Page 15 of Kade

“That’s true enough, but did youseehim?”

Kade closed his eyes as memories of that day rushed him. God, he hadn’t thought about this in so long. Almost seven years later, and it still hurt as much as it did the day the doctor uttered the words “I’m sorry.”

“Kade.” Dylan spat his name like a drill sergeant, and it forced Kade to pull himself out of his own grief.

“What?”

“Did you see your son?”

“No. The doctor said they disposed of fetuses that small as medical waste. Hospital policy.”

“That’s a fucking lie. No hospital is going to dispose of your child before you have the chance to see him and decide what you want to do.”

“Jenkins, how would you know what is and what is not hospital policy?”

“Everyone in my family except me is in the medical field, from neurosurgeons to nurses. Trust me when I tell you they fed you a load of horseshit. Now, what hospital was he born in?”

“St. Albans in Miami.”

Kade watched as Dylan took out his phone and tapped a few things, then he put it on speaker for them to both to hear.

“St. Albans Regional Medical Center. How may I direct your call?” The girl’s voice was young and chipper.

“I need to speak with someone on staff who could help me understand the policy regarding premature births.”

“I can transfer you to OB. Someone there should be able to help you. One moment, please.”

The sound of nondescript music floated over the line while they were transferred. The next woman who spoke sounded older. “This Kathy in the birthing center. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Kathy. This is Dylan Jenkins. My wife and I are going to be in town this week. I’m concerned about her going into premature labor, but we are meeting a neonatal surgeon. If something should happen and our little girl were delivered too early, what is your policy on dealing with her afterward?”

“How many weeks along is your wife?” Kathy asked.

“Twenty weeks. If we had any other choice, we wouldn’t even be driving down there, but…”

“Yes, Mr. Jenkins, I completely understand your worry. Should your daughter be born and not survive, you and your wife would have as much time as you wanted with her, and then we’d help make you any arrangements necessary for her.”

Dylan shot an I-told-you-so look at him, and Kade’s hands fisted, the knuckles turning white. Rage vibrated in every muscle. Those lying bastards.

“This has always been your policy?” Dylan asked quietly. “I had a friend tell me some of the hospitals in Florida have the right to dispose of the bodies as medical waste.”

The outraged gasp that left the nurse told them both what they needed to know.

“No, sir. That has never been our policy, and I’d like to see someone try to do that to a child on my watch. You and your wife will be in good hands, should you need us. Let’s hope that’s not the case, though.”

“Thank you, Kathy, for all your time. You’ve definitely put my mind at ease.”

“Of course, Mr. Jenkins. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No, that’s all I needed.” He told her goodbye and tossed the phone on his desk. “Kade, I don’t know if he’s yours or not, but I think it’s worth looking into. That boy is the spitting image of you and Nikoli.”

“He was too small.” Kade shook his head, trying to clear the rage enough to think rationally.

“Babies that small can sometimes survive, Kincaid.” Dylan sat back, thinking. “It is possible.”

“But why?” Kade heard the small cry that left him, flinched at the pain and vulnerability in it. “Why would anyone steal a child who most likely wouldn’t have survived more than a few days, a week at best?” He’d done his research after he’d left Miami. Matthew was still just a fetus until twenty-four weeks, not even classified as a child. How could he have survived? And why would someone have taken him—lied to Kade and Angel?

“Ramirez works forLos Muertos.”

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