Page 31 of Barbed Wire and Burglary
“It was your choice,” his uncle sputtered. “In case you’ve forgotten, I never wanted this job!”
No, but you sure cottoned to it after pinning on the CEO’s badge.“You were part of the decision,” Aaron shot back. They’d agreed he would remain on the road until he located his parents. They’d also agreed they would make the biggest decisions about the firm together, but that hadn’t happened. Instead, his uncle had given Aaron’s ex-girlfriend a pay raise and more responsibility. She was more of an office manager than a personal assistant these days, something she never hesitated to lord over Aaron and Aurora. As the daughter of a top JSA executive, her presence at Diamondback ensured they landed some of thebest contracts, but that didn’t make it right. Aaron would’ve preferred to grow their business the old-fashioned way through hard work and word-of-mouth referrals.
“Whenever you’re ready to do things your way,” his uncle ground out, “get yourself back here and take the title. I never intended to fill this role forever, and I’ve already been at it for the better part of two years.” His voice grew quieter. “You know it’s what your father would’ve wanted.”
“You’re right, and I will.” Right after Aaron located his missing parents. Everything else was secondary to that.
“When?” Uncle Cary growled.
“I don’t have an exact date, but soon.” Aaron knew it wasn’t what his uncle wanted to hear, but it was the best answer he could give him.
“Don’t take too long,” his uncle pleaded. “Some of the things you put on hold when your parents disappeared won’t be around forever.”
Aaron knew he was referring to Elise Hathaway, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. His relationship with Elise had been on the rocks long before Helen and James Cannon had disappeared, something his uncle would’ve known if he’d been around more. “Speaking of Elise,” he cut in heatedly, “how do you propose we explain her visit to people like A.J.?”
“Oh, Elise already has that covered,” his uncle assured. “She was so upset to hear about your hospitalization that she rushed to town to ensure you’re okay, proving she still has feelings for you.”
It was the dumbest reason Aaron had ever heard. “No,” he said firmly. There was no way he was going to pretend they were reconciling. “It’s over between us.”Doner than done,as his sister would put it.
“It would make things a lot easier if you’d reconsider that,” his uncle sighed.
“For you, maybe.” Aaron wasn’t even mildly tempted to take the suggestion. He would simply have to come up with his own story to explain his ex-girlfriend’s unwanted presence in town.
He could hear voices in the hallway. Then a knock sounded on his door. “Aaron,” his sister called, “it’s me, Aurora.”
Relief flooded him. “Gotta go, Uncle Cary.” His sister had returned to the medical center, hopefully to help get him discharged.
“Alright, kiddo. Get well soon, you hear?”
“That’s the plan.” Aaron disconnected the line. Then he raised his voice so Aurora could hear him. “Come in!”
She cracked the door open, then she pushed it wider and stepped inside. “You look awful.”
“Thanks. It’s one of my special talents.” His gaze settled balefully on the man hovering at her side. Her boyfriend had a lot of nerve showing up uninvited like this.
“I’m serious, Aaron.” His sister hurried to his bedside. “Are you sure you’re ready to leave the medical center? Because the doctor said he’d be glad to keep you another day if?—”
“Get me out of here,” he growled. “I’ve had enough electronic beeping and antiseptic smells to last me the rest of my life!” He glanced at the bag of his belongings he’d tossed on the chair beside his bed. “I just need someone to remove my I.V. cord so I can get dressed.”
Maggie breezed back into the room. “I can handle that for you.” She rattled off the standard discharge statement. “Plus, the doc is sending you home with some oral meds to speed up your recovery.”
“Tell him I said thank you.” Aaron was grateful he’d been evacuated from his home before suffering any permanent damage to his health.
“I will.” Maggie removed his I.V. cord and gave his shoulder a friendly pat that he felt all the way to his soul. “Call us if you experience any new or recurring symptoms.”
“Will do,” he muttered, not liking the way his sister kept glancing between him and Maggie, her classical features alight with curiosity.
After finalizing his discharge paperwork, Maggie airily announced that she’d go fetch a wheelchair while he changed out of his hospital gown.
“That won’t be necessary,” he called after her. Just knowing he was about to leave the medical center was making him feel a thousand times better.
Until he tried to stand up.
Lightheadedness slammed into him.Just shoot me now!He reached for the bedrail, swallowing hard. “I feel as bad as you say I look,” he grumbled to his sister.
Aurora didn’t so much as crack a smile. “Take it easy, please.” She quickly stepped to his side to wrap an arm around his waist. “I almost lost you,” she choked.
“I hear you almost took a tumble yourself.” Righteous indignation simmered through him, giving him a burst of much-needed energy. He was tired of their enemies hiding in the shadows while taking potshots at them. He was going to ensure that whoever had cut the gas line to his rental home was punished to the full extent of the law.
