Page 31 of Heartbeat

My mother and sisters were there waiting already, and I was glad to see them. Apparently, Lennox had got a hold of Robin, and she’d informed my mother and Dove. We still didn’t know the specifics of what happened exactly because Daddy’s long time guard was found dead. James only went with my father on dangerous meetings, so whoever they’d met today obviously fit the description. Daddy’s driver Curtis found them both shot at a potential building site. Curtis said he dropped my father and James off after he’d received an urgent call. My father told him to park the car at the gate because of the unfinished drive around the site. When Daddy and James hadn’t returned after an hour and wasn’t answering their phones, Curtis went to investigate. He found them both shot in the back.

“Mama, how’re you doing?” I hugged my mother as she wiped her red-ringed eyes with a tissue.

“I’m okay, Rae.” She sniffled. There weren’t too many things that could make Josephine Bedeau-Bishops cry, but the people she loved being hurt would always be her undoing.

Robin was a sobbing mess that I expected, but Dove sat quietly by not saying anything. Although Robin would often rebel against our father, she was still his favorite, and she would always be a daddy’s girl. Dove was also close to our father, and she was much more dramatic, so I was shocked that she wasn’t falling out and making a scene.

When I approached Robin, she glared at me and turned away. I don’t have any idea what her problem has been lately, but now was not the time for her bullshit. We needed to be strong for Mama and Daddy.

I went to check on Dove instead. We may not have been each other’s favorite person, but she was still my baby sister. And she was obviously in a state of shock.

“Baby Dove,” I softly said the nickname she hated. She looked up at me with a teary smile, “Are you okay?”

“I just can’t believe someone shot him. You know?” Dove said just as softly. I wrapped my arm around my sister’s shoulders and rocked her slowly from side to side like I did when she was little.

“He will be okay. Lennox said he will be fine.” I tried to assure us both with my words, but I was still worried.

“So you really like Lennox, huh?” Dove asked as she looked into my eyes. She wasn’t teasing or being a smartass, her question for once is sincere.

“Yeah, I do.” I chuckled, shaking my head. It was really the first time I admitted to having feelings for my husband out loud.

“Wow, Rae. I’m thrilled it worked out for you. I hated to see that you fell on the knife for Robin. You didn’t deserve that.” Dove shook her head, and I frowned, not understanding what she meant by I didn’t deserve what I did for Robin.

“It’s not like Robin had a choice. She’s married and pregnant. I did what needed to be done to help save the hospital,” I stated with a shrug.

“Always the martyr.” Dove shook her head with a sad expression. Normally, I would argue with her, but the way she said it made me stop.

“What are you talking about, Dove? I feel like I’m missing something here.”

“Raven,” Dove sighed my name like it physically caused her pain. “When was the last time you saw Quinton?” Dove asked, and I had to search my brain to remember. I hadn’t seen Robin’s husband in probably over a year. But Daddy didn’t like him, so he didn’t come around much.

I shrugged, “It’s been a minute. What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“Do you honestly think, Robin, our older sister, Robin, would let anyone tell her she couldn’t marry who she wanted to?” Dove cocked a brow at me, and I frowned. She was right, but we all knew there was no changing Daddy’s mind on anything. Robin did the right thing by eloping.

“We both know that Daddy would’ve never approved. I understand why she ran off and eloped, plus there’s the baby,” I responded sadly. Robin had to do so much alone, and now she was shutting me out when all I wanted to do was be there for her.

“Raven, come on! You are not that damned slow! Robin is…” Dove’s words were cut off when Lennox came back into the waiting area.

“Raven, I need to speak with you for a minute, please.” I could feel my eyes widen because this was definitely “Doctor Lennox” speaking to me right now. He never called me by my first name or said, please. So he was either being super professional, or he was super pissed. But I wouldn’t know why he would be mad, so I’ll go with professional since he was at work. Even if he was technically the co-owner.

“Okay,” I responded slowly, then looked over at Dove, “I’ll be back.” Dove nodded before Lennox led me into the employee suites of the private ward. The décor was still warm and inviting, just like it was when I designed it. I didn’t want the family to feel like they were in a cold, sterile hospital when they had to come here. If anyone was in this part of the hospital, that meant they were on the illegal side and needed medical attention quickly and quietly without any questions being asked.

BHM was an integral part of the Bishops crime family. None of the men or women who worked for the Bishops would ever have to worry about getting caught up by hospital records or staff. Only the family worked inthe ward.

I followed Lennox to a vacant room and shut the door behind us. He paced back and forth in the small space like a caged animal.

“Lennox, what’s wrong?” I felt like I’d asked him that a million times today.

“You knew about this…the ward.” It was a statement that confused the hell out of me.

“Uh, yeah, of course. Are you telling me youdidn’tknow?” I asked, shocked. Did our fathers not tell him anything?

“No! I didn’t fucking know! I didn’t find out this place existed until I operated on your father this afternoon.” Lennox ran his hand through his short brown hair and over his neatly trimmed beard.

“Lennox, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you weren’t told.”

“Fuck! I can’t do this!” Lennox swept passed me and out the door before I could ask him what couldn’t he do.

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