Fight for You

by Nina Crespo

  “Dad?”

  Gerard turned to Aiden. He struggled to speak as he clutched at his chest, and as if in slow motion, he started to fall.

  Aiden caught his father before he hit the sidewalk. He lowered him to the ground, while agony twisted the features of Gerard’s face. “The pain . . .” he choked out, struggling to breathe.

  The host from the restaurant peeked out the door.

  Aiden broke in before the man could speak. “Find out if there’s a doctor in the restaurant and call 9-1-1.”

  At the hospital, Delanie sat alone in the dark chairs lining the waiting room in the surgical ICU. Four hours later, adrenaline from the initial rush to the hospital had faded. She could barely stop herself from slumping in her seat. Maybe if she did fall asleep, she’d awaken to better news. Aiden’s father had suffered a massive heart attack and had gone into surgery immediately after he’d arrived at the emergency room. They still hadn’t found out whether or not his condition had stabilized.

  Sophie came from down the hall, carrying two cardboard cups. “Coffee. I thought you could use some.” She handed a cup to Delanie along with a couple packets of sugar.

  “Thanks.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  Delanie stirred sugar into her coffee with a plastic stirrer. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? This was your special night, along with King’s.”

  The happy occasion in the restaurant had immediately morphed into one of alarm when a server had interrupted the celebration by asking if there was a doctor in the room. Honestly, Delanie had panicked, worried that Gerard had done something to Aiden, until she’d heard the server say that an older man had collapsed. Luckily, there’d been two doctors at the party. They had both worked to stabilize Gerard until the ambulance arrived. Aiden had ridden to the hospital with him.

  It had been Sophie who’d grabbed Delanie and dragged her to the chauffeured town car with King and Grace. “Honestly, I feel like I’m intruding,” said Delanie apologetically. “I’m not family. Maybe I should leave and find a hotel.”

  “What?” Sophie’s brows rose. “No. You can’t. Aiden needs you.”

  “He needs to focus on his family right now, not me, and he’s got the situation well under control.”

  In front of them, down the hallway near the nurse’s station, Aiden and King flanked their mom. The trio formed one solid unit as they listened to the doctors.

  “Okay.” Sophie leaned in. “Looks like you need the CliffsNotes version of the Kingman brothers. First of all, my fiancé is frustrated as hell because there’s no part of this situation that he can control, including his mother. She used to let Gerard and her sons take the lead on everything, but since she’s been living in London on her own, she’s developed a backbone and won’t be coddled or manipulated.”

  Sophie pointed across the room. “Aiden, on the other hand, is mentally working out a plan to take care of their mom without her picking up on it and monitoring King’s head at the same time. He’s the mediator in the family and keeps things balanced. He’s good at that.”

  Delanie sipped coffee purely to stay awake and not for enjoyment. “That must be exhausting for him.”

  “It is, but he’ll never show it. Aiden will keep up the facade, but inside, he’s probably beating himself up for Gerard’s heart attack, wondering what he could have done better.”

  “He can’t blame himself for that.”

  “But he won’t see it that way, especially if Gerard can manage to put his two cents in about it. He’ll find a way to blame Aiden for it and throw in how King would have walked on water to save him.” She laughed ruefully then sipped her coffee. “Even if it’s not true. He tries to place a wedge between them, hoping they’ll crack, but they’re loyal to each other. In fact, Grace told me the other day that Aiden wanted to leave TriRoyal as early as six or seven years ago, but he wouldn’t leave without King. Back then, King felt he had to prove himself to his father. Aiden was the one to make him see the truth. I’m glad he did.”

  As Sophie looked across the room at King, love reflected in her gaze. She brushed a curl from her eye and the diamond on her finger winked in the light.

  Happiness for Sophie and a pang of romantic envy struck. “Aren’t you angry at Gerard for showing up and ruining your night?”

  Sophie stared at her ring. “We’ll certainly have a story to tell about our engagement, but honestly, I wonder if ruining our night was his real motivation for showing up.”

  Delanie couldn’t muster an ounce of generosity for Gerard showing up uninvited. If she were in Sophie’s shoes, she’d have a hard time finding compassion for him. “Bullies like to be the center of attention.”

  “True, but I honestly feel a little sorry for him. I think he was lonely tonight. Grace heard through the social grapevine that Gerard’s twenty-two-year-old arm candy is cheating on him. For a man as egotistical as him, that has to hurt.” Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know. It seems weird that he came to Richmond all the way from Baltimore. Something tells me he didn’t want to be alone, that maybe he wanted to be a part of the family for once. But on some level, maybe it was meant to be. If he had been alone at home when he had the heart attack, he might not have made it to the hospital in time while we were all celebrating back here.” Sophie grimaced. “That’s definitely not the type of memory I’d want tied to our engagement or King’s birthday.”

  Delanie hadn’t thought of that. Even though she still despised the man, she tried to tamp down some of her dislike for him. Gerard dying tonight would have permanently tainted the family’s happy memories. “I don’t know if I can ever comprehend how things work between Aiden, King, and their father. Just the fact that you’ve figured out their family code proves you belong. I’m not sure what I can do for Aiden.”

  “First, stop doubting that Aiden wants you here. He does. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought you to the party. He wanted you to be a part of this moment.” Sophie pointed to her engagement ring. “You’re special to him and he trusts you. Right now, just be what he needs.”

  Delanie ran her thumb over the rim of her coffee cup. She’d never had to support family or even a friend in the midst of a crisis. She’d benefited from other people looking out for her. “What do you think I can do?”

  Sophie squeezed Delanie’s arm and gave her a small smile. “Give him a soft place to fall.”

  Sophie gave a slight gesture with her head to King, Aiden, and Grace, who had disbanded from their meeting with the doctors and were walking over to join them.

  Aiden came over to Delanie while Sophie stood up and walked down the hallway to meet King and Grace.

  Delanie hugged him. “How is he?”

  Aiden’s expression grew grim. “They performed a quadruple bypass. The next twenty-four hours will tell the doctors a lot. His color looked off at the restaurant. I should have known something was wrong.”

  Sophie was right. He was trying to take the blame for what had happened. Delanie laid her hand on his chest. “Your father being pale was not a definitive sign of anything. He was probably having symptoms before now that other people around him didn’t spot. You’re not a doctor, but you were with him when it happened and you got him help. If he were someplace else at the time, he might not have been so lucky.”

  Aiden nodded reluctantly. “You’re right.” He pulled her back into his embrace. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I envisioned our weekend together.”

  “I know.” What should she say to let him know she wanted to help him? Using Sophie’s input as a guide, Delanie went with her intuition. In the past, when Aiden was troubled, she’d had the uncanny ability to anticipate what he was thinking or what he needed before he said it. Could she still tap into him that way? “But I’m here for you. For as long as you want.”

  He eased away and studied her. “I thought you’d want me to arrange a flight back to Seattle right away. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  The hopefulness in his eyes gripped
her heart. “No, I don’t. Like I said, I’m here for you.”

  twenty-five

  FOUR DAYS LATER, in the evening, Delanie walked with Aiden down the hospital corridor of the ICU. She tucked a folded damp umbrella underneath her arm. It was just as daunting to be there as it had been the other night. This time she was rested and comfortable in ankle boots, jeans, a peach blouse, and a short jacket. Aiden was still dressed in the blue suit he’d put on early that morning.

  She’d been staying with Aiden at his town house since the night of King’s party and Gerard’s near-fatal heart attack. But she’d hardly seen Aiden. Apparently, even after he and King had left TriRoyal five years ago, their father still had King named as the one who would serve as his proxy if he was ever ill or incapacitated. King also had power of attorney to act on Gerard’s behalf regarding general affairs. He’d gone to Baltimore to handle things on that end while Aiden had stayed in Virginia to look after their father and manage the day-to-day at Kingman Partners.

  Their mom had mentioned staying to help look after Gerard. Aiden and King had both vetoed that suggestion and convinced her to leave on the first available flight. She had a new man in London whom she loved and who cared for her just as much.

  Even as organized as Aiden and King were about everything, the evidence of strain was visible in Aiden. She could feel the tension practically rolling off him. If only she didn’t have to leave tomorrow night—she wanted to be there for him. But she had meetings and her own clients to look after, and even though Edison had really stepped up in his new role as her assistant and apprentice, he couldn’t run the business on his own. She and Aiden would make the most of what little time together they had left.

  Delanie pushed her purse strap higher on her shoulder. She’d suggested to Aiden they go to dinner after visiting Gerard. They could both relax over a nice meal at a restaurant. Later on, she planned to seduce him. Not that sex was a requirement—she just thought that intimacy might ease some of the pressure he was under and allow him some relief. It would also be the perfect temporary ending of their time together. With all that had happened with his father, they hadn’t gotten a moment to talk about how they’d move forward in a relationship.

  Before they reached the nurses’ station, Delanie started to walk toward the waiting room, assuming Aiden would want to see his father on his own.

  He snagged her hand. “Where are you going?”

  “Only family can visit him. I can just wait out here until you’re finished.”

  “King and I put you and Sophie on the list as family. No one will question you as a visitor.” He intertwined their fingers. “Unless you’d rather not see him?”

  Her heart thumped hard in her chest. She’d made up her mind to support Aiden all the way. If seeing his father again was a part of that plan, she’d do it. “No, of course not. Let’s go see him.”

  They walked to the nurses’ station, checked in, then walked down a corridor to the third room on the left. Just as they went to enter the dimly lit space, Aiden’s cell started ringing.

  “Shit. I forgot to turn this off.” He glanced at the screen. “I need to answer this. Would you mind sitting with him a minute?”

  No more than she minded a root canal. But sometimes, uncomfortable experiences were necessary, right? “Sure. Go ahead.”

  “Thanks.” He gave her a peck on the lips and walked back down the hall.

  Delanie stood in the doorway of Gerard’s room, willing herself to move forward.

  Gerard slept in the hospital bed, hooked up to IVs and beeping monitors. His skin was wax pale over his tan. His hair was more gray than black.

  The imposing vision of him years ago in the cabin warred with the weakened man lying in front of her. The man whose every word and calculated action had robbed her of joy. His decisions had changed the course of her life. Now Gerard was helpless. He couldn’t hurt her or anyone else at the moment. Was this his punishment for ruining lives and not caring? She snuffed out a spark of glee at the possibility. He was Aiden’s father and they wouldn’t be at the hospital if Aiden didn’t care about him.

  Delanie crept closer to the bed. What was that saying? Forgiveness was good for the soul? Could she forgive Gerard?

  She leaned over him. Slits of blue staring back at her through his partially opened eyelids gave her a jolt.

  He licked his lips and swallowed. “Here to gloat over my circumstances?”

  Delanie stood straight. “No.”

  “You’ve come to damn me to hell then for what I did to you.”

  “No, I’m here to check on you with Aiden.” She tentatively laid her hand on his arm.

  “Liar.” He jerked from her touch. “But I don’t care whether or not you want to forgive me for selling Clearmount.”

  Gerard’s chest rising and falling with labored breaths raised alarm in Delanie. “I’m not here to condemn you for anything. All you should worry about is rest.”

  “I had to do it.” Malice burned in his gaze. “He cared for you more than the legacy I built for him. You distracted him from what was important. I sold that place so you would get rid of him and I could get my son back.” The machine monitoring his heart beeped an alarm. “Then the plan backfired. He left me because of . . . you.” His lids fluttered closed. “You ruined everything.”

  An auburn-haired nurse flew in and hurried to Gerard’s bedside. She gave Delanie a stern look. “You need to leave.”

  Delanie backed out of the room. Was he delirious from pain or the medications they were giving him?

  Aiden appeared at her side.

  Startled, she teetered on her high heels. “Oh!”

  He grabbed her arm. “You okay?” Aiden peered at the nurse checking over a now calmer Gerard. “Something wrong with him?”

  “He woke up and got upset.”

  “The physicians said he may be more agitated than usual.” Aiden took her hand. “You’re shaking.”

  Mentioning what Gerard had said to her wouldn’t help anyone, especially Aiden. “It’s chilly.”

  The nurse came out and gave Delanie a long, hard, accusing stare then looked to Aiden. “He can’t have any more visitors today.” The nurse returned to the station.

  Aiden enveloped Delanie in his arms. “Are you sure you’re not upset about what just happened with my father? All those tubes and alarms can be intense.”

  “I’m sure.” Delanie snuggled into his chest.

  “Want to grab some coffee to warm you up?”

  “No.” She just wanted to get out of there.

  He released a long breath as he kissed her temple. “Let’s go, then.”

  Had Gerard just said he’d sold Clearmount to force a break between her and Aiden and that, somehow, she’d caused a rift between them?

  “I sold that place so you would get rid of him.”

  Aiden absently rubbing her back caused her to focus back on him. “Who was on the phone?”

  “King.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I told him I’d get back to him later.” Aiden gave Delanie a squeeze. “Let’s go to the restaurant. Maybe we can get in now before our reservation time.”

  “Okay.”

  “He left me because of . . . you.”

  His father’s confession lingered in her thoughts. As she turned to walk with Aiden, her nape tingled. Delanie glanced over her shoulder.

  Gerard stared after her.

  twenty-six

  AT HOME IN the guest bedroom that Aiden had turned into an upstairs office, he ended his call with King.

  Their conversation had mainly been about their father. As soon as the doctors gave the all clear, they’d move Gerard to Baltimore. The arrangements for private care in his home were completed, since Gerard’s young girlfriend had abandoned him and would no longer be around to do it. The physicians were concerned about how this would affect his recovery, but their father was an ornery son of a bitch who didn’t like to admit defeat. Most likely, once he became
stronger, he’d take back the reins without giving them a thank-you, and they’d face one another more like opponents once again.

  Aiden stood up from the wood desk and turned off the floor lamp in the corner. The ceiling sloped downward to a window that overlooked the quiet street in the upscale subdivision where he lived outside of Richmond. The neighborhood started to quiet down around nine o’clock at night. It was now ten and virtually the equivalent of a ghost town.

  He hadn’t heard Sophie moving around or seen her since he’d left her downstairs making chamomile tea in the kitchen. Had she already gone to bed?

  Aiden picked up the suit coat and tie that was draped over the desk chair and walked out. Moonlight shining through a large window to his right illuminated his path to the master bedroom at the end of the hall.

  Mounted lamps with rectangular white shades framed the king-sized bed with a large quilted headboard. Four white bed pillows were propped against it. The brown comforter was turned back along with a beige blanket, revealing crisp white sheets. Delanie wasn’t there, but her flowery perfume lingered. Her in his bed. He’d grown to like that combination more than he’d anticipated. He didn’t want her to leave tomorrow, but he understood she couldn’t stay. Delanie had a company to run just like he did. How the hell would two busy people make a long-distance relationship work, anyway? He had trouble staying away from her for a few hours, never mind a few weeks or even months. It seemed impossible. He was tired of business being his life. All he wanted now was Delanie.

  He dropped his coat and tie in a side chair and drifted toward the sound of the shower coming from the master bathroom. When he pushed the door open just a crack, steam rolled out. Past a set of white double sinks, Delanie showered behind the fogged up glass.

  The shadow of her curves lured him forward as he unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, along with his pants and briefs. By the time he opened the shower door, he was hard for her.

  Delanie paused in rinsing her hair and glanced over her shoulder. She smiled at him.