AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He tossed his cup in the garbage can. “Go home and rest. The stronger you are, the likelier the chance your body will respond positively to the trial drug.”
It had better respond. How many bouts with cancer could one woman take? At thirty-two, she’d already battled three. Shemay be stronger and back to work, but the fight in her wasn’t limitless.
The sharp angles of her too-thin face hardened. “I know, and I’m feeling good, so stop mothering me. Word in the ER is that we have enough to worry about.”
Grady straightened from his perch on the table. “Worry about what?”
Cannon ran a hand through his hair and tugged at the ends. “We’ve been hit with a ransomware attack.”
Grady choked on his coffee. “Sh-shit, Cannon. Have you reported it? What can I do to help?” He pulled out his phone. “Name the agency, and I’ll make a call.”
He shook his head. Grady had contacts all over the federal government thanks to ten years as an Air Force intelligence officer and now a cop.
“I appreciate the offer, but the ransom email said no law enforcement.” He pinned them both with a stare. “No. Law. Enforcement. Understand? I intend to pay so we can recover our data sooner rather than later. If we don’t, we might lose the trial.”
Julia pulled off her cap and ran her thin hand over the dark stubble on her head. “If the trial is moved, will I still get a shot at the experimental drug?”
“Yes, but the trial needs to be here.” He resisted tugging at his locks again. The sight of her without her chestnut curls punched him in the gut almost as hard as the fear in her voice she tried to mask.
Grady pulled up a chair and straddled it. “I agree, but are you sure you want to pay the ransom? It doesn’t always resolve the situation.”
“I’m sure.” He couldn’t cure cancer, but he would gamble with his own money to try and prolong his sister’s life. “I need both of you to promise me you won’t get involved.”
They both opened their mouths to argue.
He held up his hand. “Stop it. I’ve been over this with my CIO about a dozen times today.”
And with Rosalie.
Even though he’d tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about their conversations—and everything else about her. “I’m done discussing. I’m done thinking. I’m acting.”
Julia raised her hands in surrender. “It’s your hospital, but you can’t base your decisions solely on me.”
How could he not?
She kissed him on the cheek. “I’m going to get some dinner for Annie. She looked exhausted.”
“And then go home,” he yelled at her retreating form.
Grady scrubbed his angular jaw. His deep-brown eyes darkened to almost black.
“Whatever it is you’re thinking, spit it out,” Cannon said.
“I wish you’d let us help you. Easton lost one of Daddy’s businesses a few months ago thanks to a ransomware attack.”
“I’m sorry, man.” He wasn’t surprised. He loved Easton like a brother, but the wealthy cowboy’s selfish tendencies had mushroomed since he’d separated from the Army and went into private security. “I didn’t know.”
He wished he still was in the dark. The information added fuel to Rosalie’s bankruptcy taunts. Maybe he should have asked her more questions instead of going on the defensive. She could have stayed without officially working the case.
Hell, who was he kidding? Special Agent Rosalie Zenner did things by the book. She didn’t understand what he personally had at risk.
He stripped off his tie and shoved it in his pocket. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened with your family’s business?”
“I just found out myself. You know Easton, he still thinks he knows everything and won’t admit he knows nothing until it’stoo late. But unlike my brother, who takes off and then shows back up when he damn well pleases, you know how to take care of the people who depend on you.”
“I’m trying.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
