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"It’s true." Summer sniffles. She turns in Sinclair’s arms. "She was born with a congenital heart defect that she has controlled with medication."
"I would have known if my wife had a heart condition, or if she were on any medication." Michael’s scowl deepens.
"Karma hates talking about it to anybody. She doesn’t want to be treated differently. It’s why she didn’t tell you about it."
His jaw tightens. "She doesn’t hide anything from me."
"She did with this."
Silence descends. He takes in Summer’s features, and must see the truth reflected there, for some of the color leaches from his features. "Is that why she’s in there? I thought it was the baby, but it’s her heart condition that’s acting up?"
"It’s both," Lena says softly.
Michael turns to her. "Explain," he says in a hard voice.
I don’t know all of the details, but I’ve followed enough of the conversation to piece together what’s happening. "If Karma’s pregnant with a heart condition, it puts her life at risk."
Every muscle in Michael seems to coil in response. His shoulders bunch, and his chest rises and falls. He curls his fingers into fists, and takes a step forward. Lena shrinks back closer to me, when Michael sinks to his knees.
The lethal Mafia Don in his $7000 tailored suit digs his fingers into his hair and squeezes his eyes shut, while on his knees, on a floor covered with industrial carpeting.
"Oh, Beauty, why didn’t you tell me?" His voice is anguished. My chest tightens. Not even I’m immune to the sound of a man’s raw grief. Is this what love does to people? Does it reduce them to their knees, literally? While squeezing their insides like a car compactor?
Lena’s breath hitches. I turn to find her watching me with a plea in her eyes.
Oh, no. No, no, no.I scowl at her. She glowers back at me.
I bunch my shoulders, and she digs her elbow into my side. "Go to him," she hisses.
"But you—"
"I’m fine. He needs you. He’s your friend."
I hesitate
"You should go to him, Jack." She searches my features. "Please."
Maybe it’s because she called me by my name or because she said please, or perhaps it’s the genuine concern in her features, and I’m a sucker who can’t say no to the plea in her eyes. Either way, I rise to my feet and stalk over to Michael, and grip his shoulders. "Buck up, ol’ chap. She’s in good hands. Weston’s the best in the continent and he’s with her. He’ll do everything possible to save her."
Michael’s big body sways, but he doesn’t reply.
"Hold it together," I say sharply. "She needs you. Karma needs you, Michael. You can’t lose your shit. She needs your strength to get through this."
Michael’s throat moves as he swallows. When he opens his eyes, a tear leaks from the corner of one. He doesn’t bother to wipe it away. He shrugs off my hold and rises to his feet.
"It’s my fault. I should have paid more attention. What kind of a man doesn’t know that his wife is suffering from a systemic condition?"
"It’s not your fault," Lena says from behind me at the same time as Summer. She turns in Sinclair’s arms and exchanges a glance with my woman—I mean, my employee… I mean, the one who is my life. If Lena were in the same position as Karma, I’d... I’d do anything to save her. I’d give my life to make sure she’s okay. I’d… want to hurt myself for not figuring out she was hiding such an important thing from me.
"You know how adamant Karma is." Summer rubs her hand across her face. "If she didn’t want you to know, there’s no way you could have found out, Michael."
Michael rubs the back of his neck. "She wanted another child so quickly, and I agreed. I thought it would be the best way for her to get over the grief of losing our first. I should have told her to wait a little longer. I should have asked to look at her medical records closely. I thought—" His features grow thunderous. "Her doctor would have known. Aurora would have known, and she didn’t tell me."
"Are you sure?" Summer sniffles. "She wouldn’t have had access to her medical records from the UK. There’s no reason for Aurora to have found out unless Karma told her, and she wouldn’t have because she knew Aurora would tell you. She was adamant she wanted this child, Michael."
"Cazzo!"Michael’s shoulders seem to swell. His biceps stretch his jacket sleeves. "If I had known how much danger she was in, Ineverwould have allowed her to get pregnant."
"It’s why she didn’t tell you. She knew you’d have this reaction," Summer says softly.
