Page 88 of Seduction
“Where were you?” Gage asks, throwing a glare my way.
“The other night, Jon… found a lump in my breast.”
Raven and Nita gasp in surprise. Gage jumps to his feet. Chopper slams his fist into the desk.
“And you’re just telling us now?” Chopper growls.
“I didn’t want to worry you before I knew what was going on. Jon took me to a doctor friend of his in Atlanta. He ran some tests and it’snotcancer.”
“Thank God,” the other women breathe out simultaneously.
“What is it?” Gage asks, falling back into his seat.
Ellen turns to me and I explain to them what it is, also telling them about Ellen’s decision to do the surgery.
“And that fixes the problem?” Nita asks me.
“For now. There’s a chance more can develop. We just have to do regular tests.”
“Baby, you should have told us. We would have come with you.”
“I know, Auntie. Like I said, I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Leave us,” Gage commands from behind his desk, his eyes locked on me.
Chopper hobbles toward Ellen while the other women leave the room. He helps her up, wrapping his arm around her and leading her to the door. There, she turns, casting a pleading look in her brother’s direction.
“It was my decision not to say anything, Gage. Don’t blame Jon.”
They leave us engaged in a stare-down. I know he’s mad, but I’m not backing down. I did what Ellen wanted and that’s all that matters.
“You gonna say something or stare at me all day?”
“You should have told me.”
“Ellen asked me not to. I wanted to tell you, but her needs had to come first.”
“Fuck, E.” He loses the bullshit macho act, grabbing a handful of his hair. “Explain it to me again.”
I repeat what I said earlier, adding that it could have been a lot worse.
“You’re sure?”
“Darren is the best in the country, but most of all, I trust him.”
“Okay.” He nods repeatedly, his anxiety obvious. “I want to meet him.”
“He’s scheduling the surgery. Once he calls, we head back to Atlanta. I’m sure Ellen will want you all there for that.”
“We’ll be there.”
“Good.”
“Fuck.” He chuckles. “I never thought I’d ever say these words, but I’m glad you felt up my sister.”
“Me, too, brother. Me, too.”
CHAPTER 15
