Filed to story: Sedona Preston and Logan Hayes Book PDF Free
“Helena, I need your help. It’s about Sedona.”
The warmth in her voice immediately shifted to concern and worry as I could hear the creak in her chair as she sat upright.
“You found her? Is she alright?”
“She’s alive, but she’s sick. Gastric cancer, stage three. A doctor in Chicago gave her three months.”
“Oh, Cameron.” The sympathy in her voice made my chest squeeze. “I’m so sorry. Where is she now?”
“Still in Chicago, but I’m bringing her home tonight. I need you to clear your schedule, Helena. I don’t care what it costs or what strings I have to pull. I need the best treatment plan possible, and I need it yesterday.”
“Of course. Have her records sent to me as soon as possible. I’ll consult with my colleagues at MD Anderson and Mayo Clinic. We’ll explore every option, that we have for this kind of cancer, whether it’s surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, clinical trials. Everything.”
“Thank you.”
“Cameron,” Helena’s voice softened a bit. “You should prepare yourself. Stage three gastric cancer is very serious. Even with a lot of treatment – “
“Don’t.” I cut her off. “Don’t tell me she’s going to die. I just got her back. I’m not losing her again.”
There was a long pause before she sighed as she said. “I’ll do everything I can. You have my word.”
After we hung up, I grabbed my go-bag from the closet, I had always kept one packed for emergency trips like this and headed down to the parking garage, where my car was waiting.
My hands shook a bit as I unlocked the car and got in. I had to take a moment to steady myself before driving to the airport.
The private jet was ready when I arrived at Boeing Field. The crew greeted me professionally, without making room for small talk, sensing this trip was time sensitive. I had barely settled down in the chair when I felt my phone buzz and I checked it. Marcus had sent me the list I asked for and I saw a missed call from my father and a text message as well.
“Your mother told me. I’m coming with you.”
I called him back immediately trying to stop him before he would do anything drastic. “Dad, I need to do this alone.”
“Cameron – “
“Dad, please. She asked for just me. If we both show up, it’s going to overwhelm her. You know how she gets when she feels cornered. I don’t want her to run away again, not at this point when she needs us.”
My father was quiet for a moment. Parker Preston wasn’t a man who liked being told no, especially when it came to his children. But he had also learned the hard way what happened when he pushed too hard.
“Fine,” he said finally. “But I want updates. Every hour, Cameron. And if she needs anything – anything at all – you call me immediately.”
“I will.”
“And Cameron? Tell her…” His voice cracked slightly. “Tell her we love her. Tell her we’re sorry. Tell her we never should have – “
“I will, Dad. I promise.”
As the plane began its descent into Chicago, I called Sedona’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“Cam?”
“Hey. We’re landing in about twenty minutes. You said you’d be at the Hilton on South Michigan Avenue?”
“Yes. Room 1847. I… I couldn’t stay at the house anymore. Too many memories.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be there soon. Have you eaten anything?”
“I’m not really hungry.”
“Sedona, you need to keep your strength up. Order room service. I’ll pay for it when I get there.”
“Okay.” Her voice was small, exhausted. “Cam? Thank you. For coming. For not hating me.”
“I could never hate you. You’re my sister who I’ve missed every single day for five years.” My voice thickened. “I’m bringing you home, Sedona. And we’re going to fight this. Together.”
“What if there’s nothing to fight? What if it’s too late?”
“Then we make whatever time you have left count. But I’m not giving up on you. I need you to promise me you won’t give up either.”
There was a long pause, and then: “I promise.”
“Good. I’ll see you soon. Stay put, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t. I’m not running anymore, Cam. I’m too tired to run.”
After we hung up, I looked out the window at the Chicago skyline coming into view. Somewhere down there was my sister, alone in a hotel room, dying because the family she’d married into cared more about a tennis player’s bruised ankle than her actual life.
A cold fury settled over me. I’d deal with Logan Hayes eventually. Right now, my priority was Sedona.
Hang in there, Sedona, I thought.
“Your brother is here now. And I’m not letting you go ever again.”
Sedona’s POV
The silence in the house was deafening as I stood in the bedroom staring at the open suitcase on the bed.
My brother was coming soon and I had to get my things out of here before he touched down.
I moved aimlessly through the closet, pulling out only the clothes I’d brought with me three years ago or had bought with my own money, the little that I had with me.
Most of my wardrobe stayed on the hangers because they were echoes of a life that I pretended to fit in. The designer dresses Logan had bought me for charity galas where I’d stood beside him like a prop, instead of a wife, where my job was to smile at old men that Logan had introduced me to, saying it made his company look good.
Not just that, I left behind the expensive shoes Sherry had insisted I needed to “look the part” of a Hayes wife.
The jewelry Logan had given me on birthdays and anniversaries, each piece chosen by his personal shopper because he couldn’t be bothered to pick them out himself.
