Page 114 of Deceived Wrath

I straighten, clutching a hand to my neck as my pulse spikes. “I-is this about Amber?”

“I’ve been instructed to give you a call to discuss her condition. Your husband informed me that you’re unable to travel to the hospital at this time.”

My husband?

I don’t question whatever strings Lorcan had to pull to get Dr. Langford on the phone. Right now, all I care about is finding out what is going on with my niece.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Well, we’ve run some tests on your niece, and they’ve revealed she has a genetic heart defect called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy."

The words ‘heart’ and ‘defect’ in the same sentence are never something you want to hear.

I have to close my eyes and force myself to take a breath to try to stop myself from panicking.

“What does this mean for Amber?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“For a lot of people with HCM, they have little or no symptoms. But for some, like Amber, the condition can cause fainting, dizziness, and shortness of breath.”

“Oh, god,” I choke as tears sting my eyes.

“Our next step is to place a pacemaker to help control and monitor Amber’s heart rate. Her surgery is scheduled for Monday morning.”

My worst nightmare has come true.

Amber is barely six years old, not much older than Scout, and in less than forty-eight hours, she’s going to have her chest sliced open.

“It’s a very simple procedure, one I have performed hundreds of times,” Dr. Langford assures me. “Granted everything goes well, I’ll be able to send her home in a few days.”

“You said this is genetic… Does this mean Skye has it?”

I don’t know if I could bear it if Skye ends up in the hospital too. She’s only just turned four and has already lost her mother and seen her sister end up in the hospital. She’s already suffered so much, they both have, and the fact that I’m not there…

At this moment, I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more than I hate their father for keeping the girls away from me.

I should be with Amber and having the conversation with the doctors alongside her, not over the phone as a result of a blood debt with a mob boss.

“We did test Skye, but she was found not to carry the gene.”

I exhale at the rush of relief knowing that Skye is all right. But it’s only short-lived.

“I would suggest you get yourself tested also, as Amber’s father was ruled out as the carrier.”

Wait, what?

I could have a heart condition, and I don’t even know it?

“O-okay,” I stumble, barely processing what Dr. Langford is saying.

“I assure you that Amber will continue to receive the best care.”

“That’s really great to hear?—”

“Granted you do everything you’re supposed to.”

I stiffen at the subtle threat.

This is obviously a message from Lorcan, making it clear that Amber’s doctor is very much under his control.