Deadly Ties Read Online Free PDF Page A

alone determined what that price should be. She sat on NINA’s throne and chased money with such a single-minded focus, it wouldn’t surprise Karl to discover her blood was tinted green.
He drove a couple of miles down the road, then lifted his phone from its console cubby and tapped Angel to speed dial home.
“Hello.”
Karl softened his voice. “Hi, Angel.”
“You’re calling early tonight. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine.” He accelerated and headed north out of Atlanta. “I finished my business ahead of schedule, so I’m coming home. Tell the motorcycle gang they have to go.”
“Oh, shoot. I was having such fun with them.” She laughed, lusty and deep. “You’ll make it in for Brent’s game, then?”
The motorcycle gang was a longstanding joke between them that never seemed to get old. “Wouldn’t miss it.” Love swelled in Karl’s chest. Family was everything. “Did you see the doctor today about that lump?”
“We’ll talk about it when you get home. Did you explore any of Atlanta while you were there?”
“Not this time. Too homesick to linger.”
“Twenty years and I still have it, huh?”
“Baby, you’ll always have it.” He smiled, but it was strained. “Did the doc give you bad news today?”
“That can wait. I’d rather hear you tell me how adorable I am.”
“You’re adorable. Now tell me what the doc said. Otherwise, I’ll be worried sick about you all nine hundred and ninety-seven miles.”
“It’s fine, Karl.”
“Don’t lie to me, Angel. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Pull over and stop, and then I’ll tell you.”
Karl whipped onto the shoulder of the road. His mouth went dust dry. He licked his lips and stiffened, bracing for whatever she might say. “Okay, I’m parked.”
“It’s cancer, honey.” She sniffed. “Malignant, I’m afraid.”
“No.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“What are they going to do about it?” Cut it out? Chemo? Radiation? He didn’t care what they did as long as she lived. She had to live.
“I go in for surgery tomorrow morning. My mother is here with the kids.”
“Surgery? And you didn’t call me?”
“I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone.”
She was holding back. As awful as this was, she wasn’t telling him everything. “What else?”
No answer.
“Angel, tell me.”
“It—it’s probably too late.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t even think it. They’ve made significant advances, you said so before you went. All you need is a fighting chance. That’s all you need.”
“Yes.”
“That’s right, yes. Just a chance. That’s all it’ll take.”
Silence fell. Angel broke it. “You’re going to have to accept this, you know. You can’t protect the kids and me from everything. I know you want to and you try, but this is … different.”
“Doctors don’t know. Not until they’re in surgery and can see for sure. There could be a chance.”
“Karl, no.” She sobbed. “It’s my body and I know.”
“What do you know? You have a lump. Just a little lump.”
“It’s too late, honey.”
The finality in her tone chilled him, drained away his rebellion. And sitting in the rain on the side of a road too far away from their home in Syracuse, Karl stared through the spotted windshield into the darkness and sobbed with his wife.
“Do the kids know?” Angry lightning slashed the night sky, and thunder clashed, reverberating in his ears.
“I’ve told them.”
“How are they taking it?”
“Brent’s better than Shelley. She’s dazed.”
At seven, she would be. She’d been shielded from death and as much else as possible. How would he work with the kids? He kept his mind busy, avoiding the question he didn’t want to ask because he didn’t want it answered. He wasn’t that brave or strong.
“Mom’s offered to move in so she can help with the kids.”
“Angel—” He cleared his throat. “I don’t work without you.”
“You have to, Karl. The kids will need you. And I need to know you’ll