Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
When he told me he suspected that his father wasn’t his biological dad, I had no clue where he was headed with that. But a DNA sample and a test kit answered one of his questions.
As he sipped the champagne meant for Berk, Daxton explained that he found out, through that kit, that he’s related to Draco Rehn. He tried to contact Draco through the site, but when he got no response, he dove deeper. That lead him to New York and before he could summon up the courage to go to Buffalo to introduce himself to Draco and his father, he collapsed at the restaurant.
When he woke up, his half-sister was suddenly a part of his life.
“I told my mom earlier.” He shuffles from one foot to another. “She never knew the guy’s name she slept with. It was at a hotel in Vegas. She was there for work. He was at a conference and I was conceived.”
The details don’t matter. The people involved do.
“Tread carefully,” I warn him. “This impacts a hell of a lot of people, including Eloise.”
“I will,” he promises. “She has CPVT, doesn’t she? She has what I have.”
I can’t answer that yet, so I don’t. “She’s undergoing tests.”
“If I had told you weeks ago that she was my sister, you could have checked her out, right?” He sobs. “This wouldn’t have happened to her.”
“Don’t go there,” I tell him because it’s what I’ve had to tell myself to get through the past twenty-four hours.
I’m a goddamn cardiologist.
She felt faint. She experienced chest pain, and increased heart rates. I’m second guessing if that fall she took when the devil was on her heel was caused by the wet pavement or if she passed out because her heart short-circuited.
There’s a damn good chance she raced out of the club that night because her heartbeat was too much to bear.
“I’ll make this right for her,” he says. “For all of us.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Eloise
I moan as I try to open my eyes. “I think I had too many tequila shots.”
A burst of light laughter greets me along with a woman’s voice. “I’ll get Dr. Morgan.”
“Gaines,” I whisper, a lightness warming me from the inside out. “Yes, please.”
I crack one eyelid open and try to focus on my surroundings. Since I can’t I force the other open but this can’t be right. This isn’t my bedroom.
“Lamb.” His voice comforts me instantly. “I’m right here.”
“You’re here but where am I?” I ask softly, still trying to gain a clear focus.
“The hospital,” he whispers, kissing my head.
“Give me room, Morgan.” Another man’s voice comes at me. “I want to check her vitals.”
Gaines steps back slightly. “My friend, Jordan, is going to take a look at you.”
“Don’t go,” I plead with him as I close my eyes again. “Please, Garin.”
“Garin?” The other man questions. “She’s experiencing some confusion.”
“She’s not,” Gaines tells him. “She calls me that sometimes.”
“And, sir,” I say. “Oh, wait. That’s a secret.”
Both men laugh.
I feel hands touching me and hear a steady beeping.
“Eloise?” The man named Jordan says my name. “I need you to try and squeeze my fingers.”
I do it with my left hand, and then my right.
“Can you open your eyes?”
I do it again and this time I can see. The doctor shines a light in my eyes before his index finger pops in the air. “Follow my finger.”
I do just that.
“You’re a very lucky young lady,” he tells me. “You’re going to be just fine.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, still not sure why I’m here.
Gaines steps back in place beside me. His jaw is covered with a light beard and his hair is messy. He’s so handsome that I think I might…
“Did I faint?” I ask him.
“Something like that.” He kisses my forehead again. “You collapsed on a subway platform.”
“That’s not good.”
“You hit your head.” He smiles. “It’s bandaged up again.”
“It’s karma.” I attempt a smile. “My head fell on that fake diamond bracelet again, didn’t it? I stole if from your apartment.”
He laughs. “You can’t steal something that belongs to you, lamb. It’s not fake, though.”
“It is.” I nod. “My friend in Buffalo bought it for ten dollars at a thrift store.”
“I bought the bracelet you were wearing at a jeweler in SoHo for a lot more than ten bucks.”
Frantic, I try and reach for my left arm, but I’m attached to so many wires that I can’t move. “Did I lose it?”
“No.” Gaines voice is comforting. “I have it, but diamond bracelets might not be your thing.”
I smile. “My forehead agrees with you.”
“We can trade it for a ring.”
I stare at his face. “A ring?”
“I love you, Eloise.” I hear a tremor in his voice as his eyes well up with tears. “I’m so fucking sorry that I didn’t know how to do that properly. I had things to tell you and instead of manning up and doing that, I hid.”