They took him straight into surgery and left me wringing my hands in the waiting room. Declan stayed with me. He told me JJ was off doing whatever was needed to take care of the situation. Then Zara arrived. When she hugged me, I almost fell apart. She held me close as I sobbed, before finally composing myself. Solene messaged to say she’d be on the next flight to London. Penny and Mira, too, texted to say they were on their way. I didn’t have the strength to tell them they shouldn’t and that I was okay—because I wasn’t. How could I be fine when he was in there fighting for his life?
“He’s going to be fine,” Zara says softly.
I nod.
“He really is going to be okay.”
I nod again.
“He’s too much of a tyrant to let anything keep him down for long.”
I half-laugh, half-cry at that. Sniffling, I walk over and sit down on the other side of the baby’s bassinet. “He’s so cute.” I touch baby James’s cheek.
“Doesn’t sleep at night and naps all day. He’s turned my life upside down.” I glance up to find her beaming down at her son. “He’s a replica of Cade when he was little.”
“Oh.” A sob catches in my throat, and I turn away.
“Oh honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you distress.” She reaches over and grips my shoulder. “He loves you, Abby, and clearly, you love him, too. He’s going to be fine and causing hell again very soon. He—"
Footsteps sound. Zara and I glance up as a man in scrubs—who’s features are familiar—walks over to us. He’s accompanied by another man, also in scrubs, but slightly younger.
Zara rises to her feet. I trail after her as she approaches the men.
“How is he, Weston?” Zara asks the older doctor.
Of course. He’s Weston Kincaid, one of the Seven.
“He’s fine,” Weston murmurs.
“Thank god!” I cry out.
Zara heaves a sigh of relief. “Thanks for taking a personal interest in his case.”
“You bet.” Weston grips her shoulder, then jerks his chin toward the younger man. “This is Dr. Ryot Shaw. He’s the surgeon who operated on Cade.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Zara smiles at him.
“Your—"
“Brother,” Zara supplies. “I’m Zara Whittington.”
He wrinkles his forehead before continuing, “Whittington?” He hesitates, then thinks better of it and resumes, “Your brother is incredibly lucky. The knife missed his heart and all vital organs. It’s a miracle.” His lips kick up.
“So, he’s going to be fine?” I ask.
He turns to me. “It’s going to take a while to be back on his feet, but he’ll make a full recover, Ms.—"
“Abigail Warren, I’m Cade’s, uh…Communications Manager.” Zara shoots me a sideways glance, but I don’t meet her gaze. I continue, “That’s so good to hear. Thank you, Dr. Shaw.”
“You’re welcome.” He turns back to Zara. “He’s in recovery but should be awake tomorrow morning. Perhaps, you should all go home and come back tomorrow.”
“Let me talk it over with Abby.” Zara holds out her hand, and he shakes it. “Thanks again, Doc.” She turns to the other man, and the two of them hug. Then Weston steps back. The two doctors turn and retrace their steps, talking to each other in low voices.
I watch them leave, then turn to Zara. “Guess I should be going then.”
“It’s a good idea. You’ve been through a lot. You need to get some rest. So do I, actually. We can come back tomorrow morning and—"
“I’m not coming back tomorrow, Zara.”
“Hmm,” A determined look appears in her eyes. She glances from Declan to me, then back at Declan. “Since Hunter’s not here, do you mind staying with James while Abby and I get a coffee?”
“I know what you’re going to say, but you’re not going to change my mind.” I clasp my fingers around the paper cup containing a brown sludge that’s supposed to be coffee. Then, because I want to avoid looking at Zara, I take a sip from it. Huh, the coffee doesn’t taste too bad, actually.
We’re at a table in the hospital cafeteria, where Zara led me. I followed because… I owe her that much. Not only was she there for me when I needed her, she gave me a job when I needed it most. Besides, I respect the woman. She’s my mentor, and perhaps, more family than my own. I take another sip, then glance up to find her looking at me with a strange look in her eyes.
“You wanted to talk to me?” I incline my head.
She nods, then stirs sugar into her tea before taking a sip. She places her cup down on the table and rests her chin on the back of her hand. “You must realize my brother’s an ass.”
“Hmm-mm.”
“And can be bullheaded, most of the time.”
I stay silent.
“He wasn’t around much when we were growing up. My parents weren’t easy on either of us. I’d say they came down harder on me because I was a girl. But if you ask Cade, he’s likely to say they were tougher on him—because he was a boy, so they had bigger expectations of him.”
I wait as she takes another sip, swallows, then tips her head in my direction.
“And I’m not telling you this because I’m trying to convince you to be with him.”
“Oh?”
She nods. “As his sister, I can see his imperfections far clearer than anyone else. And like any sister, I want to see him settled and happy.”
“Right.”
“I also know you make him happy.”
“I thought he’d make me happy, too, but...” I glance away, then wipe the teardrop that’s escaped down my cheek. I will not cry. Cade is going to be fine. My phone buzzes. I pull it out of my handbag and read the message from JJ. “The intruder… My stalker. JJ says not to worry anymore. He’s going to take care of it, so he doesn’t bother me anymore.”
“JJ is a man of many resources,” Zara murmurs.
I glance up at her. “Doesn’t it bother you that he’s—"
“An ex-leader of an Organized Crime Division?”
I nod.
“Why, does it bother you?”
“My father—" I clear my throat. “He’s part of the Mob.”
“I know.”
I blink. “You do?”
“You didn’t think I’d have you vetted before I gave you a job?”
“Oh.”
“I don’t hold someone’s background against them.”
I look away, taking in the nurses at the table next to us. On the other side, a man in scrubs is reading from a paperback, his now-empty plate in front of him.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I glance up at her. “If so, you’re going to have to spell it out. I’m too tired for puzzles.”
She blows out a breath. “Don’t give up on him, Abby. Please.” She reaches over and grasps my hand. “He needs you right now.”
“And I want to be there for him. But whether I am with him or not, he’ll be fine. He’ll recover. He’ll—" I swallow. “He’ll be back on his feet and going about his life in no time.”