Page 83 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“St. Anne’s.”
“We’ll meet you there.”
Before I can even end the call, I get another. Carly’s name replaces Mom’s on the display.
“All right, sweetheart,” Mom says, hanging up.
I haven’t spoken to Carly since we left and this isn’t the best time. I’m aching to hear her voice, to listen to her talk about the animals on the ranch. Hell, I’ll even listen to talk of shoveling manure if she’s the one doing it.
Except I can’t do it now. Not on the way to the ER and not with Chance and Miles in the car.
Looking over my shoulder, I pull a U-turn and floor it toward the hospital closest to Mom’s house. It’s ten minutes away, but at least I know she’s breathing and headed to St. Anne’s.
“Don’t you want to get that?” Miles leans forward and sets his forearms on the two front seats.
I glance at Carly’s name, but then it disappears. She ended the call.
“I’ll get back to her.” When I know my mom is stable and things aren’t a total shitshow.
Except it rings again. I grit my teeth and press the accept button. No way can I blow Carly off twice in a row. It felt wrong the first time.
“Hey, baby. Can I call you back? Now’s not—”
“No.” Her voice is breathy through the speaker. “Oh my God, Austin. You won’t… I mean…” Her voice is breathy.
My heart is already on overdrive and now it’s full out in a stampede. Mom. And now Carly. She’s freaked.
“Breathe and tell me what’s wrong.”
Chance’s cell rings and he pulls it from his pocket, puts it to his ear.
“At the dam. I… I… I found a…”
“It’s okay, baby. Just tell me.”
Her breath comes in rapid puffs through the phone. “A… A dead body.”
“What the fuck?” Miles murmurs.
I don’t know who Chance is talking to, but his face goes hard, his jaw clenches, and he looks at me and nods. He’s getting the same info from someone else. A foreman maybe? Hell, it could even be Mayor Vance for all I fucking know.
For the second time in a few minutes, I slam on the brakes and pull off the road.
“There’s a dead body on the ranch,” Chance confirms. “At the creek. We have to get back. Together. Now.”
“My mom’s headed to the ER,” I say. “I have routes to fly.”
“Your girl needs you,” Miles says.
“So does my mom,” I snap.
I’m being pulled in multiple directions, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t fucking know where to even go.
“Austin—” Carly practically sobs.
Her cries tear at my chest like invisible knives.
I run a hand over my face. Fuck. What the hell am I going to do?
