Page 87 of Beautiful Killer

“I need you to listen, Sunny, to what I have to say.” It was now or never.

I felt her fingers curl into my side. “Okay.”

“I’m telling you, there is no risk with me.” I slid my hand down her arm, to her hand, and held on. “I promise you that.”

She sucked in a breath.

No matter what, I would be there for her. I didn’t know much, but I knew that. “You mean something to me, Sunshine, and after last night, I know I don’t want to go back to the way we were. I want you here, with me, every night, every morning. I want to take care of you and our baby. You understand what I’m saying?”

Her mouth opened, closed. “I don’t know what to say . . . I . . .”

The phone started ringing.

I ignored it and it stopped.

“Sunny, I’m asking you to give us a chance . . .”

The phone started ringing again. I cursed.

“It could be important,” she said.

I snatched my phone up from the bedside table. Mom. It wasn’t like her to call this early and she unusually just left a message if I didn’t pick up. “I need to get this,” I said and put the phone to my ear. “Mom?”

“I need you home, son,” my mother said down the line, instead of her usual greeting.

“What is it?” I slid out from beside Sunny and stood up, pacing away from the bed.

“It’s your father. He’s had a turn. He’s in hospital.”

I froze. “A turn? What the hell does that mean? Is he going to be okay?”

Silence, then, “He suffered a mild heart attack a few months back. He . . . well, he didn’t want me to tell you.”

I sat heavily at the end of the bed. “A heart attack?”

“I’m sorry we kept it from you, but you know how stubborn he can be. He didn’t want anyone to know.”

I rubbed my hand over my face. “Is it another one, this turn?”

“The doctors don’t think so. But they’re keeping him in hospital for observation.” She was quiet for several seconds. “I need you here, Zeke. I can’t do this alone again. He’s coming home tomorrow and I can’t be on my own with him, not yet. What if it happens again? This one scared the life out of me.” I heard her sob and my heart felt like it was being torn from my chest. “Will you come home?” she whispered.

“Yeah, Ma. Of course.” I felt like shit. I’d been so caught up in my own nightmare, I’d shut my parents out. My father had had a fucking heart attack and no one told me.

“Bring Sunny, that way your father won’t think your here for him. You know how he hates that. I’ll tell him you’re bringing her home to meet the family.”

Jesus.“I don’t know if she can . . .”

“Do this for me, Zeke.” She sniffed. “Please.”

“I’ll ask her.”

“Thank you, son.”

We ended the call and I turned to Sunny.

She was sitting up, expression worried, eyes on me. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

“You ever been to Texas?”