Page 40 of Hades

Betty nods. “The board has heard about the complaints, and they are starting to question if you are a good fit for the hospital. We all know you are a fantastic doctor, and it has nothing to do with your skills but everything to do with the company you keep.”

“So let me get this straight. I’m ‘in trouble,’” I air quote “because people who are part of the same club as my brother are hanging around the hospital. A public place of their own accord?” I ask in disbelief.

Betty has the grace to look uncomfortable. “It’s a safety concern. If they aren’t here for medical help, then they could be here for nefarious reasons.”

I shake my head. “Unbelievable. Did you also know that the man in question has a family member in the hospital that he is visiting and that he often seeks my guidance on her care because I was her doctor when she was in the ER?”

“Well, no, I didn’t know that,” Betty mumbles.

“We just want to make sure everyone here feels safe and comfortable,” Pembrooke adds.

I turn toward him. “I understand why Betty called me in even if I don’t agree with it, but what I can’t wrap my head around is why you’re here when you could be on the floor taking care of our patients.”

Rage flashes through his eyes before he masks it.

“I’m here because I am your superior, and I’m worried about your safety and the safety of our staff,” he says stiffly.

“Is there a problem we need to know about? If you need us to help you, we will do what we can,” Betty offers.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “That’s sweet, but I’m fine. Really. The only problem I have is the fact I’m being blamed for something out of my control. I literally can’t control who comes in and out of the ER doors. Just like you can’t control who does or doesn’t like you.”

I spit the last part right at Dr. Pembrooke. It hits the way I intend when his face starts to turn red.

“Just calm down. You aren’t in trouble for anything, but this needs to be discussed. The easiest answer to the problem is for you to have those men stay out of our hospital,” Pembrooke all but sneers.

“Unless they are actually injured and in need of medical care,” Betty tacks on quickly.

“Of course. You have no problem taking their money. Are you also going to tell a family member they cannot visit their dying grandmother?” I mutter, shaking my head. “Is that all? Can I get back to the patients now?”

Betty looks at Pembrooke, who nods.

“Of course, but just know that this discussion will be going in your file. It won’t be held against you or anything, but we have to notate every discussion of this nature,” Betty says weakly.

“Awesome.” I stand and march out of the office, my anger barely contained.

Fan-fucking-tastic. Because this is really what I need right now. When I make it back to the ER, I waver when I see Hades talking to Bullet and Harlee. Almost as if he senses that I’m close, he turns and frowns when he sees me.

“Is everything okay?” he asks as he marches toward me.

I raise my hand, pausing him in his tracks. “Not right now, but we will talk later.”

He grinds his teeth but nods before turning away from me.

I push thoughts of Hades and the club out of my mind as I walk toward the nurses’ station. I have patients who need me, and that’s all that matters right now.

CHAPTER TEN

Hades

“I’m sorry work ran late,” Evelyn says as we walk through the tunnel.

“It’s fine.”

I mean it too. She couldn’t help that one of the other doctors was late for shift change or that an accident came in that needed immediate attention and Pembrooke wasn’t to be found.

“Yeah, but we’re late, and I hate that I’m the reason for it,” she mutters as she walks around a low spot filled with water.

“It was out of your control. Your brother knows. You did the right thing, and that’s all that matters.”