Page 15 of Ghost
“How many Embers do you know that live in Marble Falls?” I counter.
“Shit, brother. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, well, now you do.”
“I’ll have Addi try to find some?—”
“I already hired her,” I blurt.
“You did?”
I nod. “She might be the last person I want to deal with, but she knows my mom, and I’m hoping that will give her an edge.”
“Yeah, but…” He sighs. “Are you sure you’re up for it? I mean, she practically left you at the altar.”
I huff out a humorless laugh. “Not quite.”
“Close enough.”
“It was a long time ago, and we’re both adults. I can handle it.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m not fucking sure of anything,” I admit. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about my mom. I’ll do anything for her.”
“I know, brother.” Crow claps a hand on my shoulder. “Anything I can do to help?”
“One of Em’s conditions was that I cover at least one day a week so she can get a break. Will that be a problem?”
“You know it won’t. If you need more than that, just let me know.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
I turn to walk away but stop at the door and glance over my shoulder. “This is gonna be fucking hard as hell, isn’t it?”
Crow throws his head back and laughs. “I have no doubt.”
CHAPTER 8
EMBER
What the hell is he doing here?
“You can’t be serious.”
I shift in my chair as I maintain eye contact with Janice, my boss, across her desk. When I arrived at the agency this morning to finish up some paperwork, I asked to speak to her in private so I could let her know I’d be leaving for a while. I knew it would be a hard conversation, but I didn’t think she’d actually be angry.
“I’m sorry, Janice,” I say with a shrug. “This is a patient that I’m uniquely qualified to deal with.”
“Your ex-fiancé’s mother,” she says as if she doesn’t quite believe it. “That’s a huge conflict of interest.”
“Maybe. But she’s already gone through several nurses.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“What?”
