It’s morning, about an hour before we’re due in court, and Sin’s bloodshot eyes must rival mine. At one a.m., we sent for a driver to take Trini home, though not without a fight. We assured her that if anything, she could try to track down Leo. Between the security staff and Smoke insisting Leo hasn’t been around, the only way we were tracking him down was if Trini snatched a bloodhound and did it herself.
I stare at the unforgiving clock. “Why can’t I just drop the lawsuit?” I ask with a hopeful smile.
“Because you didn’t file it,” Sin explains for the umpteenth time and retaliates with his own question of the hour. “No word from Leo?”
I hang my head. “No.” I don’t elaborate about him blocking me. Some things hurt less when you don’t say them out loud.
My phone buzzes, and I snap it up. “Leo?”
“Is this Olivia Palmer?” I check the caller ID. Hospital? I feel the blood drain from my face. I don’t know how I do it, but I speak. “Yes.”
“This is registration at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. We’ve just admitted Grace Everly. She’s resting and stable, but we need to discuss treatment options. Can you come down?”
“I’ll be right there.” I race for the door, stopped by the massive tower of Sin. “I have to go.”
“You can’t leave now. You’re due in court.”
My body shoves his aside, hard. “Screw the court.”
He doesn’t budge. “You’ll be in contempt.” He’s calm and logical. “You’ll lose the case and go to jail. Doesn’t she have other family?”
“They’re out of state. It’s an emergency!” Why am I the only one who sees this?
“I heard the call. She’s resting. If you don’t show up after the judge’s request, she’ll issue a bench warrant on the spot. And Andre will latch on to that. Don’t you see? You’re giving him the ammunition he needs to drag this on and on.”
I can’t lose her. “I don’t care about the stupid case. I don’t even care about jail. Aunt Grace needs me, and I’m going to be there for her.” I race to the elevator. Sin shuffles behind.
“I’ll call the hospital. Send staff to look in on her,” Sin says, doing his best to reason with me.
He has no idea how little rational thought I have left. “There is something you can do,” I tell him. “Call Andre. Tell him I’ll give him everything he wants if he drops the case. But he has to take my call.”
“Ivy, you’re not thinking clearly. Trust me, he’s got nothing to lose by going through with this. He’ll never agree to speak with you.”
The elevator arrives and I get in, jabbing the first-floor button with force. “Trust me, he will.”
Sin’s expression flashes with doubt and confusion. I meet his eyes as the doors begin to close. Sleep deprived and exhausted, I bark one last desperate command. “Do it!”