Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 285(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I found him, baby,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the machines. “I just hope he gives a damn.”
The words hung in the air between us, a desperate prayer to whoever might be listening. I squeezed her hand gently, careful of the IV line, and settled back into my plastic chair to wait. The phone sat heavy on my lap, silent and accusing.
I scrubbed my sweaty palms over the thighs of my jeans. This could backfire spectacularly. Rhys felt like my last hope. I didn’t know how much hope he was offering.
My phone vibrated with an incoming call and I jumped. Instantly, adrenaline flooded my system. My heart raced, I broke out in a sweat. I glanced down at the screen. Unknown number, but the last four digits… were my birthday.
Rhys…
Chapter Two
Knight
I didn’t waste a second. The moment I finished reading Lavender’s email, I punched her number into my phone and waited for her answer. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. Eleven years melted away in an instant. Lavender. My Lavender. She had a daughter. My daughter. The words from her message repeated in my mind as I paced across my small apartment, the phone pressed to my ear, each ring stretching into eternity. When the line connected, her voice hit me like a physical blow.
“Rhys? Is that you?” Her voice trembled, sounding both achingly familiar and somehow different. Older. Worn thin by worry. I stopped dead in my tracks, my free hand gripping the edge of my desk until my knuckles turned white.
“It’s me.” My voice came out rougher than I intended. I cleared my throat. “It’s me, Lavender.”
A sob broke through the line, and the sound twisted something deep in my chest. “Oh God, I can’t believe it’s actually you.” Her words came out in a rush. “I wasn’t sure you’d even call. I know it’s been so long, and I know the last time we spoke you made it clear you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore but I didn’t know what else to do and --”
“Slow down, honey. It’s OK.” I cut her off gently, wincing as the endearment slipped from my lips like I hadn’t seen the woman in more than a decade. I needed the facts, not the emotions we both fought. Not yet. “Tell me about Brynn. Everything.”
She took a shaky breath that I felt in my bones. “She’s eleven. She’s beautiful and brilliant and so much like you it scares me sometimes. She’s at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital right now. We’ve been here for almost three weeks.” She sucked in a sobbing breath. I could hear her muffled crying and could practically see her covering her mouth to hold in the sounds she made. Finally, she cleared her throat and sniffed. “I’m sorry. Give me two seconds.”
“Take your time. I promise I’m right here.”
There was the sound of a door opening, then shutting. I didn’t hurry her, knowing she had to be rattled. Lavender never cried. Even the day I’d sent her away, she’d only shed a single tear. She hadn’t acknowledged the drop of moisture on her cheek when she begged me, “Please don’t do this.” I’d told her to fuck off -- which is when a second tear fell -- and she lifted her chin, gave me a nod of concession, and left. Hearing her this shattered meant she’d reached her breaking point.
“Sorry. I didn’t want to wake Brynn.”
“It’s fine. Are you somewhere you can talk and still be close to her?” I might not know Lavender now, but I knew who she used to be. Lavender might have a delicate name, but I knew she’d protect her daughter. That included staying by her side no matter what.
“Yes. I’m just outside the door. She knows everything. It’s just hard for her to sleep and I hate to wake her.”
“You don’t have to explain to me, Lavender. You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to do. Just take a deep breath. When you’re ready, tell me everything. OK?”
I heard her take in a shuddering breath, then she started. “Eight months ago, Brynn got sick. She hates going to the doctor, so she doesn’t tell me she’s sick until she’s really sick.” Her voice broke again, but she cleared her throat and continued. “Um, I work, um, a lot.” I could tell she felt uncomfortable about something, but I couldn’t tell if her anxiety stemmed from her thinking I’d judge her for working too much or if she was trying to hide the fact money was tight. “Anyway, I didn’t notice she was sick until they called me at work to come pick her up from school. I took her to the doctor where they gave her a shot of penicillin and a prescription for more to take at home. She seemed to get better, but then she got sick again. By the time her doctor finally figured out what was wrong, she was so sick they sent her here.”