Las Vegas Sidewinders: Karl (Book 3) by Kat Mizera Page B

mother’s wing, he stopped abruptly at the sight in front of him. His father
was deep in conversation with a middle-aged doctor, Therese at his side, her
arm intimately linked in his. Karl narrowed his eyes in irritation; now what?
    “Karl!” His father turned
to him, his eyes red-rimmed from exhaustion. “I’m glad you’re here, son. I was
getting ready to call you.”
    “What’s going on?” Karl
ignored Therese completely.
    “Your mum had an
incident last night,” his father said quietly. “A small heart attack.”
    “What?!” Karl could
feel his blood pressure rising. “Why didn’t you call me?! I would’ve been here
hours ago!”
    “Therese said you’d
been drinking so I thought—”
    “Therese said?!” He
whirled on her. “Why were you talking to my father about me? What the hell, Therese?!”
    “You’d had a lot last
night,” she demurred, lowering her eyes. “I’m sorry, darling, I just—”
    “What the fuck—”
    “Karl!” His father’s
booming voice interrupted. “Stop it! Therese has been very helpful. Her uncle,
Sven, is a top cardiologist here in Sweden and he flew in this morning to look
at your mum. We’re very grateful.”
    Karl had to take a
breath, realizing Therese had manipulated him into a corner he couldn’t easily
get out of. His mother’s health was always a priority and he now realized the
lengths Therese would go to in her quest for them to get back together. He just
didn’t understand why. It had literally been six years since they’d broken up
and almost as long since they’d been in touch. He had no idea why she was
suddenly infatuated with him again, but this wasn’t the time to say anything.
    His mind whirling in
confusion, he turned to the doctor. “We appreciate you being here—thank you.”
He glanced at Therese. “But there is never a time when I’m too drunk or too
tired to be here for my mother. Please call me next time, no matter what.”
    “Of course.” She looked
properly contrite.
    “Sven Anderberg .” The doctor held out his hand and Karl
automatically shook it.
    “Thank you for taking
care of my mother. Can someone tell me what’s happening?”
    The doctor explained
the relatively minor, but still serious, cardiac event that had brought him to
Stockholm. His mother was already weak from the chemo and the infection, so
heart problems were only going to make things harder. As he explained his plan
and how long he thought Anya should stay in the hospital, Karl felt an
overwhelming sense of dread. How could he leave now? His father would need his
support and he knew his mother was always happier when Karl was around.
    “So surgery?” Karl was
trying to wrap his head around all the information.
    “A stent will open
the…” The doctor’s voice began to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher on Peanuts
and Karl could feel a headache starting to burn behind his eyes as he explained
what he was going to do and why.
    Wha wha wha wha wha wha wha wha .
    Karl nodded as though
all of it made sense, and finally escaped into his mother’s room. She was
awake, as though waiting for him, and she reached out her hand.
    “Mom.” He leaned over
to kiss her forehead.
    “I’m sorry, darling. I
told them not to wake you.”
    He rolled his eyes.
“Would you stop it?” he said. “I should have been here hours ago!”
    “Therese said—”
    “Don’t listen to
anything she says,” he whispered, leaning over so his mouth was close to her
ear. “I don’t know what she’s up to, but she doesn’t know anything about me. So
only talk to me. Please.”
    “Of course.” Her eyes
narrowed slightly. “Darling, what’s happening with her? Why does she insist
that you’re back together if you’re not?”
    “I’m not quite sure.”
He squeezed his mother’s hand. “But I just want you to rest, okay? I’ll deal
with her.”
    “She’s very close to
Emilie and both your father and brother adore her,” she said softly. “You need
to be careful