The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 90

Early the next morning Lark picked up the phone to answer her father’s video call. His bright blue eyes were shiny as if he’d been crying.

“Hey Dad, what’s up?”

“You were right to suggest I send someone to verify if the staffer actually was out of state like she said. She did take the flight, but she returned home the same day on a different airline. She then flew back two days later, after she stole all the prototype details before flying back on her original return air fare ticket. Santiago’s team got me the video evidence proving she bought a ticket under her maiden name to fly to California. We have her at the counter.” He immediately dove into the file he’d sent her as if needing a distraction from where he was. He was sitting in the hospital room at Gracie’s bedside from the view behind him.

“Santiago’s team huh? Do you mean Heriberto hacked it for you? Was it an apology gift?” Lark snickered.

“Very funny. Why didn’t you tell me? You’re on my s**t list.”

“Not my business. Max and I made a pledge to one another to not let anyone interfere in our relationship and to also respect other people’s relationships.”

“She’s only nineteen and he’s old.”

“She’s an old soul trapped in a young body. A young body Heriberto really likes. She was telling me how he -”

“Lark!” her father cut her off with a warning growl which made her laugh even harder.

“Dad, I was only going to say he likes her in overalls when she’s mucking out the pig stall.”

“Yeah, right you were.” He shook his head. “He does seem to really care for her, but it’s only been a few weeks. I feel they’re rushing it.”

“He has it bad.” Lark scoffed. “He keeps texting me asking me all her favorite things. What does she love to eat most? When she has period cramps what brand of pain killer does she use?” she rolled her eyes. “Mom said he’s worse than you were when you poked holes in your condoms to baby trap her with me.”

“I did no such thing.” He denied but his lips twitched. “Nobody can prove anything.”

“If you were wondering, I much prefer thinking I was planned and plotted than an accident.”

“Some of the best things in life are happy little accidents,” Grady grinned at her, “but either way, you were wanted.”

“I bet.” She was glad she got him smiling again.

“Gracie moved her toes this morning,” Grady changed the subject.

“Mom told me.”

“I’ve been sitting here staring her down.”

“I know you have.”

“They removed the tubing from down her throat yesterday. She moved her fingers right after, but I don’t know if its normal. The doctor wants to do another brain scan to compare to the ones they did when she was first admitted.”

“You sound hesitant.”

“I’m worried they’ll come back and tell me there is no improvement or a worsening and the reason she’s twitching is simply some kind of neurological thing which means nothing.” He turned his camera so Lark could see her sister in the bed, “I wish she’d open her eyes.”

“Uh Dad,” Lark was staring as her father finally noticed what she was noticing.

“Holy s**t, Gracie!” he screamed, before dropping his phone onto the bed, and racing out of the room.

She leapt from her chair and yelled, “Max! Max, she’s awake. Gracie is awake.”

Max came out of the kitchen holding his phone to his ear, “what? I’m talking to Johan.”

“Where is he? Why isn’t he there?”

“He’s in the cafeteria at the hospital.”

“Dad turned the camera around when we were chatting so I could see Gracie and her eyes were open. She was looking right at him. His phone is still on the bed,” she was giggling as she looked at the white ceiling and realized she and Gracie were probably looking at the same thing. She heard Max frantically telling Johan Gracie’s eyes were opened while his arms wrapped tight around her hugging her close.

Tears streamed down Lark’s cheeks as her father grabbed his phone again and gave a laugh, “sorry honey. I ran to get the nurse and your mom.” The sound of people frantically rushing into the room to check Gracie’s vitals as Grady was shoved to the back of the room made Lark curious to know what is going on.

“Dad,” Gracie’s voice was weak.

Lark sniffed as Grady pushed through, still keeping his phone on. Oh goodness, she was even speaking. Gracie was speaking.

“Hey kiddo.”

“Where’s my dad? He was shot.” Her voice reminded Lark of a woman who smoked two packs a day.

“You were both shot, sweetie,” Grady rubbed her forehead softly.

“I want my dad,” she whimpered as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Mr. Hoffman,” one of the nurses tried to edge him backwards, “can you give us a bit of space? This isn’t the time.” When Grady started to step back, Gracie screamed for him, fighting against the nurses with a strength nobody who’d been in a coma for weeks should have. She grabbed for Grady, and he settled back beside her.

“My dad is gone you’re not taking my other one,” she wailed as the nurses tried to extricate Grady from her hands.