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I concentrate on the food, and when I’m done, drain the glass of water. He removes the tray to the bedside table and stands. When he holds out his hand, I take it, and he urges me to my feet.
He runs his gaze down my body and his jaw tightens. "I wish I could stay but I need to get back to town."
"You do?" My stomach sinks.
"Karma West Sovrano?—"
"The designer?" I frown.
He nods. "She’s my friend Michael’s wife.”
“Summer told me.” I nod. “She’s recovering from the birth of her second child.”
He doesn’t seem surprised that I know that. He runs his fingers through his hair, and a worried look enters his eyes. “I got a call from Summer that Karma’s taken a turn for the worse. It’s serious enough that I’d feel better if I go to see her.”
42
Quentin
"How is she doing, Summer?" My wife runs ahead of me into the waiting room. She reaches Karma’s sister Summer, and the two embrace. I’d told her she could stay or I could drop her off at my townhouse in London, but she insisted on coming with me.
I walk toward the other corner of the room where Sinclair is standing by the window. Summer and my wife follow me, talking in low voices.
"Is she any better?" I ask Sinclair.
He turns to me with a grim look in his eyes. "She was doing well after the delivery. But she contracted an infection a few days ago, which resulted in her heart getting infected."
I swallow. Summer had given me the barest details on the phone. I hadn’t realized how serious the situation was until now.
Since I followed the ambulance the last time Karma was admitted to hospital and kept Summer company until Sinclair and Michael arrived, I’ve felt a responsibility for Karma. She’s the little sister I never had. While I haven’t known the Sovranos or the Sterlings for very long, I am more at ease with them than with my own family.
I’ll confess, I was a little annoyed by Summer’s call. Especially since I’d told myself I only had the few days of my honeymoon with my wife before telling her the marriage was over. So, to have that time cut short was not something I wanted. Now that I realize how unwell Karma is, I’m glad we came.
Perhaps this is fate intervening to remind me I'm not allowed to have such happiness. I shouldn't have let that interlude with her go as long as I did. I said one more day, but it's stretched out into a week. I don’t deserve her. And the longer I stay with her, the more difficult it’s going to be when the inevitable happens.
I turn to Summer. “I’m sure your sister is going to pull through.”
Summer smiles wanly. “Due to her congenital heart defect, Karma developed an irregular heart rhythm brought on by the stress of labor. They had doctors monitoring her condition throughout her pregnancy, and she seemed to be recovering well."
I nod. Of course, I knew all of this, but I think talking about Karma makes her feel better.
"We were sure she was going to be okay. Then—" She shakes her head. “Then a few days ago, she developed an infection in the lining of her heart.” She swallows and tears fill her eyes. "This morning, she was having trouble breathing. We called Weston, and he told us to meet him here at the hospital. She’d stopped responding to the antibiotics, so they administered stronger ones through IV, hoping that would do the trick. They gave her steroids to help with the swelling, and a breathing treatment, but then... Then she suffered a heart attack.” Summer chokes out the words, then manages to get control of her emotions.
Sinclair pulls her closer before adding, "Weston’s in there with her and Michael right now.”
Weston, a.k.a. Dr. Weston Kincaid, is one of the top heart surgeons in the country. He and Sinclair went to the same school and have been close friends most of their lives.
Sinclair cups Summer’s cheek. "All I can think is that if it were you were in there, baby, I would be devastated."
My pulse rate spikes. My heart somersaults into my throat. If it were Raven in there, I would be moving heaven and earth to find a way to cure her. If it were her, I would be going out of my head with worry.
I wouldn't be able to see her in such pain. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to her. It would shatter me completely. I wouldn't be able to go on with my life.
I realize, now, I’ve let her get too close to me. I'm already in love with her. I was stupid to think that counted for nothing and that I could stop her from getting even closer.
She’s already under my skin, has carved out a place in my heart, and has burrowed her way into the very cells of my body. I might not have a tattoo with her name on it, but her essence is etched into my flesh and bones.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life knowing I’ll never meet a woman like her again. No one else will ever be enough. That’s the price I’ll pay for letting my heart take the lead this time.
