Page 76 of The Acquisition

"I didn't want her here. Evie needed me, and I was out gallivanting around Europe with her best friend. This is a family thing, and I need to focus on that."

"She's your wife, and Evie's best friend. She should be here."

"Drop it, Brina. I need to focus on my daughter right now. Jana and I have done enough to make this harder on her."

Sabrina shook her head. Her disappointment was clear on her face. "You're making a huge mistake, brother."

"Add it to the list," I snapped as I strolled past her to the elevators.

"They're on the third floor to the left," she said and stepped back.

"You aren't coming?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm going to do damage control.”

Beck was waiting for me the moment I stepped off the elevator.

"How is she?" I asked in lieu of greeting him.

He exhaled a shuddering breath. "They're both fine now. It was a tense few hours. Gracie's heart rate started to drop, and Evie had to have an emergency C-section. The contractions were causing her too much stress. They thought the cord was wrapped around her neck."

My heart stopped, and I was learning everything after the fact. "I should have been here."

"What would you have done? I was here."

"She's my daughter. She needed me and I was—"

"You were on your honeymoon. There's no reason to feel guilty about that," he tried to reassure me.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been. You warned us that my relationship with Jana could put more stress on Evie. I was too selfish to listen to you, and look at what happened."

"There was nothing to prevent. Your granddaughter is as stubborn as you are and squeezed her umbilical cord every time Evie had a contraction."

"Maybe she wouldn't have gone into labor early if I'd been around," I argued.

"Did that sound as stupid to you as it did to me? If anyone is to blame for her going into labor early, it's me for being an asshole when we were first together. Maybe if she hadn't gotten lost in the rain and cold this wouldn't have happened. But you don't get to blame yourself for this."

I looked away from him. "Hard not to."

"Well, who are you going to blame when you screw everything up with Jana?"

"Who says I'm going to screw it up?"

He made a show of looking around. "I don't see her here. It doesn't seem like her to not show up when Evie needs her. I'm guessing you made her go home?"

"This is a family matter." This time even I heard how bad that sounded.

"She is family, asshole. Please tell me you didn't say that to her."

I swallowed. "I might have."

"Fuck, you're screwed." He waved for me to follow him. "Better go see Evie quick then. She's tired, and I'm getting ready to kick everyone out for the night. You won't be able to see Gracie until tomorrow. Evie and I are the only ones who can visit her until she's cleared from observation."

Evie sat up in bed. She looked like a beautiful mess. It was amazing how much room I'd found in my heart for her after knowing about her for less than a year. I wouldn't miss a moment of watching my granddaughter grow up the way I had Evie. If I had to give up everything else in my life to be what they needed, I'd do it.

"You look more tired than me right now," she broke the silence.

"Then I must look dead on my feet." I crossed the room and dropped a kiss on top of her head. "I'm sorry I wasn't here."

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