Page 72 of Amor Prohibido

My heart sank further when his hazel-green eyes returned to mine. “Sweetheart, why are you here looking like you’re the bearer of bad news?”

“Because I am. Your mama called.” I winced as his grip tightened on my biceps. “She couldn’t get a hold of you and was panicking, so I said I would come down and find you, but she doesn’t need a ride because Mama is picking her up—”

“Jax! Out with it already!”Jace shouted, startling me from the mindless rambling.

“Your papi; he’s been taken to hospital in an ambulance. That’s all I know. I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t get your mama to say over the phone.”

“Dean, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.” Jace turned me sharply by the shoulders and guided me toward the exit with a firm hand on my lower back.

I refrained from giving Dean a smirk on our way past by the smallest of margins, instead managed a quick, “Nice to meet you,” before hurrying to my car.

TWENTY-FOUR

JACE

The entire drive to the hospital was filled with pensive silence only broken by one question from Jax. “So, who’s that Dean guy? Man, he was all up in my grill as soon as I walked through the door.”

I snorted at how ridiculous that statement was. “You were in a prohibited area, J. And he’s my boss.”

“Mierda.”

“Yep. I’m pretty sure he’s never been told to go suck asparagus before.”

“Fryasparagus.”

I didn’t reply, just hummed an acknowledgement. I was grateful for her trying to take my mind off the flood of worry that occupied every void of my mind, but I was gravely concerned for Dad. I didn’t give a fuck about Jax’s showdown with Dean; it will be water under the bridge in no time.

She braked to a stop at a red light and placed her warm hand on my thigh. The simple touch was grounding and supportive, exactly what I needed. Considering she hadn’t so much as glanced my way over the last few days, this initiated physical contact was a long time coming.

The look on her face when I came around the corner of the workshop had almost flattened me. Her expression shattered my entire body and put it back together in the same instant. I knew something terrible had happened, and I almost shook her hard enough to rattle her bones in my urgency for information.

Rubbing at my chest, trying to remove the residual ache deep within, I engulfed her hand in mine and squeezed.

“He’s going to be okay, Jace,” she whispered, glancing between me and the red light.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears and her skin appeared a shade paler. I hadn’t seen her looking this worried since the day she had bled. I gave her hand another squeeze and kept it locked in mine as I stared out the window. My mind wouldn’t focus on anything apart from Dad. The lack of information was killing me and causing me to jump to the very worst possible scenarios.

When we pulled into the hospital car park, I was out of the car and at the driver’s side before J had unbuckled her seat belt. Her hand slid into mine as I helped her disembark, then for a short moment, I needed her in my arms. I thanked my lucky stars she didn’t try to pull away.

We clung to each other in silence for longer than I intended, knowing full well I couldn’t face this without her.

Short of making my pregnant woman run in high heels, I clutched her hand and hastened to the main entrance. “Where to?” I puffed.

“I don’t know,” J panted. “I’ll ring your mama for you.”

I stopped her from reaching for her phone and pulled out mine instead. Mum picked up on the second ring, giving me directions to Dad’s ward.

Miri waited for us outside his room, expression scrunched with worry as we approached. She gave Jax a quick hug, then clung to me in a way that filled me with dread.

“Mama, what’s happened?” Jax urged.

Miri looked between us and laid a hand on my arm while she broke the news. “We think your papa suffered a heart attack. He is very weak and has just fallen asleep again. He’s hooked up to monitors, and the nurse has taken blood.”

Heart attack? What the fuck? Dad was fit and active.

Miri saw the questions in my eyes and answered without me speaking a word. “Go in and see him. Your mama is very worried. She’s with him now, and she needs you with her.”

The sterile smell hit as I pushed into Dad’s room and rushed for Mum. She gasped and threw herself at me. I held her while she snuffled into my chest, causing it to ache and clamp.

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