Page 39 of Hearts of Wealth

“What brought you by, anyway?” Luke asked.

“I need to talk to him,” I said.

“Did Catherine read you the riot act for kicking Henry’s ass?”

I laughed. “No, not too much. She wasn’t happy, and I will never try to be her hero again.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t been here,” Luke said.

“I think she’s been busy with Henry’s house,” I said. “And I’ll tell you now, she’s going to be moving in. That’s why I’m here. Catherine is moving in with me. She wants John to live in her house. She’s busting ass trying to finish the kitchen and living room so he can move right in.”

“Congratulations.” He smiled. “You’re a lucky man. Wish I had seen her first.”

I chuckled. “But I did, and I don’t share.”

“Understood.”

“All right, I’m going to talk to the man,” I said. “I know he was rooting for you, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Luke grinned. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No worries.”

“Are you headed out?” I asked.

“I’m just picking up a few things and headed over to the site,” he said. “The sooner I get this job done, the better. I’m about done with Henry. I’ve stayed away, but I need to finish up because I will be getting paid.”

“Good luck,” I said. “Don’t take his bait. He’s going to try and goad you into a fight.”

“One of the guys called and said he left town.” Luke grinned.

“Good. He can stay gone.”

I walked back into the shop. John was once again leaning against his workbench.

“John?”

Something was wrong. He wasn’t moving. His body was rigid, like he was in pain.

I walked toward him. “John?”

He turned to face me. His face was a sickly gray. I saw him pleading for help with his eyes a second before he grabbed his chest with his right hand. A split-second later, he crumpled in front of me. It was like his legs turned to jelly. He went down hard. Everything happened in slow motion. I ran to him, but it felt like my legs were filled with lead. I couldn’t move fast enough. His head hit the ground. Panic surged through me as I rushed to his side, my heart pounding in my chest.

“John!” I called out, my voice filled with desperation. “John, can you hear me?”

But there was no response. John lay unconscious on the ground, his breathing shallow and labored. Fear gripped my heart as I realized that something was seriously wrong.

“Luke!” I called out, my voice shaking with fear. “Call an ambulance! Now!”

I heard footsteps running behind me. “Oh shit!” Luke’s voice was laced with the same fear I felt. “What happened?”

“Call nine-one-one!”

Luke sprang into action, his fingers flying over his phone as he called for help. I knelt beside John, a sense of helplessness washing over me. I had never felt so powerless, so utterly terrified. I had taken CPR, but that was years ago. I didn’t know if I could do it.

I HAD to do it.

I knew it was a heart attack. All the symptoms were there.