Page 47 of Two Steps Ahead

She just hoped it would be enough.

Chapter Fourteen

The midmorning sun was bright in Sheila and Clinton’s garden where Weston knelt. Weeding was normally his favorite way to pass the time and think, but the rumble of Chance’s truck pulling into their parents’ driveway told him he was about to be interrupted. He met Chance halfway to the house, brushing the soil from his hands as he went.

“Where’s Kayleigh?” Chance asked as the two went inside. Weston steered them to the kitchen to get Chance a cup of coffee. Between a night of peaceful sleep and the coffee he’d already had, Weston felt more energetic than since he and Kayleigh had left the lake house. But Chance had obviously been up all night on guard duty.

“She’s asleep,” Weston said, sliding the cup across the counter. “She’s had a rough few days and I didn’t feel right waking her. To be honest, I’m just glad she’s sleeping at all.”

Chance took a sip, nodding. “She’s handling things better than I expected. She’s strong, Weston. She’ll get through this.”

Weston agreed wholeheartedly, but he knew firsthand how pain like losing a parent lingered. He didn’t want that for Kayleigh, not anytime soon. “How are things on your end?”

“Leo’s stable—no change. Luke’s watching him now.” Chance looked like he wanted to say more but stopped.

“What is it?”

“Something is odd at the hospital. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it’s just not normal.”

Weston sat straighter. He trusted his brother’s instincts. “You think Leo is in danger?”

“Not necessarily. It’s just how Dr. Appleton and some of the staff is acting that’s got me on edge.”

Weston ran a hand over his head. This wasn’t what he wanted to hear. It was bad enough suspecting people in Leo’s direct employment of sharing secrets and putting the Delacruzes at risk, but if there was a nurse or doctor taking bribes, they were going to have a bigger problem.

“What have you noticed?”

Chance put his cup down. “I was there for my shift yesterday and the nurses barely checked on him. I mean, I know he’s in the private section and the hospital staff have been informed of possible danger to him, but it doesn’t feel right. Shouldn’t they need to check his vitals more or something?”

Weston sighed and got up to pour himself another cup of coffee. Looked like he was going to need it. “Maybe there’s nothing they can do but wait. They have him monitored.”

Chance shrugged. “Maybe. I hope so.”

“Have Maci do a background check on anyone at the hospital coming in contact with Leo. Make sure anyone guarding the door is keeping an eye out for out-of-place stuff. In the meantime, what does the doctor say about his condition?”

“No change.”

“Anybody harassing the team about being there?”

“None. They’ve been working with us easily enough. Much better than Jasper and his misfits.”

Weston took a sip of his coffee. “At least we don’t have to worry about him anymore. Where are we on suspects?”

“Oliver Lyle is still the one who seems to have the most to lose and is most likely to use violent means—” He cut himself off at the squeak of someone on the stairs.

A moment later, Kayleigh appeared, dressed and ready to go for the day. She still had dark circles under her eyes, but definitely looked better than she had.

“Morning,” she said, looking between the brothers as she made herself a cup of coffee. “Any news on my father?”

“He’s still holding stable. No real change,” Chance said. “Let me go say hello to Mom and Dad.”

He obviously didn’t want to continue the info about Oliver Lyle in front of Kayleigh. But that wasn’t going to work. Weston had too much respect for her to treat her with kid gloves.

“Continue about Lyle first. Kayleigh is involved, no matter what, and I’m not keeping her in the dark when it comes to her own safety.”

The smile she shot him was appreciative and he held out a hand to her to pull her close.

“Basically, we confirmed everything we’d heard about him before. Not only does he have a ton to lose if the merger goes through, but he’s more than willing to get violent to get what he wants. We tried to put eyes on him, but no one’s seen him for three weeks.”

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