AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"It-- The ritual didn't work for you?" she said.
Aaron reached up and fussed with the monitor, discreetly pulling at something under it. The machine started up.
"Nope, it worked. The machine just screwed up." He glanced at Benicio. "Better have someone take a look at it."
Cassandra glared at him. "You did that on purpose."
"As long-delayed revenge for leaving me with an angry mob in Romania? That would be petty of me."
He smiled and tugged her over. She sniffed, but sat beside him on the mat.
"Though," he mused, "if I did want to scare you, it was probably because I hoped to hear abject apologies for past mistreatment. Or, at the very least, heartfelt declarations of eternal love. Not cursing out your friends for failing to ensure proper medical surveillance of the procedure."
"That's how Cass says 'I love you,'" I said.
He grinned. "I think it is." He pulled her down in a kiss and, behind her back, waved for us all to leave.
We did.
There had been a doctor nearby, waiting to be called in. Why only one? Because the others were all busy rushing the ritual potion to Bryce.
Despite my moment of panic, Cassandra and Aaron's recovery had been near instantaneous. Not so with Bryce. After they treated him, there was nothing to do except wait. His vital signs remained stable and that was the main thing.
The doctors hung around for the first thirty minutes. Then all but one left. By the two-hour mark, they were all working on other patients, rotating through every ten minutes to check on Bryce.
Sean and I sat with him. Adam stayed, too, at first just sitting with me, then running errands, like getting dinner.
"I'm coming out," Sean said as we ate our Vietnamese take-out. "As soon as I get back to L.A. I suspect the politic thing would be to wait until everything has calmed down and a decision has been reached--whether the split is permanent or Uncle Josef and I can come to some agreement."
"Only if that agreement includes you handing him the CEO crown," I muttered.
"Probably. But I'm not going to be the one to break up the Cabal. I'm willing to negotiate. If he isn't, so be it. I could wait for all that to die down. On a business level, that would be smart. But it's not fair. If the Cabal stays split, Uncle Josef and I will be campaigning for the loyalty of the employees. I need to be upfront with them."
"And if you don't do it now, it'll get harder to do it later," I said.
"I know. Bite the bullet. Take the risk."
"It'll be fine."
He shrugged, and I could tell by his expression that he thought I was being as hopelessly optimistic as he'd been about reaching a settlement with Josef. I disagreed. Sure, he might lose a few employees, but for most, his sexual orientation wouldn't matter, and even if it did, they'd be working for him, not marrying him. He'd proven himself as a company leader for years. He'd continue to do so, whether he led the Nast Cabal or half of the Nast Cabal.
His cell phone buzzed. He looked down at it and sighed.
"I really need to take this," he said.
"And I need to run a few errands of my own," Adam said. "I'll be back soon."
"Take your time," I said. "Looks like it'll be a long night."
They left. I picked up my magazine. I was still on the first article when a groan from the bed had me leaping up.
Bryce was grimacing. He tried to lift his hand, but it was tied down.
I clasped his fingers. Before I could speak, he croaked, "Water."
I lifted my water bottle to Bryce's chapped lips. He drank, then opened his eyes. I texted Sean fast, then turned back to Bryce.
"Hey," I said.
