Page 18 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

TALON

“Feel free to go home.”

Sterling doesn’t break his speed, typing furiously on his laptop. “Waiting on the test results.”

“Doctor said they won’t be ready until mid-morning.”

“I’ve put a rush on them. As soon as they’re posted, I’ll get an alert.”

“Perk of working here?”

“Something like that.” He continues to type.

Few men test me, but Sterling Richards is one of them.

Earlier, when I pulled up to the ER, he was waiting with Chase and barking orders. When two men in scrubs unloaded Willow, it was all I could do not to snap.

Ford and Major came to get Wolf, and by the time I got inside, Willow was convulsing.

Sterling eyed me with contempt at my refusal to leave.

It wasn’t until later that Chase formally introduced us. Sterling shook my hand and thanked me dismissively. I ignored him.

All the regular allergen tests came back negative, and her initial blood panels were normal. The ultrasound showed no problems internally.

Willow was exhausted and frustrated. She begged to go home, arguing her dad and Chase were overreacting.

Sterling almost seemed convinced until the Immunologist ordered a food challenge. At the directive, Willow knew she was stuck. She’s under supervision for at least the next twenty-four hours.

Sterling suggested firmly, again, that I should leave. He would stay with Willow all night.

I didn’t take his advice. Instead, when they took her for the ultrasound, I followed.

The man looked like he was going to blow when I returned with the bag I keep packed in my truck. I sensed the heat of his disapproval after I changed into a clean shirt and settled into a recliner.

This move earned another notch of approval from Rosie and Lynden. Unlike their dad, Chase and Willow’s grandparents were warm and welcoming.

Usually, I wouldn’t give a shit what someone thinks of me, but Sterling is a different story. My feelings for his daughter mean the man will be in our lives.

“What is your position here?” Maybe talking about his job will open him up.

“I don’t have a position here. I float between the hospitals.”

“Doing what?”

“Administration.”

“Finance? Accounting? Personnel? Janitorial?”

“Yes,” he answers tersely.

“Pretty vague.”

He stops typing and blows out a breath, running his hands through his hair. “It’s been a fucking shitty day.”

“Yep.”

When he faces me, the hard-ass attitude is gone. “Hope you never know the helplessness and fear I experienced.”

“I was in the same position.”

“She’s my baby girl.”

“I get that. You’ve loved her for twenty-six years. She and I are new. But I found her unconscious on the floor with a faint pulse. Been through a lot of shit in my life but not sure this will ever leave my mind. She means something to me.”

His expression changes, my words processing behind his gaze. “Why do I get the impression there’s a whole lot more to that statement?”

“Clocked you as a smart man.”

“I haven’t always taken care of Willow, and she’s never held me accountable. Instead, she accepts and forgives. Not knowing what was wrong and seeing her in pain, it reminded me how delicate life is.”

“I imagine it’s your right to feel taking care of her is your job. But from where I stand, you’ve done a great job.”

“I didn’t protect her.”

Before I can question the meaning of his statement, his phone chimes. He bolts to his feet, his eyes going hard at whatever is on his screen. “Fuck.”

My senses go on alert, and I edge out from under Willow, standing with him “What’s up?”

“Stacy is here.”

“It’s midnight. How’d she get in?”

There hasn’t been one mention of Willow’s mom today.

“One perk of my position. She has an access badge as my spouse. I neglected to cut it off.”

“Her being here a problem?”

He eyes me quizzically. “How much do you know about Willow’s mom?”

“I know they aren’t close and you two are separating.”

“Right, well, that barely scratches the surface.”

“Not my business.”

“I doubt you’ll feel that way when you get the whole story. But for now, I’ll handle it.”

He storms through the door, and from the sounds of things, intercepts her in the hallway.

“What are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? My daughter is here. Better question is why didn’t you call me? I had to find out from Lee, who found out when Rebecca picked up my grandson from school! My son, husband, daughter, and grandson are still my family. Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“We have it under control.”

“I’d like to see that for myself. Where is Willow?”

“It’s the middle of the night. She’s sleeping. Swear to God, Stacy, she doesn’t need you making a scene.”

“A scene? You haven’t seen what I will do if you keep me from my daughter.”

There’s a shuffling of chairs and hushed whispers, mostly Sterling growling out words I can’t comprehend. After a minute, Stacy shrieks.

“You can’t keep me from her!”

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“How do you know? Do you speak for her now?”

Willow tosses her arm across the bed, letting out a loud huff and gripping the pillow. Her brow scrunches as she reaches out. Slowly, her eyes open and dart around frantically, softening when they find me.

“Shhh, baby. I’ll be right back.” I brush her hair away from her head and kiss her temple.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing, give me a minute.”

I try to temper the anger in my voice, stepping into the hall.

I’m momentarily taken aback by the beautiful woman standing face-to-face with Sterling.

She’s tall and thin, with long brown hair and green eyes burning fire.

The resemblance to Willow is unmistakable.

But unlike Willow, this woman screams bitch.

“He may not speak for her, but I do. You don’t keep your voice down, we have a problem.”

“Who are you?” she screeches.

“I’m not someone you want to fuck with. Last chance, control yourself or I’ll have you removed.”

She swings her head to Sterling, continuing her high-pitched tirade. “You wouldn’t dare kick me out.”

“I’m giving you respect because you’re the mother of my children. But Talon doesn’t report to me. He’s on his own.”

“Who the hell is Talon?”

“I’m with Willow and this is your last warning to calm your shit. You upset her, you answer to me. And, woman, you don’t want to answer to me.”

“This is unbelievable. You can’t threaten me. She’s my daughter and you’re not even family. I should have you removed.”

“Like to see you try that,” Sterling takes the words out of my mouth.

I catch a quick smirk before his expression darkens again.

“Wait, did you say you’re with Willow? Like with her? Are you her boyfriend?”

Stacy’s entire personality takes on a new tone and she clasps her hands together. “If this is true, why are we even standing here? Willow has moved on. This changes things.”

“This changes nothing, Stacy.”

“But Sterling, it does. Willow has moved on, which means Chase, Willow, and Rylee can finally be family again.”

“Rylee?”

Stacy’s eyes widen in alarm. “Yes, Rylee and Chase are Willow’s siblings. Surely you know this if you’re together.”

My silence is my answer.

“He’s met Chase,” Sterling offers.

“How convenient. Rylee does exist, no matter how you all treat her. She’s a part of this family and made some mistakes. But this doesn’t mean she needs to be ostracized and banished. Just because you broke up our marriage?—”

“Enough!” he hisses. “We are standing in a hospital corridor because Willow had a severe reaction to something we can’t identify. This is not about Rylee, her mistakes, you, or your decisions. There is no banishment, and we are not discussing our separation here.” Anger laces in his words.

Stacy straightens, focused to my right. “Oh my…”

Willow’s peeping out a slit in the door. Her eyes are loaded with confusion and locked on her mother.

“What are you doing out of bed?”

She jerks, her attention swinging my way.

“I heard her voice.”

My own anger boils and I pin Stacy with a glare that has her gulping. “Don’t know the history here, don’t particularly care, but it’s evident you aren’t welcome. You disrupted her with this bullshit in the middle of the night. Now we have a problem.”

I slice my eyes to Sterling. “You can handle this?”

He tips his chin so I slip back into the room, lifting Willow and carrying her back to bed.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like a pincushion.”

“Understandable, you took a lot of pricks today.”

Her complexion is slightly flushed, and I scan over her for any other signs of distress.

“My throat feels better and the pain in my abdomen is more of a muscle ache. Like I worked out for the first time in forever.”

“That’s all good.”

“How long has it been?”

I check my watch. “It’s been six hours since your peanut dosage.”

“And no problems.”

“Agreed, but I’m not a doctor.”

“Me neither, but I know enough that is a long time for no reaction. I don’t think I’m allergic to peanuts.”

“Let’s err on the safe side for a while. Can I get you anything?”

She lies back and blows out a frustrated breath. “I want a shower and my pajamas back. This hospital gown is awful.”

If that’s what she wants, then that’s what she’ll get. Without a word, I lift her again and take her to the bathroom where her things are. “I’m not sure a shower is a good idea, but we can get you changed.”

“The nurse will be pissed.”

“Then let her be pissed.”

This earns me a small grin and she wiggles to get down. After a few seconds, she points to the door.

I stay put, crossing my arms.

Her eyes widen. “You can’t help me change.”

“Why not?”

“B-b-b-because,” she stammers, her mouth opening and closing. “Because it’s not appropriate.”

I bite my tongue to stop from grinning. “I disagree. Now that our relationship is moving forward, I can definitely help you change.”

“This will be the shortest relationship in history if you don’t get out of here.”

“Not leaving you alone.”

“My dad will either have a stroke or kill you.”

“Nah, he and I are coming to an understanding.”

“Then I will kill you.Get out.”