“Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and step on it.”
“Right away.” The cab driver understands my urgency and weaves into traffic. His speed aligns with my pulse.
He drops me off in front of the emergency room, and I die on the spot. I have no cash and no way to pay him.
“I don’t have my purse,” I say, apologizing. “I’m sorry. It’s an emergency. I need to find my aunt.”
“Something wrong?” a man asks, sounding out every vowel of his southern drawl. The sight of Officer Friendly gives me greater faith in God. He was at D’Angelo Towers the first day I arrived. “Yes,” I say with hands begging. “Do you have any money?”
He rolls his eyes, charmed. “What is it about me that screams ATM?” He fishes out his wallet and ducks down to check the fare with the cabby. “Got change for a twenty?”
“Thank you. I’ll pay you back.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says and waves me along.
The receptionist is fast and efficient in processing my visitor request. “You must be Ivy.”
“Yes,” I reply, my voice trembling.
“Through those elevators. Fifth floor. Room 502.”
My heart pounds with my feet as I race down each hall and corridor until I get to 502.
The room is dark with beeps coming from the other side of a curtain. I peel it back.
“Aunt Grace?”
She’s lying in the bed, still.
“You must be Ivy,” a man says quietly, and I’m starting to wonder why everyone keeps saying that to me. “I’m Dr. Locke. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Is she going to be all right?”
He nods. “She’s fine. She said she couldn’t sleep with all the bells and whistles, so we gave her a mild sedative. It’ll wear off soon.”
I exhale, relieved. “Was it her blood pressure?”
He checks his chart and scribbles on it. “Yes. We may need to tinker with her medication. Perhaps even lower the dose.” I shiver and wrap myself in a hug.
“We try to keep the rooms subzero,” he complains.
He grabs the IV and fiddles with the lead. “Will you be available to discuss some treatment options?”
“She doesn’t have much in the way of insurance,” I say.
He nods with an understanding grin. “There’s a man at the billing department sorting that now.”
“Who?”
But without answering, Dr. Locke pats my hand and leaves, closing the door behind him. Aunt Grace is on her side, and with her soft, steady breaths and adorable snore, I tear up and smile, relieved. I squeeze her hand tight. “Ivy?” she says in her sleep.
“I’m here, Aunt Grace. I’ll always be here.” My cell chimes softly—a text from Sin.
Andre agreed.
I’m wrapping things up with the court.
Call me if you or your aunt need anything.
With Aunt Grace asleep again, I make my way to the lobby and steel my nerves. I find a quiet spot near a window and search through a dozen blocked numbers. I unblock the very first one, and click to dial.
It answers on the first ring. “Olivia?”
His voice alone makes me angered and outraged. Queasy and sick. I want to tell him to go to hell, suck a dick, and go royally fuck himself, but I can’t. I have one card to play and too much to lose. I’ve lost Leo and the D’Angelos. I can’t lose Aunt Grace too.
I choke down my frustration—my fear. I could be wrong. But it doesn’t matter. It’s my one shot, and I let the puzzle piece fall in place like a guillotine. “Hello, father.”
With a heart full of lead, I return to the room. I open the door, and see him, standing there as if he belongs here. Belongs in my life. “Hi, Ivy,” Leo says. He moves a hand through his hair. “Your aunt’s one tough cookie.”
I agree and squeeze her hand. “What do you want?”
Leo thinks for a minute and blows out a breath. “I’m sorry. I had to stay away. But when Sin and Trini tracked me down and told me about Aunt Grace—”
“You what, Leo? I’ve been calling and calling. You disappeared. Blocked my number.”
“I know, angel. I know.” He closes the distance, and maybe I’m too exhausted, but I don’t pull away. I’m too numb.
He kisses me. His tongue makes its way between my lips, a slow, cautious build as he reminds me of his touch, his warmth, his need. He reminds me of what we had.
And what we lost.
I tear up and smile. He catches each tear with his thumbs. “Your aunt was right, Ivy. I have a choice to make, and I choose—”
“Don’t, Leo.” Don’t say it. My heart is heavy, weighed down with regret. I’m in love with a man I shouldn’t love. I shut my eyes, too overwhelmed to meet his gaze. What’s done is done. It’s too late. Leo will always have the D’Angelos to protect, and what about me?
I have my arrangement. Trinity will hate it, but I know she’ll understand.
I step back and take a needed breath. “Aunt Grace and I are returning to North Carolina. As soon as she’s well enough to travel. She needs to be surrounded by family, and I need her.”
“I quit my job. I could go with you.”
He quit his job? Smoke would never stand for that. I give a wry laugh. “No, Leo. You can’t. It’s too late.”
Confusion and pain swirl behind his eyes. They search mine. “It’s not too late. It can’t be.”
“You said it yourself: your loyalty would never be to me.”
“And I’ve regretted it every goddamned day since. I’m so fucking sorry, Ivy. Smoke was listening right out side the door. He had to believe I would pick him over you. That my feelings were shut off.”
My heart aches for him, but I know I have to do this. It’s for the best. “You’ll always have your walls up, and so will I. Our timing is never right.” Hot tears well in my eyes. “We don’t mean to hurt each other, but we always do. And we always will.”
“That’s not true,” he says, pained.
My words are a whisper. “Your place is here. Protecting the D’Angelos. And mine isn’t.”
He pulls me into him. His chest. His heart. His love. “I’m not letting you go.”
I kiss him goodbye. “You already did.”