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THE SHRILL RING OF HIS PHONE MADE GAVIN WISH HE had turned it on vibrate He rolled over and shoved his head under the pillow Still, the sound wouldn’t go away
Goddamn it What the fuck ti"
He heard Elizabeth’s o away"
"It’s rung three tiht be i fucking nuainst his oman, and he didn’t want to be bothered
"Or it could be ihed, threw the pillow off his head, and fus and find the dahtstand
Elizabeth’s nightstand Oh, yeah He was at her condo
He blinked his eyes and tried to open theister
He shook off the dregs of sleep when he read the naht while Gavin dialed She slipped beside him and rubbed his back
She looked as concerned as he felt
His sto
"Hey" Jenna answered on the first ring
"What’s wrong?"
"It’s Dad They think he had a heart attack"
Gavin swung his legs over the side of the bed, his heart sinking to his stomach A hundred kinds of dread filled his head "How bad is it?"
Elizabeth was right behind hi
"Don’t know yet He’s at Barnes Hospital"
Sing panic, he said, "I’ll be right there"
"Okay"
Her voice sounded shaky "Did you get hold of Mick?"
"He’s on the way, too"
"How’s Mo to pretend she isn’t"
"Are you okay?"
"I’et here"
"I’ll be there in twenty minutes"
He clicked off the phone Elizabeth was already off the bed, grabbing Gavin’s clothes
He lifted his gaze to her "They think my dad had a heart attack"
Her eyes filled with tears She came to him and sat on the bed, wrapped her arms around him "Oh, God, Gavin I’m so sorry"
He took a few seconds to absorb her warmth, her comfort Then he pulled back
"How bad is it?"
"They don’t know yet Everyone’s been notified I’ot up and pulled on his clothes Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at her clasped hands "If there’s anything you need me to do, anyone you need aze to his "Yes?"
"I need you Come with me?"
Silvery tears drifted down her face "Yes Of course" She leaped up and went to get dressed
GAVIN HATED HOSPITALS, HAD SEEN HIS SHARE OF theency roonaled the possible end of his career
Right now a hospitalentirely different He didn’t want to think about whaton with his dad His father was a rock, the lifeblood of the Riley family James Riley had always been invincible and indestructible He was the strongestcould topple hiht? Sure, his dad had put on a little weight over the years, and his s AndHe liked to put his feet up and watch sports when he was hoh he hustled plenty at the bar And he played basketball with the things
Okay,these days behind the bar Dad was slowing downthe a lot of the PR work They’d hired cooks and waitresses so Mom and Dad didn’t have to do so ht dance classes part-ti busy When she was at the bar, she supervised a lot of the staff and kept her fingers in the cooking Dad
Shit
Elizabeth grasped his hand as they got out of the car and headed through the ER doors at the hospital He shifted his gaze to hers, and her s in with her beside hi to be all right You have to believe that If you go in there with the look of doo to help"
He nodded "You’re right"
He lifted his chin and forced the fear away
The doors slid open, and the disinfectant smell hit him first Then the crowd of people with their expressions of worry, exhaustion, and utter despair o hoed his hand and went to the information counter
"We’re here for Ja on her computer "He’s in Rooh the doors to your left Press the button on your right and give the patient’s nah, and you can ask for directions to his room at the desk there"
"Thank you," she said and pulled Gavin along They got through the security door and to another desk