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

Part of me is thankful that Marie took my orders so seriously, yet the other part of me is petrified. Who knows what Pembrooke has in store for Melanie, let alone Marie.

Or maybe my imagination could be getting the better of me.

“Evelyn,” I hear someone say from behind me.

Spinning, I watch as my brother and Hades stomp toward me.

“She’s not in her room. We need to head down to imaging.”

I rush over to them, and we head downstairs. When we get down there, though, the attendant looks at me like I’m crazy.

“No patient has been brought down. Your resident Preston called and said that one would be coming down, but it’s been quiet,” they tell us.

“Thank you.” I smile.

Hades presses his hand on my lower back, and they lead me down the hall so we can speak freely.

“What do we do?” I ask.

“I’m going to call Trigger and get him on it. He will check the cameras,” Reaper says before looking over at Hades. “Keep an eye on her.”

“Are you okay?” Hades asks gruffly once we are alone.

I shake my head. “No, I’ve never lost a patient before, and she was so scared of Pembrooke when he tried to talk to her upstairs. I’m worried.”

“We will figure this out.”

Before either of us can say anything else, Reaper walks back over. “Trigger is on it. I’m going to step out, but Hades is going to stay with you. Hades, I need you to access Pembrooke’s shit as much as possible. Check his locker, try to access his computer shit. Do whatever you can,” Reaper demands.

Hades looks over at me. “Are you okay with that?”