Song of the Blackbird (Albatross Prison #1) (13 page)

“Hold on, Emma. It’s Maxim. Are you okay?”

“Maxim?”
God, she should have checked her caller ID.
This was definitely not her day.

“Yes,” he said, his voice a little frantic for some reason. “Where are you? What’s wrong?”

“I’m about to drive home.”

“So you’re safe? You’re not hurt?”

“No. I’m not hurt.”
Was that why he’d sounded so worried?
She hadn’t meant to scare him. “Something happened at the prison.”

“What? Where’s Smith? I told him not to leave you alone.” His voice rose a notch. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. It’s not me; it’s one of the inmates. He got beat up pretty badly. Can I tell you about it?”

“Now isn’t a good time.” He sounded more than a bit frazzled.

“No? It won’t take long.”
Don’t go
. He’d always seemed strong and indomitable. She wanted to throw everything into his capable hands and let him take charge. “Please?”

A long silence ensued. Emma thought he’d hung up until he spoke again. “I’m in the emergency room. I can’t really talk right now.”

“I’m sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?” Emma said, feeling like a heel. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She heard a long sigh. “It’s my dad. He fell and they’re doing some testing.”

“Is he alright?”

“I don’t know.” Another sigh. “I’m waiting for the test results.”

Maxim sounded broken, so different from the formidable man she knew. “What hospital are you in?” she asked, wishing she could help somehow. Cavendish would have to wait for now. No way could she dump problems at work on him at the moment.

Maxim named a famous hospital in LA.

“My best friend works there.”
And Riley happened to be working that night, too
. “And I know some of the doctors. You want me to come? Maybe I can help.” It was the least she could do after the hours he’d spent with her in the emergency room the other day.

He hesitated for a few seconds. “You don’t mind? I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She hung up and dialed another number.
Darn. The ER must have been busy for her friend not to pick up.
Emma texted instead, asking Riley to look out for Maxim’s dad.

“Emma,” her friend greeted her as soon as she arrived in the emergency room a while later. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

Riley wiped a hand over her forehead and glanced at her pager. “That you were talking about
the
Maxim Chambers.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Chambers of the Chambers Neurology Institute.”

“You mean…”

“Yes.” Riley grabbed Emma’s arm and leaned closer. “The guy donates a ton to the hospital. We even have a wing named after him.”

“Shoot. I didn’t know.”
Unbelievable. Maxim was that rich?

“Admin has been all over me. They want everything to be perfect.” Riley frowned. “But I’m afraid some things can’t be fixed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was about to go talk to him.” Her friend pressed her pager to silence. “Admin is hounding me for the results of his dad’s tests. That’s them beeping me again. Come on. He’s this way. His father’s still in radiology, but admin wants me to brief him on what I know so far. Crap. I hate to deliver bad news.”

Jesus.
It didn’t sound good, whatever her friend had to tell Maxim. She followed Riley down a long white corridor, a gnawing sensation beginning in her stomach. She knew Maxim supported charity but the Chambers Institute?
Come on.
It was huge, treating stroke patients from all over the US. She’d heard there were even branches sprouting off in the East Coast.

“I was in a trauma when you called,” Riley was saying as she pressed a button to open up a set of double doors. “Yes. I know. Gawk all you want. It’s our new VIP wing. All private rooms with flat-screen TVs, gourmet food, the whole works. Nothing but the best for your Mr. Chambers.”

“He’s not mine.”

“I know that. His wife and kid are with him.”

“What?” Emma stumbled.

“His family’s here.” Riley took in a deep breath. “Good thing, too. He’s going to need a lot of support right now.”

“I don’t think he’s married.”
Or was he?
She’d assumed he was single.
Had she been wrong all this time?

“Maybe it’s his girlfriend. They seem pretty tight.” Riley checked her pager. “That’s radiology about Mr. Chambers’s CT. I’ll be right back. They’re in the room two doors down on the right.”

Emma stepped forward and knocked on the room, her heart pounding.

Chapter 15

“Relax, Maxim,” Lani said, squeezing his arm. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

Maxim switched Kyle’s sleeping body to the right side of his chest. His godson was at least ten pounds heavier since the last time he carried him. “It’s been over two hours. Something bad may have happened to her.”

“What? Dr. Washington was just here.” Lani scrunched her eyebrows together.

“Sorry. I was talking about Dr. Edwards.”

“The one from Albatross?” Lani’s voice picked up. “She’s meeting you here?”

“Yes. What? Why the strange look?” Maxim patted Kyle’s back to soothe him back to sleep. “It’s a sixty-mile drive. She sounded really distraught on the phone earlier. Maybe she got into an accident.”

“Maybe it’s only traffic.”

“It’s almost eight.” Maxim checked his watch. “I shouldn’t have let her drive.”

“Let?”

“You know what I mean. She’s my employee. I’d feel horrible if something happened to her.” He groaned when he noticed the twinkle in Lani’s eyes. “It’s not what you think. She bugs the hell out of me most of the time.”

“Hmm. Interesting. So what’s she like?”

“It’s complicated.”
Women. Did they have to ask about everything?
Maxim looked at his watch again.
Where the hell was Emma? And where was the ER doctor anyway?
His father had been down in radiology for over an hour already.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Emma entered, wearing jeans and a pretty pink sweater.
Thank goodness.
She looked pale though, her eyes wide with anxiety and something else Maxim couldn’t decipher.

“You came,” he said, his spirits rising for the first time that day.

“Of course. I told you I would.” Her eyes flew to Lani and then fixated on his godson. A brief, wistful expression passed over her face.

“That was over two hours ago.” Something tugged in Maxim’s chest.
Why did she look a little lost?

“There was a lot of traffic.” Her eyes focused back on Lani. “Hi. I’m Emma Edwards.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lani Blair.” Lani shook hands with the doctor and then pointed in his direction. “That’s my son sleeping over there.”

“Oh.” Emma bit her lower lip.

“How long have you been working at Albatross?” Lani shot Maxim a significant look. “And more importantly, how come I haven’t heard more about you until now?”

“Leave it, Lani.” Maxim stood and delivered Kyle to his meddlesome mom. The boy let out a little protest before settling in her arms. “You want to sit down, Doc? You look tired.”

A text beeped. Lani glanced down at her phone. “That’s Alex. He wants some updates. I’ll be right back, okay?” She headed out the door with Kyle.

Maxim took in a deep breath, a weight falling off his chest. Damn if it didn’t feel good having Emma here. Strange as it was, her presence calmed and soothed him somehow. Maybe it was because he was in the hospital, her usual stomping grounds. She was smart and capable. She could help him through this. And she was damned attractive, too, in that pink sweater of hers.
Who knew the woman had such nice curves?
Maxim cleared his throat.

“Do you want me to go?” Emma suddenly asked.

“What?”
Where the hell had that come from?

“I don’t want to intrude. Your girlfriend may not like it.”

“Girlfriend?” Maxim shook his head. “You mean Lani? She’s not my girlfriend.”

“She’s your wife?” Emma’s face paled.

“No. Of course not.” He couldn’t believe she’d think such a thing.
Didn’t she know anything about him?
“She’s my best friend’s wife.”

“Oh. Thank goodness.” Emma brought a hand to her mouth. “I mean. It’s okay, too, if you’re married. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

“I’m not married. Never have been. And I’m not dating anyone. Just to make things clear.” Maxim groaned inside.
Good job, Max. Really smooth there.
What the hell was he doing? His father was sick and here he was babbling about his personal life.

Thank goodness Dr. Washington came in then with his father in tow. An X-ray tech was pushing the gurney. “How is he?”
Please let there be good news.
But no. His father looked worse, lying shriveled up in the center of the gurney, his left leg awkwardly bent outward at the hip. An IV dripped some fluids into his right arm and a mask delivered oxygen to his face. His eyes were closed.

“He broke his hip.” Dr. Washington cast Emma a harried look. “And he has a bladder infection. We’re giving him some fluids and antibiotics.”

“Is that all?”
That better be all.

“How did he fall?” Dr. Washington asked, her eyes somber.

“They were changing him. He wanted his favorite pajamas but the nurse was new so she put on something else.” Maxim closed his eyes.
Pops must have felt so distraught. If only he could erase the last twelve hours.
“Sometimes they forget that he’s only partially paralyzed. Anyway, he struggled and fell off the bed.”

“It was ground level? He hadn’t been standing, right?”

“No. The bed’s only a couple of feet off the ground.”

The two doctors exchanged a look that made Maxim’s blood run cold. “What is it?”

“I just got the CT result. Your father has a large bleed in his head.”

A giant vise squeezed down on his chest. “Can they fix it?”

“I don’t think so.” Dr. Washington fiddled with her pager. “The nursing home tells me your dad has been bedbound and nonverbal for years. I know it’s hard to talk about but does he have a DNR order?”

“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Maxim bit out. “Do everything you can. I want the best for my father.”

“We do, too,” Dr. Washington said. “Sometimes the best is to be comfortable.”

“What are you saying?”

“Maybe it’s time to let him go. We can make him comfortable.”

“Let him go?”
How dare she?
“Have you spoken to a neurosurgeon yet?”

“Yes. He said he can operate but it’s pretty risky. Your father may die on the table.”

“But without the surgery, he’s going to die anyway.” Maxim clenched his fists. “I want the surgery. It’s his only chance.”

“Are you sure? Your father is very sick already.” Dr. Washington, fool that she was, didn’t seem to comprehend him. “Think about his quality of life. It’s best to make him comfortable.”

“Please get out.” Maxim gripped the gurney’s railing. “Call the neurosurgeon. I want to talk to him.”

“Surgery won’t help in the big picture,” the stubborn doctor insisted.

“I said get out!” A red mist grew over his vision. Maxim picked up a nearby vase and before he knew it, it was on the floor, smashed to smithereens. His father moaned and twisted his head from side to side. Maxim rushed over. “Sorry, Pops. It was only a vase.” He leaned over and brushed a hand over his father’s cheek.

An ER tech in blue scrubs flung open the door. “Is everything okay in here?”

“Yes.” Emma shot him a worried look. “The vase got knocked over. Could you help clean it up?”

Maxim turned back to his father. His old man kept twisting his head from side to side. “It’s okay, Pops. I’m here. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
Not anymore
. He was going to protect his father at all cost. A brief memory of that night fifteen years ago flashed before his eyes. He could still see the two men in black masks as they pulled out their guns.

“Maybe we can get him some extra morphine,” someone said from across the room.

Emma was still there; they were alone. The damned ER doctor must have finally listened to him and left. And the floor was clean again.

“He seems to be calming down,” Emma said, her voice soft. She brushed a gentle finger down his father’s arm. Something squeezed hard at Maxim’s chest. She was so kind and patient. And lovely. He didn’t deserve her compassion, big brute that he was. How could he have lost his temper like that?

“It’s tough when someone you love is sick,” she said, her eyes full of sympathy. “My mom died a few years ago. It still hurts. I carry her picture with me all the time. In this pendant.” Emma showed him her necklace. “It’s hard now but every day the pain eases one tiny bit.”

How did she get to be so wise and brave, this little slip of a woman?
Maxim cleared his throat and blinked a couple of times. “He was an amazing father.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could make it better for you somehow.”

“Tell me they can fix his bleed. That’s all I need to know.”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple. Riley is a really good doctor. She only wants what’s best for her patients.”

“You mean Dr. Washington?”

“Yes. She’s my best friend.”

“How could this be happening?” Maxim dragged a hand over his face. “He wasn’t always like this, you know. He was a science professor. His mind was brilliant, full of bright ideas.”

“What happened?” Her voice washed over him like a gentle wave.

“Some thieves robbed our house a couple of years after I graduated college, when I was an EMT.” Maxim looked over, not sure if she’d want the whole sordid story. Her eyes were warm and encouraging. “They killed my mom and shot my father in the head. The bullet got the left side of his brain. He became partially paralyzed and mute. Sometimes I think he recognizes me but other times…” Maxim shook his head.

“And he’s been that way since?” Emma nudged him on.

“Yes. That was fifteen years ago.”

“How horrible.”

“Yes.” He dug a hand through his hair. “But you know the worst part? The bastards who shot them are still out there somewhere. I’ve tried to find them so many times but it’s like they disappeared into thin air.”

“The police couldn’t help?”

“They investigated but nothing panned out.” He sighed. “Sometimes I think maybe they’re already caught. That they could be in my prison.”

“Is that why you’re so hard on the inmates?”

“What?”
Was that why? He’d never considered it.
“Maybe.”

Her eyes shone with compassion. A wave of guilt washed over him.
Would she look at him like that if she knew the whole story?
He braced himself for her disgust and was about to tell her when Lani came back into the room.

“Hey. How’s it going?” his friend asked, her hands full with Kyle.

“He’s still asleep?”

“Yes. My nanny forgot the key to our house.” Lani sent him an apologetic look. “Do you mind if I go let her in?”

“No. Go ahead.” He pointed to his godson. “He needs to be in his own bed. Your arms are going to fall off if you keep holding him like that.”

“I’ll come right back. My nanny can watch him.”

“Thanks, but you’ve done enough already.” Maxim sent her a grateful smile. Alex sure got lucky in the marriage department. Lani was not only gorgeous but good through and through. Kind of like…
Good God
. No way was he going to go there.

“Okay, I’ll go but any news yet?” Lani shifted Kyle to her other hip.

“His hip’s broken and…” No need to trouble Lani about the bleed. She’d never get any rest if she knew. “And we’re waiting for another specialist.”

“All right. Text me with any updates. Alex says he’ll call as soon as he lands back in LA tomorrow.” Lani turned toward the doctor and smiled. “It was nice meeting you, Dr. Edwards. Hopefully, we’ll meet again soon.”

“Please, call me Emma. They only call me Doctor at work.”

“Thanks. Bye, Emma.” Lani left with a friendly nod.

Emma. The name suited her. Short and sweet.
Maxim shook his head, knowing the futility of his thoughts. She was his employee and strictly off-limits. And yet right now with his father deathly ill, he didn’t give a damn about policy. He couldn’t imagine going through this ordeal without her.

“She seems really nice. I take it the boy is your godson?” Emma asked, looking slightly bemused for some reason. “You’re pretty good with kids, you know that?”

“They’re much simpler than adults.” Maxim walked back to the bed. His father’s mouth was open and his breathing slow but regular. He glanced at his watch. Thirty minutes already and still no neurosurgeon.

“Let me check if someone’s coming,” Emma said.

Amazing.
She was reading his thoughts. Which didn’t bode well for his peace of mind. Luckily the neurosurgeon came in at that moment, a short, older man with white hair and a long mustache. Maxim’s heart thundered.
Please, let it be good news. Please say they can operate.

“I’m Dr. Barrymore.”

Maxim shook his hand. There was nothing but grimness on the other man’s face.

“I’m sorry but we had a second neuroradiologist review your dad’s CT.” The doctor tugged at his mustache. “The blood is actually not only in the cerebrum but progressing into the brainstem also. I’m afraid we can’t operate.”