Page 43 of Two Steps Ahead

“I’ll contact Brax and Luke, and get a schedule sorted out,” Chance said.

Weston nodded. “I’m going to see Kayleigh.” He held his hand out to Dean and the two men shook as Chance walked to the corner of the room with his phone. “Thanks for your help with that.”

“No thanks needed. My job is to protect Leo’s interests and Jasper didn’t have them at heart. Not the right ones anyway.” He dug into his briefcase and pulled out a business card, handing it to Weston. “Take this. Call if you need anything.”

Weston agreed, though he doubted he’d use it. Dean wouldn’t be able to help them where they were going. He took out his wallet and slipped the card in, removing one of his own for the lawyer. “We’ll be out of cell service, but if you need to contact us, you can call the office. My brothers will know how to get in touch.”

Dean took the card and slipped it into his pocket before resting a hand on Weston’s shoulder. “I know it’s only three days, but keep her safe. Leo won’t cope well if anything happens to Kayleigh again.”

“I’ll protect her with my life.”

It was his job, putting his client’s safety first, but Weston found that, for the first time ever, he meant more than that. He knew without hesitation he’d do anything to keep Kayleigh alive and well. He just had to hope that it wouldn’t come to that.

Chapter Thirteen

Kayleigh watched the lines of her father’s heart monitor, both of her hands wrapped around one of his like a lifeline. Thebeep, beep, beepacted as white noise as she struggled to reconcile the larger-than-life man she’d always known with the one lying in the hospital bed in front of her.

She’d never seen him sostill. Kayleigh couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him rest during the day. Had he ever? She doubted it. There was always business to do, deals to be made.

“I’ll rest when I’m dead,” he’d always told her.

She desperately didn’t want it to come to that anytime soon.

She ran her hand over his arm and frowned at the coolness of his skin. Maybe he was cold and couldn’t tell them. She was about to ask Gwendolyn to find another blanket when she remembered the other woman had stepped out to grab coffee. She got up to dig through the cabinets herself, finally finding an extra blanket to lay over her father. She hoped it made him more comfortable because the scratchy fabric certainly didn’t make her feel any better.

Kayleigh hated hospitals.

For places meant to keep people alive, there was no life between their walls. It was unnerving. Even in this private section of the hospital only afforded to those who didn’t mind paying the exorbitant amount that insurance wouldn’t cover, she felt uneasy.

It reminded her of her mother’s stay in a hospital just like this when she’d gotten sick. No matter how good the doctorswere, or how exclusive the suite, it sometimes didn’t matter and people died.

Sitting next to her father, she was afraid if she looked away from him for a second, she’d lose him like she had her mother. Even knowing the stress and exhaustion of the past thirty-six hours were playing a huge role in the despair circling her, tears were still rimming her eyes.

Get it together. Dad’s safe here and he’s going to be okay. Now is not the time to have a breakdown.

She kept repeating the words to herself, hoping that if she heard them enough, it would make it real.

The door pushed open. “You guys doing okay?”

She rushed into Weston’s arms before she could stop herself, thankful when he caught her and tugged her against his chest. Having him here, surrounding her with his warmth and support, was enough to pull her out of the worst of her fears.

Weston wasn’t going to let anything happen to her or her father.

He kissed the top of her head. “Any change?”

“Nothing. He’s so still. I hate it.”

Weston released a small sigh. “You’re not going to like this, but we need to get you out of here.”

“I don’t want to leave him.” She pulled back.

He gave her a little bit of space, but kept his hands gently on her arms. “If it were safe, I’d guard the door for you day and night so you didn’t have to leave, but staying puts you both at risk.”

“Why?”

“Dean told us about another clause in your father’s contracts that gives you the power to stop the merger if anything happens to him.”

She stiffened, the room feeling even more cold than it had been before. “That’s why they’re after me.”

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