Intense (Dark Hearts)

My mother destroyed all my faith in women and love in general. Now, I’m running to the side of the only man who’d ever cared about me. I wish I’d known the truth sooner, but we can’t go back in time and change the things we hate. He tried to help with my feelings, but I let work take priority.

I don’t even know why he’s in the hospital and what’s wrong, which freaks me out a bit. He’s old, but he’s not that old to pass naturally. Something serious had to have happened, knowing the truth about his marriage to Anna. My chest pounds, and I wonder if I’m having a fucking panic attack.

“Sir, we’re here.” I look to see my driver has the door open, waiting for me to exit. Holy fuck. Where the hell is my head?

I run up the stairs and board my private jet, giving my crew a quick nod. The pilot approaches me and shakes my hand. “We’re going to need another twenty minutes, and then we’ll be up in the air.” I’m annoyed, but I know that this is a last-minute thing. I’ll be sending them all a bonus for this.

“Of course. I need a glass of scotch on the rocks, please.” My flight attendant nods and then leaves me to take my seat. My cell phone hasn’t rung in the past half hour, so this is really making me nervous. I call the hospital and bring the phone to my ear as Douglas hands me my glass. “Thank you.”

“Madison General.”

“Hello, my name is Roman Edwards. I’m calling about my father, Theodore Edwards.”

“I’m sorry, sir…I can’t give out any patient information.”

“What? Why not? They called me from the hospital.”

“Yes, but his wife has asked—”

I cut her off. “Wait. Hold the fuck up. Did you just say ‘wife’?”

“Yes, Mrs. Edwards is with him at the moment.”

“There is no Mrs. Edwards,” I snarl. My bitch of a mother was the last one in that position and she sure as hell didn’t deserve that title.

“There is. She’s the one who came in with him in the ambulance.” My head’s spinning. Who is she?

“I’m on my way.” I end the call and sit in my seat, more pissed off than a motherfucker because I’m hurt. He got married? Is he okay? Maybe he’s not in his right mind. I never thought he’d marry after what my mother did to him. Hell, I can’t believe it at all.

“Sir, we’re about to take off. Are you well?”

“Yes, Douglas. Once you can, please refill.” I’m not well at all. A world of emotions threatens to overflow.

“Yes, Mr. Edwards.” He walks away and I buckle in, thinking perhaps I shouldn’t even take off, but what if this woman has taken advantage of him? He’s sixty. Is that old enough to start becoming senile? I look up the info and it’s possible, but more than likely he’s not. Shit. I need to know everything. I shoot an email to my guy who runs background checks.

Knowing this is pointless, I decide to focus on work. It’s the only thing that makes me happy. Inga has sent me six new emails along with the hotel information. She’s the best assistant I could ask for. She’s in her fifties and married to the job, so I don’t have to worry about her quitting even when I’m an asshole, which I know is pretty much on the regular. She brushes it off and tosses a mini-Snickers at me.

Most of this busy work doesn’t take me long to handle, so after just half an hour in the air, I’ve finished both drinks and all my emails. Damn it. My mind whirls as I consider who my dad married without telling me.

I open my book app on my phone and start reading the latest thriller I downloaded, trying to relax for the next couple of hours. It works, for the most part. I’m so invested in the story that time effortlessly passes by.

The second we land in Madison, my rental is there waiting for me. It’s the latest Mercedes and as soon as I speed off, I consider buying one. It’s a smooth, powerful ride, but I live in the busiest city in the US and it would be pointless to get a car like that. I race to the hospital, giving the valet the keys as I make my way to see my father. My adrenaline’s pumping as I inch closer to the most important man in my life.

“Hello, I’ve just arrived from New York. I know it’s late, but I’d like to see my father.”

“Name, sir?”

“Roman Edwards.”

She looks at her papers and then back up at me with a pass in her hand. “Yes, here you are. He has two visitors already, but I was told to leave this for you. You can’t take long because he’s in ICU and visiting hours are almost over.”