Page 8 of A Player’s Prayer (Mills Brothers #3)

“Where the hell have you been?” Tanessa was on me as soon as I made my way back over to the nurse’s station. “I’ve been looking for you for over thirty minutes, and you were nowhere to be found. If you don’t get your shit together, you can hit the fuckin’ doors!”

Sighing heavily, I removed my stethoscope and placed it on the counter.

A few of the patients and nurses had stopped to see what was going on, and I hated to give these people a show.

My shift was almost over, and I was sore from beating Wild’s ass.

The latter being something that has already ruined my day, I was treading lightly around the last button Tanessa was pushing.

“Tanessa, I’m a twenty-six-year-old Virgo and would like to know who in the fuck you’re talking to?

” I removed my badge, placing it on the counter.

“For months now, I have listened to you talk to me like a fuckin’ dog, and it ends today.

Do I want and love my job? Absolutely, but I will not work here another day and listen to you talk to me as if I’m a fuckin’ child.

” Stepping to her, I smirked at the nervousness in her eyes.

“I will beat your ass right here, right now, and walk out of here with my head held high. I would much rather be unemployed than have you think you’re about to handle me the way I’ve been allowing you to.

It ends today. Now, would you like your ass beat here or outside?

I still have one more in me that I don’t mind handing out today. ”

Crossing my arms, I waited for her to make her move. I don’t know what it is with people in this town thinking they can treat me any type of way, but I will take my ass back to Florida before I stay here and deal with bullshit and disrespect every day.

“You know what? I’m sick of you and your attitude.

” She went into her pants pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper.

“This is your suspension letter. We feel that your performance is subpar, amongst other things.” She smirked as she held it between her fingers.

“Maybe you can take the time off to reflect on what’s important. Your job or being a whore?”

Whap!

Hearing those around me gasp, I stepped to her as she covered her mouth and stared at me in shock. A pop to the mouth was nothing compared to what I wanted to do.

“I’m so sick and tired of you calling me out of my name.” I seethed as I shook with anger. “You don’t know shit about me, Tanessa, but you’re going to find out when I finish beating your ass!”

Before I could charge at her, I was grabbed by my waist and lifted from the floor. Pulled into a nearby office, I bucked in anger as I tried my best to break free. I was sick of Tanessa, and today was the day she was going to get these hands.

“Kodi, you’ve hit me in my dick once today. If you hit me again, I promise you, you’ll be kissing it until I feel better,” Wild’s raspy voice whispered into my ear. “Calm the fuck down—now.”

Placing me on my feet, I huffed as I fought the tears that wanted to spill.

I’d never allowed someone to get me out of character like this, but that moose-looking bitch had tried me for the last time.

Finally able to get my emotions in check, I turned to address Wild.

Before I could, Dr. Morrison and my manager, Martha, walked into the office, followed by a steaming Tanessa.

“Nurse Jenkins! What on earth has gotten into you?” Martha asked as she eyed me in disappointment. “I’d come down to check on y’all, and all I hear and see is commotion.” She dragged her eyes from me to Wild. “Who are you?”

“Adrian Mills.” He smiled, offering her his hand to shake. “I was in the bathroom when?—”

Adrian Mills? Why does that name sound familiar?

“Was that before or after I saw you and her leave out of the supply closet?” Tanessa smirked as she stepped from behind Dr. Morrison. “That’s what I was telling her; this isn’t the place to fraternize. She got upset, Ms. Martha, and struck me when I suggested she go home.”

“Dakota, is that true?” Dr. Morrison asked, and the hurt in his tone wasn’t missed. “I didn’t think you were that type of person.”

With folded arms, I tapped my foot as they all looked at me with accusatory eyes.

I fought the tears that threatened to fall; I’d give my last dollar before I let them.

Taking a small breath, I prepared myself to explain the truth.

There was no need to deny the inevitable. I was caught to no fault of my own.

“Those are some pretty strong accusations.” Wild raised his brow as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Are you sure about that?”

Fear flashed in her eyes as she looked around the room at us all.

Taking a chance, I peered over at Wild, who was cool as a cucumber.

With his phone to his ear, I took the chance to take him in.

Although he has a mouth that needed to be washed out with bar soap, the man was fine.

His broad chest couldn’t be missed, even under his Jordan hoodie.

His long locks were pulled into a messy bun, but the roots were tamed, each part tidy and clean.

He smelled so damn good, and his jewelry glimmered under the bright bar lights above us.

I wanted to ask him what he was wearing because it was a mix of fuck me harder and get the fuck away from me, which I assumed described him to the T.

I needed to diffuse this situation and get the hell away from him before I ended up back in that supply closet for entirely a different reason.

“Listen…” I stepped toward Martha. “I was wrong for putting my hands on Tanessa, but I won’t apologize. I’ll grab my things and?—”

“I heard we have an issue.” Our eyes widened at the sight of the hospital’s COO stepping into the office, followed by two security guards. Looking around the room, he smiled at the sight of Wild. “Mr. Mills, how are you doing?”

Mills? Mills! As in the founding family of this city? Oh shit!

“I’m good, Chad,” Wild greeted him, shaking his hand.

“We seem to have a problem here, and I was hoping you could help us out. One of your staff members…” He gestured toward Tanessa.

“Has made some terrible accusations. Not just towards me, but another employee as well.” He pointed in my direction.

“Is there any way we can access your security footage?”

Confused, Chad pulled out a tablet and tapped the screen slightly before asking Wild what he needed.

After telling him what Tanessa said she’d witnessed, embarrassment flooded me at what they would see because, although Tanessa’s assumptions about why I were in that closet was wrong, she was right about me being in the closet with Wild.

Moments of silence went by before the COO spoke again. “Martha, I’m not sure what’s going on here, but this won’t be tolerated.” He handed her the tablet, which she hesitantly accepted. “I want you to press play and continue to watch as it goes from screen to screen.”

With a look of victory on her face, I watched Tanessa as she practically bounced with joy, waiting for Wild and me to be seen coming out of the closet.

Walking over toward Martha, she stood on one side of her while Dr. Morrison stood on the other.

I was about to put myself out of my misery and leave until Wild placed his hand on my waist, halting me.

Snapping my eyes up at him, he gave me a quick head shake, telling me not to move.

Reluctantly, I stayed in place, unsure of why I was taking orders from him.

“What the fuck is this?” Tanessa shouted, snatching the iPad from Martha. “I know what I saw!”

Confused, I walked over and watched as the video played, showing me standing outside the supply cabinet before walking away.

The screen switched to me doing rounds and attending to multiple patients in the halls and the few rooms we had available.

I was perplexed about how this footage ended up time-stamped when it was because I was for sure beating Wild’s ass at the shown time, but I wasn’t going to object.

What really shocked me was seeing the video cut to show Tanessa run rampant through the emergency area, cursing at the nurses and patients.

We watched as she snatched an elderly woman’s arm and then yelled at a young child to stop crying, causing Martha to gasp.

“I think I’ve seen enough!” Martha eyed a shocked Tanessa. “You and I need to have a conversation, right now.”

“More than that…” Mr. COO chimed in. “The behavior she displayed cannot be tolerated here. She is not what we represent at Grove’s Memorial.

Not only that, but she tried to taint the image of one of this community’s most prestigious men.

Mr. Mills…” He turned to Wild. “Please accept my sincerest apologies for the mix-up today. I hope you know we greatly appreciate all you and your family have done to keep our doors open for the community on this side of Milly Grove.”

“I’m fine… It’s fine. ” Wild waved him off before pointing toward me. “I’m more concerned about what I witnessed. This woman threatened Nurse Jenkins’ job as well as harassed her rather explicitly in front of the entire floor. I believe an apology needs to take place.”

“It’s okay…” I shook my head. My shift was over, and I was ready to leave.

“I want to take the time during my suspension to self-reflect and see if this job is for me. While I love what I do, this position has been nothing but hostile since I arrived. Martha, I will more than likely give you my resignation?—”

“Wait one minute.” Martha held her hand up to stop me. “Who in the hell said anything about a suspension?”

With all eyes on me, I shrugged as I went into my pocket to retrieve the letter Tanessa had given me. Scanning it over, Martha’s face reddened as she dragged her eyes to Tanessa.