Page 24 of Deceived Wrath

“Then hang up.”

“I don’t want to fight with you, Fiona. Not today.”

My teeth grind together as I fight the urge to explode.

What was he expecting? That I would burst into song out of sheer happiness that he called?

“Then tell me what’s going on because, believe me, I have plenty of anger left in the tank and no one to aim it at but you.”

Joe exhales on his end of the phone. Whatever he’s about to admit to, it must be bad if he’s putting his pride aside and calling me after all this time.

“Amber is in the hospital.”

And the blows just keep coming.

I grip the edge of the counter as I try to remember how to breathe. “Oh God. What’s wrong with her?”

“They think she might have a genetic heart condition.”

“Aheart condition? Oh, my God, how bad is it?”

“My family history is clear, which is why I called you.”

“Joe. Is Amber ok?”

“She’s fine.”

“She’s clearlynotfine if she’s in the hospital! Which hospital is she at? I’ll head there right now.”

“No.”

“No?”

“I knew it was a mistake calling you.”

“You can’t keep the girls from me.”

“They’remychildren, Fiona. And I need to do what’s best for them.”

“What’sbestfor them? I’m their aunt!” I’m yelling now, but I don’t care.

“I have to go.”

“Wait, Joe?—”

The phone goes dead, and the upbeat pop music starts instantly blaring once again, which only adds to my rage.

“Fuck!” I fight the urge to launch my phone through a window.

This can’t be happening. My perfect, sweet little six-year-old niece is in the hospital.

I don’t know anything about heart conditions, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get much more serious than that.

Does she need a transplant?

I hear those are pretty hard to come by, but maybe they put kids at the top of the list?

Is that how it works?