Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
The woman names the six-figure total.
"Jesus," Lyle says under his breath. That isn't a huge amount for us, but it is for Honor. And it's way more than anyone should have to pay on top of losing a loved one.
I reach for my wallet, a move the woman behind the counter sees. "I told you, most of it is already in the hands of debt collectors. You can't pay for it here."
"Let's see what your manager thinks." My tone is mild, but something in my eyes has her nodding her head. In a minute, she returns with a tall, thin man who introduces himself as Mr. Meyers.
I tell him who we are and explain the situation. At first, he takes the same stance as the woman. I interrupt him. "Your office sent her debts to the collectors, even though Honor was little more than a child who'd just lost her only parent. If you sent the debts there, then you can cancel them, too."
"That's not possible," Meyers begins. "You see we—"
"I see that you're housed in a crumbling, depressing building. How anyone could get well in a place like this is beyond me. But if you can help me, then maybe I can help you." I pull out my phone and log into my bank online. "My brothers and I can kick in a half-million toward getting this place in better shape—starting with the cancer unit." Beside me, I can feel Honor take in a sharp breath and then go still. "This donation will go through at the end of the week as long as Honor isn't bothered by any more calls from debt collectors."
Honor leans against my side, her wide eyes flicking between Lyle and me. "But—"
That reminds me of something. "The donation will be made in the name of Victoria Hathaway."
Meyers looks stunned. "That's very generous, Mr. Aston, but the other part is out of my hands. I have no way of preventing—"
"You will call off your dogs, either way, Meyers. Perhaps a chat with our lawyers will help." I hit a button on my phone. "Yes, this is Nate Aston." I lower the phone for a moment but don't cover the speaker as I look Meyers in the eye. "The firm of Barton, Rogers, and Hill are at our beck and call, 24/7. Mr. Barton will explain to you what will happen if this hospital or the people it hires continue to harass Honor about the medical debt she no longer owes. Mr. Barton will speak to you now."
I hand the phone over. Meyers opens his mouth to speak but doesn't manage to get a word in. His face turns a mottled shade of purple and then white as he listens. He nods rapidly, his eyes wide. When he finally gets his chance to speak, his only words are, "Yes. Yes, sir. I understand. Yes, sir.”
Honor seems stunned as we walk out of the hospital. "Is it really over?"
"Yes," I say.
"And they'll never bother me again?"
"No."
"But if they do, just let us know," Lyle says in a dangerous voice.
Honor's quiet as she exits the dreary building for the last time. She raises her face to the sun, and a tear track glistens in the warm light. "Thank you. Thank you both."
"You're very welcome," I say, and Lyle squeezes her hand.
She's silent until he opens the car door. Then she looks at us. "You guys really have a team of lawyers who'll yell at anyone you want, any time?"
"Yes, we do," I tell her truthfully. "But that's not who I called."
Her pink lips part in surprise. "Then who did you call? Who made that man so scared?"
I exchange a smirk with my brother. "Kylian."
12
KYLIAN
THE LION’S DEN
My phone rings. Little Virgin flashes across my screen. Why the fuck is Honor calling me? Out-of-hours chats aren't part of the contract, and we've not exactly been developing a relationship over the past few days. And why me, and not Lyle or Nate? They're the ones that are so fixed on saving her. On being her friend. So much for sticking to the deal.
"Kylian." Her voice is breathy and nervous. Almost as if she's afraid she's reached me.
"What do you want?"
She pauses long enough that I wonder if she's hung up, but then it comes, quietly, in a whisper. "I need help."
"Again?" As if Lyle and Nate's debt forgiveness stunt hadn't been enough. Despite myself, I catch myself grinning. Nate's phone call referencing the fake law firm had come out of nowhere, but chewing out that guy and pretending to be a belligerent attorney had been exactly what I needed. Backing each other up without warning or explanation is a longstanding Aston brother tradition. Those fuckers could’ve told me we were about to renovate a fucking hospital wing just so they could feel better about getting their dicks wet in Honor.