Page 72 of The Bargain

“Would you like me to prepare you something to eat?”

I looked at Mrs. James. My stomach growled loudly, but I shook my head. “No, I really don’t like how tired he is and how rapid his breathing is. I think I'll stay here and monitor him for a while. I’ll call Dr. Hunt if it doesn’t settle in an hour or so.”

“Very well. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

“Oh, no, no!” I raised my hand to stop her. “You've got enough to do and I’ve already stolen a few hours from your schedule.”

“It was a pleasure, truly. This baby is amazing. I will bring something,” she added with a tone of finality.

I smiled gratefully at her before going to retrieve my laptop in my bedroom. I would take my classes in the nursery.

Opening my computer, I glanced back at Timmy as I waited for my emails to load. I hoped he was okay. I also hoped that Dean was the man I thought he was and would forgive my lie, as well as let Timmy stay with me.

Sighing, I looked back at the screen. I had an email from someone called ‘truth seeker.’

Opening it, I read,‘I thought you ought to know who you are trusting your future to.’

There were a few files attached at the bottom. The first one was an email from Dean to his creepy lawyer. I shivered again at the thought of that horrible man.

Phil,

This needs to stop. I want her gone. We need to step it up. Her drug of choice is heroin. Make it happen.

I frowned at the email. What did it all mean?

The second file was an audio recording. It was a conversation between Dean and his lawyer.

"Are you sure he did it?"

"Dean, I told you he did. I know the guy."

"Do you, Phil? How reliable can a dealer be? Her test came back clean. I looked in her room and the drugs weren't there."

“I’ve used him for many clients. He knows how much he’ll lose if he screws me. He said he gave her three doses of his best heroin."

As Dean sighed, I blinked back tears of pain. I couldn’t believe the extent of his cruelty, how rotten he was inside. It made me reconsider everything I thought about him, everything I wanted to do with him, everything I thought we could build.

I looked up and screamed, seeing Timmy’s face blue. I jumped on my feet, shattering the laptop on the floor with the movement.

I shouted for help before pressing the emergency button that was both calling Jeremy directly and let the driver know we needed the car now.

“Opal?" Jeremy asked.

“He’s barely breathing! He’s blue,” I gasped, grabbing Timmy.

“Do you remember what we said?” His voice was soothing. “We knew it might happen.”

“Yes,” I let out. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “I’m on my way.”

I rubbed Timmy’s chest with my knuckles as I went down the stairs. Mrs. James was waiting downstairs, the door opened, and I could see the driver was already waiting for us with the back door of the car already opened.

“I’ll call Mr. Beaumont!” she shouted as I rushed to the car.

I couldn’t care less about Dean Beaumont right at this moment.

We made it to the hospital in a record time. Had I had any minutes to spare, I would have thanked the driver properly, but Dean and a couple of nurses were already waiting for me by the entrance.

A nurse rushed forward to take Timmy. “Follow code blue protocol. Put him on the respirator and prep him in ward three. I’ll be right there.”

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