Page 261 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“Marsh?” he says, but I whisk by, Chance in pursuit.
“Bridger?” Jarvis’s voice. “What are you doing here?”
Chance doesn’t answer Jarvis, and once I’m out in the hallway, racing toward the elevators, one opens. I run inside—
But Chance is too quick. He shoves his arm between the closing doors and enters the elevator. He grips my shoulders again.
Grady. I have to get to Grady. And Chance…
I have to tell him.
He’ll never forgive me, but right now, in this desperate moment, nothing matters except my son.
My beautiful son, with hair like wildfire and a personality to match.
“Look at me, Avery.”
Chance’s voice is stern yet kind, and I can’t help myself. I obey him. Like I always have.
I gaze into his gorgeous blue eyes, troubled blue eyes. Troubled because he loves me. And I rebuffed him.
“Don’t you dare tell me you don’t love me,” he says.
“I don’t…” I shake my head.
The words won’t come. They’ll never come, because even when I hated Chance, I still loved him.
I’ve always loved him.
But he’ll never forgive me for keeping him from his son.
He crushes his mouth to mine, and I open for him instantly. Damn the elevator cameras. I don’t care—
The doors slide open, and I break the kiss and race through the building to the parking garage across the street.
Must get to my car. To the hospital. To Grady.
Mom didn’t have any details when she called me. Only that Grady had been rushed to Mt. Sinai in an ambulance after a car hit him while he was skateboarding during his lunch period.
My fault. All my fault. I should have never let him have that damned skateboard. The first day after his suspension ended too. I should have never…
I press my key fob to unlock my car, but strong hands—gentle, strong hands—pry it from my grasp.
“I’ll drive.”
“You don’t know where you’re going,” I gulp out.
He pulls out his phone. “You tell me.”
I try to swallow down the lump in my throat. “Mt. Sinai.”
He taps on his phone. “All set.” He opens the passenger side door for me, and I slink into the seat. Sweat makes my blouse cling to my skin.
He’s taking over. For now, anyway.
And bless him for it.
He doesn’t force me to talk on the way to the hospital, for which I’m grateful. I’ll be forced to talk to him soon enough.
