The Alpha Men's Secret Club 4: Intrigue: A Shockingly Hot BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

Rust’s world exploded.

12
     
    It was Kate’s first time at Bellevue. As the white walls of the handsome brownstone building drew up, she had to remind herself that this was a hospital for the criminally insane, no matter how pretty the surrounding trees were and how delicate the flowers fluttering in the sprightly breeze.
    So Rust worked here before with his father. What horrors had he seen within these walls? What horrors had he subjected himself to now?
    “Why did he check in as a patient?” Kate asked Hector, who was driving them.
    He seemed as distressed as she was. “I don’t know, Ms. Penney.”
    “It’s got nothing to do with the fact he’s depressed, does it?” Michaela demanded. “I mean . . . he dumped Kate here, and that has to be the stupidest move anyone can make. Maybe depression is a symptom of stupidity.”
    Kate was very pale. “No. He checked himself in because of all this . . . all that has been happening to him. He thinks he’s guilty of murdering Teddy Mitchell.”
    She couldn’t tell Michaela about the shifters, of course. But she knew how Rust’s mind worked now. It all tied up.
    Hector parked the car in front of the building.
    “You can’t just go in to see any patient you like, Ms. Penney,” he warned her. “They are very particular about their visitors.”
    “I know what I’m going to say,” Kate said, breezing out.
    Michaela followed.
    They went to the front doors, which were closed. What did one do in a place like this? Ring the doorbell? There was indeed a doorbell by the large doors, and Kate pressed it.
    A bell sounded in the echoes of the hall within. Kate heard footsteps as someone came to the door.
    A man in hospital whites opened appeared.
    “Yes?” he said.
    “You have a new patient, Rust O’Brien. I would like to see him,” Kate said boldly. “I am his girlfriend.”
    “I’m sorry, Ms . . . ?”
    “Penney.”
    “Ms. Penney. But only registered relatives are allowed to visit the patients.”
    Kate peered into the interior beyond the male nurse. Unlike other hospitals, this one did not have a reception. Instead, a great hall branched out into several corridors. She could glimpse other attendants walking around.
    She said, “I want to see Connor O’Brien then. It’s important. I have facts pertinent to the Teddy Mitchell murder case.”
    Michaela added, “You told him, girl.”
    The nurse hesitated. There was not a single person in New York who hadn’t heard about the murder by now.
    “Wait here,” he said, “I’ll get Dr. Connor O’Brien.”
     
    *
     
    When Connor appeared, Kate thought his expression seemed a little worried. Or was it her imagination?
    “Kate,” he said warmly, holding out his hand to shake hers. “Good to see you again.” He glanced at Michaela. “What are you doing here? You mentioned you had news for me about the murder?”
    OK, so that was a ruse.
    “Hello, Dr. O’Brien. This is my best friend, Michaela, come to New York.”
    “Hello.” Exchanges and pleasantries all round.
    Michaela held Connor’s hand for a tad longer than normal. The gleam in her eyes was appreciative. “Might I say you’re one fine-looking man, Mr. O’Brien?”
    “Michaela!” Kate hissed, jabbing her best friend.
    “Oh, but he is. Every inch of him.”
    Connor smiled. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say so.” He looked at Kate. “Why have you come?”
    “Please, Dr. O’Brien . . . is Rust all right?”
    He glanced at her, and then at Michaela, as if to say ‘How much does she know about us?’
    Kate gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
    “What have you heard about Rust?” Connor said evenly.
    “Only that he’s checked himself in as a patient here.”
    “Who did you hear it from?”
    The last thing Kate wanted to do was to get the ultra-kind Hector into trouble. “Please, Dr. O’Brien, it doesn’t matter at this stage. Is Rust all right?”
    He favored her with a long stare. He said pointedly, “Didn’t