Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Because he may break hers, too.
10
TALON
“Feel free to go home.”
Sterling doesn’t break his speed, typing furiously on his laptop. “Waiting on the test results.”
“Doctor said they won’t be ready until mid-morning.”
“I’ve put a rush on them. As soon as they’re posted, I’ll get an alert.”
“Perk of working here?”
“Something like that.” He continues to type.
Few men test me, but Sterling Richards is one of them.
Earlier, when I pulled up to the ER, he was waiting with Chase and barking orders. When two men in scrubs unloaded Willow, it was all I could do not to snap.
Ford and Major came to get Wolf, and by the time I got inside, Willow was convulsing.
Sterling eyed me with contempt at my refusal to leave.
It wasn’t until later that Chase formally introduced us. Sterling shook my hand and thanked me dismissively. I ignored him.
All the regular allergen tests came back negative, and her initial blood panels were normal. The ultrasound showed no problems internally.
Willow was exhausted and frustrated. She begged to go home, arguing her dad and Chase were overreacting.
Sterling almost seemed convinced until the Immunologist ordered a food challenge. At the directive, Willow knew she was stuck. She’s under supervision for at least the next twenty-four hours.
Sterling suggested firmly, again, that I should leave. He would stay with Willow all night.
I didn’t take his advice. Instead, when they took her for the ultrasound, I followed.
The man looked like he was going to blow when I returned with the bag I keep packed in my truck. I sensed the heat of his disapproval after I changed into a clean shirt and settled into a recliner.
This move earned another notch of approval from Rosie and Lynden. Unlike their dad, Chase and Willow’s grandparents were warm and welcoming.
Usually, I wouldn’t give a shit what someone thinks of me, but Sterling is a different story. My feelings for his daughter mean the man will be in our lives.
“What is your position here?” Maybe talking about his job will open him up.
“I don’t have a position here. I float between the hospitals.”
“Doing what?”
“Administration.”
“Finance? Accounting? Personnel? Janitorial?”
“Yes,” he answers tersely.
“Pretty vague.”
He stops typing and blows out a breath, running his hands through his hair. “It’s been a fucking shitty day.”
“Yep.”
When he faces me, the hard-ass attitude is gone. “Hope you never know the helplessness and fear I experienced.”
“I was in the same position.”
“She’s my baby girl.”
“I get that. You’ve loved her for twenty-six years. She and I are new. But I found her unconscious on the floor with a faint pulse. Been through a lot of shit in my life but not sure this will ever leave my mind. She means something to me.”
His expression changes, my words processing behind his gaze. “Why do I get the impression there’s a whole lot more to that statement?”
“Clocked you as a smart man.”
“I haven’t always taken care of Willow, and she’s never held me accountable. Instead, she accepts and forgives. Not knowing what was wrong and seeing her in pain, it reminded me how delicate life is.”
“I imagine it’s your right to feel taking care of her is your job. But from where I stand, you’ve done a great job.”
“I didn’t protect her.”
Before I can question the meaning of his statement, his phone chimes. He bolts to his feet, his eyes going hard at whatever is on his screen. “Fuck.”
My senses go on alert, and I edge out from under Willow, standing with him “What’s up?”
“Stacy is here.”
“It’s midnight. How’d she get in?”
There hasn’t been one mention of Willow’s mom today.
“One perk of my position. She has an access badge as my spouse. I neglected to cut it off.”
“Her being here a problem?”
He eyes me quizzically. “How much do you know about Willow’s mom?”
“I know they aren’t close and you two are separating.”
“Right, well, that barely scratches the surface.”
“Not my business.”
“I doubt you’ll feel that way when you get the whole story. But for now, I’ll handle it.”
He storms through the door, and from the sounds of things, intercepts her in the hallway.
“What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? My daughter is here. Better question is why didn’t you call me? I had to find out from Lee, who found out when Rebecca picked up my grandson from school! My son, husband, daughter, and grandson are still my family. Why didn’t anyone call me?”
“We have it under control.”
“I’d like to see that for myself. Where is Willow?”
“It’s the middle of the night. She’s sleeping. Swear to God, Stacy, she doesn’t need you making a scene.”
“A scene? You haven’t seen what I will do if you keep me from my daughter.”
There’s a shuffling of chairs and hushed whispers, mostly Sterling growling out words I can’t comprehend. After a minute, Stacy shrieks.
“You can’t keep me from her!”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“How do you know? Do you speak for her now?”