Page 124 of Make Me Sin (Bad Habit 2)
“There’s a mistake here.”
I open my eyes. My father is frowning down at a page. He looks at Mr. Wells.
“This is dated July 1 of this year.”
Wells nods. “That’s correct. Mr. Edwards updated his living trust on that date to include Ms. Carmichael in the documents.”
“But you and he were already finished by then,” my father says, looking at me.
Tears stream down my cheeks. “He was never finished with me. He just wanted me to be finished with him, because he knew he’d be going away. He didn’t want me to have to watch him die. But I’m going to anyway.” Then I break down sobbing all over again.
Brody comes back with a cup of water, which Jamie sets aside. He then kneels in front of me and takes my arms.
“Bug, listen to me.”
Devastated, I look at him.
He says softly, “No matter what happens, you’ll always have a part of him. The baby, Chloe, that’s not just yours. It’s his, too. It’s yours together. And always will be. You’ll always have a part of A.J. with you.”
I whisper, “Thank you.”
In unison, Nico, Brody, Ethan, and Chris say, “Baby?”
Kat goes to Nico and hugs him around the waist. “I wanted to let her tell A.J. first, honey.”
He stares down at her. “A.J.’s having a baby?”
“Actually it’s Chloe who’s having the baby, dear. Although your friend certainly did his part,” says my mother, who seems to be a little steadier on her feet. Probably because she’s just found out I’m a real estate heiress.
Nico looks at me, his eyes alight for the first time in hours. “Kat and I are gonna be an aunt and uncle?”
I shake my head slowly. “No. You’re going to be godparents.”
Kenji says proudly, “Me and Grace are going to be the aunt and uncle!”
Grace says, “Aunt Kenji does have a nice ring to it,” and smiles at Kenji.
He replies, “So does Uncle Grace.”
For a moment there’s a lighter quality to the air, but it’s shattered when a woman in a white coat and scrubs walks in the room.
“Mr. Edwards’ group?” she asks, gazing at us. She’s a tall, slender brunette in her midforties, businesslike and cold, her face absolutely expressionless.
My stomach drops. I stand, holding on to Jamie’s arm for support. “Yes?”
Her cold gaze rests on me. Her eyes are the color of flint. “Are you the next of kin?”
I mutely nod my head.
She says, “I’m Dr. Rhoades. Come with me, please.”
“What’s happening?” my brother demands. Everyone draws closer.
Dr. Rhoades pauses for a moment. “We need to get some information. And I’m afraid we don’t have much time. Now, if you’ll please follow me?”
She walks out of the room.
“He’s in critical condition, I’m afraid. The bullet damaged the right ventricle of his heart, and he’s developed a hemopneumothorax—”
