Jillian grabbed her bag and stepped toward the door. If she was lucky, she could slip out the back entrance and get to her car in the parking garage without anyone seeing her.

If she had to talk to one more person, she’d probably scream. Just scream.

Jillian was halfway across the parking garage when a man stepped out from behind a newer model black Mercedes.

The small scream escaped her before she could stop it.

“Well, if it isn’t our resident heroine.”

The man, tall and huge compared to her, walked closer. Jillian looked behind her, ready to run. She should have stayed inside and waited for Ray the night guard to walk her out.

“I didn’t realize you worked here or I would have introduced myself a bit differently in your rose garden the other day.”

As he stepped under the security light, Jillian got a better look at him.

Her tension doubled—but the fear lessened. Some. Him. Just her luck. “Dr. Holden-Deane. I guess you work here, too.”

Damn, damn, damn.

“You might say that. I took Lanning’s place as Chief of Medicine. Hello, Nurse Jillian. I’ve heard great things about you. Hope you’ll live up to your reputation.” His smile was downright frightening. Beautiful, but frightening.

And just like his older half-brother’s. Luc smiled just like that—when he was angry. When he was about to eat someone for lunch. Jillian shivered again.

“I see. Well, congratulations. I hope you’ll be happy at FCGH.” She was shaking and she forced herself to calm down. To gain control. Just two colleagues in a parking garage together. Late at night. Technically, he was her best friend’s brother. Even if he didn’t claim that. Still, she was alone in the parking garage where her other best friend had almost died...

Lacy had been beaten bloody right over there on Doctor’s Row. The breeze picked up and it blew through the open sides of the parking garage. Jillian shivered.

She hated being in the parking garage this late at night. And she always would.

Alone with a man who was at least six-foot-six and outweighed her by two hundred pounds. She wouldn’t be so stupid again. From now on, she was either getting a ride with her father or taking a taxi. Or calling for the company car that her sister Mel was always hounding her to use. Mel said Houghton wanted her and Syd safe—the car was there for that very purpose.

It was just safer that way. Jillian took a step back, wanting to put a bit of distance between them. Except he was right next to her twenty-five-year-old BMW. Damn karma again.

“You should have had Security walk you to your car.”

“That’s not part of their job description.” And when several of the nurses and female physicians had asked about that, Lanning had shot the very idea down quickly. And fired one of the security guards to save money.

Not a great response to a legitimate security concern.

“It will be first thing tomorrow. Don’t you know you shouldn’t come out here alone? This isn’t exactly the best of neighborhoods.” He stepped closer, not exactly into her space but far too close for her peace of mind. Jillian just watched him, like she would a rattler.

“There’s not a whole lot of people in this staff parking garage at this time of night.” And it was dark and frightening and she hated it out here.

“No. There isn’t. I had a meeting, or I’d have been gone hours ago.” He glowered at her.

Why was he looking at her like that? Because of that letter? Or was he just an asshole, no matter what?

No surprise there. The last two Chiefs of Medicine had been, too. Dr. Daniels—the guy who had been the COM before Lanning—had had grabby hands, and a taste for hookers. He had had difficulty separating hookers from nurses. Or residents. She and Lacy had both had run-ins with him, but he’d gone way too far with their friend Annie. Lacy and Allen had rescued Annie in the nick of time.

He’d get out of jail about the time Jillian was old enough to retire. Lanning had been a total ass—he still was, according to Lacy who worked closely with him—and treated everyone as if they were beneath him.

Who knew what this COM’s deal would be? “I...I really need to be going. My family...they worry if I’m too late. Good night, Dr. Holden-Deane.” She forced herself to walk around him and unlock her car.