Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 71949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Now, as we drive back to Raven and Vinnie’s, I can finally breathe again. Dani sits in the passenger seat, her hair wild and streaked with soot and dried blood.
But she’s alive.
That’s all that matters.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as we pull off the highway. It’s an Austin area code. I almost ignore it—I’ve been through enough today—but something in me tells me to answer.
Daniela’s eyes are wide as I bring the phone to my ears.
“Hello?”
“Yes, is this Mr. Bellamy? Hawk Bellamy?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Tricia with Rosen Genetic Labs. How are you today, sir?”
I nearly drop the phone. Dani’s test results can’t possibly be in already, can they? They said it would take a minimum of three days. It’s barely been one.
“Y-Yes?” I stammer into the phone. Why am I more scared now than when I was plunging a knife into the chef’s throat?
“Are you with Ms. Agudelo? We tried calling her phone, but it’s not going through. We’re going straight to voicemail, and she listed your number as a secondary number.”
I look over at Daniela. “Do you have your phone?”
She swallows. “I put it on airplane mode when I was… When I was driving out. I guess I never flipped it back on.”
“It’s the genetic labs.”
She drops her jaw. I squeeze her hand. “Whatever it is, we can handle it. Together.”
She nods.
I return to the phone, push the speaker button. “She’s in the car next to me. I just put you on speakerphone.”
“Wonderful. Ms. Agudelo, how are you today?”
She blinks. “I’m all right, all things considered. You?”
“I’m doing well,” Tricia says. “We have your test results ready. We were able to expedite them.”
“How the hell were you able to do that?” I ask. “I was told point blank that it would take at least three days. That no amount of money could make the process go any faster than normal.”
Tricia pauses. “To be frank, sir, once the head of our lab saw your name as the secondary number on Ms. Agudelo’s case, he insisted we move her tests to the top of our priority. The Bellamys and Rosen go way back.”
I scratch at the side of my head. “They do?”
“Yes, sir. Our supervisor said that we owe your father a lot of favors. I’m sorry to hear that he’s in the hospital. Is he doing fine?”
“He’ll live.” I suppress an eye roll. “But this means you have Daniela’s test results?”
“Yes, sir. Would you like to schedule an appointment to discuss them with one of our techs?”
“Please,” Daniela says. “Just tell me over the phone. I need to know, and I need to know now.”
“Of course, Ms. Agudelo. We’ll just need to verify your identity with our records. If you can turn your phone on, we’ll send you a link through text message. You’ll confirm your address and other information so we can be sure this is you.”
Daniela takes her phone off airplane mode, and a second later it dings with a text. “Is this you?” She rattles the phone number off.
“Yes, ma’am. Click the link and fill out the information form. If we’re all squared away, I can give you the results.”
Daniela fills out the form, which includes her taking a selfie to verify her identity facially. “Okay,” she says. “All done.”
“Excellent. One moment.” The sound of keys clacking in the background. “Yes. We’re all set. I have to ask one more time just in case you’ve changed your mind. Would you like to receive your results over the phone?”
“For God’s sake, yes.”
“Excellent. Just one moment.” Shuffling of papers. My heart squeezes in my chest, and I look into Daniela’s eyes.
“Whatever the results are, I’m going have that sapphire set into the most beautiful setting, add a huge-ass diamond to it, and support you in every way all of my days.” I squeeze her hand. “That’s a promise.”
She smiles. “I know. And I’m not frightened anymore.”
“Here it is,” Tricia says. “Apologies for the delay. Sometimes our computer freezes up.”
“What’s the result?” Daniela asks. She smiles at me.
“I’m happy to report that you tested negative for the Huntington’s gene, Ms. Agudelo.”
My heart soars.
I did it. I fixed everything.
Well, I didn’t fix Daniela’s blood. That was just me correcting a lie her father told her years ago. But I got her in the door, got her tested. And the tests came out the way we wanted.
“I don’t have it at all?” Daniela asks. “So there’s no chance I’ll pass it on to any children I might have?”
“That is correct, Ms. Agudelo.”
She beams, and tears start streaming down her face. “I can be a mother! Belinda can have a baby sister!”
We’ll have to reverse her tubal ligation, but that was the least of our worries. Daniela is young, so there’s an eighty percent chance the reversal will take. And even if it doesn’t, there’s always invitro. The Huntington’s was the big hurdle to get over. Everything else is small potatoes compared to it.