Page 40 of Two Steps Ahead

Weston nodded. A smaller team made it harder to keep a client safe in times of chaos, but was also harder to infiltrate. The bigger problem was that Weston had no idea which of Leo’s—or, more accurately, Jasper’s—men could be trusted.

Weston and Chance shared another look and he knew his brother was thinking the same thing. They’d have to sort out security for Leo on their own.

Before he could ask any more questions, Gwendolyn came back with a doctor just behind her.

“Kayleigh Delacruz?”

Kayleigh jumped up and rushed toward the man. “That’s me. How is my father?”

“I’m Dr. Appleton, your father’s personal physician.”

When she shook his hand, Appleton gave her a typical doctor smile, friendly without making promises or offering hope. It sent something cold slithering through Weston’s stomach to see it. Smiles like that tended to be bad news.

From the way Kayleigh’s smile stiffened, she had the same thought.

“I’ll be frank with you. Your father is in a coma and we can’t figure out why. At first, we thought it was from smoke inhalation, but his lungs are improving consistently and there’s no sign of any internal damage besides that. Smoke inhalation isn’t consistent with a coma anyway.”

“So what does that mean?” Kayleigh asked, reaching for Weston’s hand and gripping it like it was a lifeline. He smoothed his thumb over her skin in gentle circles, trying to give her a piece of the calm she so desperately needed.

“It means there’s nothing we can do right now except wait. We’ll monitor him round the clock and keep looking for the cause of his coma. But without it, there’s not a lot we can do.”

Kayleigh was quiet. The tightness of her hand in Weston’s was the only indicator that she’d even heard the doctor. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse and thick. “I want to see him.”

“Of course. Right this way. We just ask that there is only one person in with him at a time. And only people you approve.”

“Okay.”

“Actually, Kayleigh, I’d like to speak with you before you go see Leo,” Dean said. “I know it’s bad timing, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”

Kayleigh blew out an exasperated breath, saying, “Gwendolyn, you go in first. We’ll trade out once I’m through here.”

“I’ll go back in just a minute.” She pulled Kayleigh in for another hug, shooting another ugly look at Dean, obviouslyafraid the man was going to be insensitive again. “I’m here for you, Kayleigh. Whatever you need.”

Dean smoothed the jacket of his suit, pressing out invisible creases before he turned to Kayleigh. “I need to know what your father told you about the Brighton Pharmaceuticals merger.”

“Can’t this wait, Dean?” Gwendolyn asked.

“It’s important,” the man muttered. “I need to know what Leo told you about the merger.”

Kayleigh’s eyes narrowed, but when she spoke, her voice was low and controlled. “My father is lying in a hospital bed in a coma and you’re asking me about a merger? I’ve never had anything to do with my father’s business dealings and I certainly didn’t start now.”

Dean sighed. “I promise, I’m not trying to upset you, but I need to get to the bottom of things.” He looked around the room and Weston could practically see him composing his speech in his head. “This merger has always been strange. Different than all the rest.”

“How so?” Weston asked. He kept a casual eye on the others in the room to see if anyone was reacting in a strange way.

“It’s different in that I don’t know much about it.”

Kayleigh crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would Dad keep you out of the loop?”

Dean stroked his chin. “I’ve been at Leo’s side since his business was barely off the ground. I’ve been through plenty of mergers with him and this is only the second time he’s actively kept details from me.”

“What was the first?” Kayleigh asked.

“When Leo bought out George Kesler’s business five years ago.”

Kayleigh’s eyes got a little bigger. “I remember that. He was Dad’s rival.”

Weston glanced over at Chance and saw him texting. No doubt he was having Maci dig up anything she could on George Kesler.

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