The Christmas Vigil by Chris Taylor Read Free Book Online Page A

asked.
    The man in question lay spread-eagled across the king-sized bed, naked apart from his underwear. His arms were flung out above his head, his lips slightly parted in sleep. His brown hair was mussed and probably in need of a haircut. Secretly, she loved it a little longer like that. It reminded her of the wild streak in him, hidden beneath his designer suits.
    Not many of his work colleagues knew how much he loved to ride his 1199 Panigale Ducati motorcycle at full throttle along the freeway north to Sydney in the middle of the night, dressed from head to toe in black leather. It was his way of relaxing and clearing his head of the daily stresses of working in the Child Protection Unit. She understood his need to indulge in something a long way removed from the often-depressing reality of his job.
    The thought of waking him less than an hour after he went to bed still didn’t sit well with her, but what she’d told Brandon was right. Having their father lying seriously ill in hospital was something Declan would want to know, despite his attempt to catch up on much-needed sleep.
    Chloe sighed. He’d been working so hard lately, with many late nights at the office. He was in the middle of an international online pedophile investigation and they were slowly closing in. It was imperative for Declan’s team of investigators to keep up the momentum and that meant long work shifts. When he did finally make it to bed, his sleep was often broken by Jessie waking in the night, cross and irritable from teething.
    And now Chloe was going to interrupt his slumber yet again…
    She eased herself onto the bed and laid her hand upon his cheek. He stirred and turned his head to press a kiss against her palm. Her belly somersaulted with need, as it always did when he touched her. His eyes fluttered open.
    “What is it?” he murmured, his voice clouded with sleep.
    “I’m sorry to wake you, darling. I-I just took a call from Brandon.”
    A slight frown marred the smooth skin of his forehead. “What’s he calling about?”
    “It’s your father. He’s in the hospital.”
    Declan half sat, coming fully awake. “In the hospital? Is he all right?”
    “No, darling. I’m…I’m afraid he’s not.”
    * * *
    By the time Chloe finished telling Declan what she knew, he’d dressed and packed an overnight bag. A quick text to Clayton about his flight details and Declan managed to secure a seat on the same plane to Sydney with a connection to Grafton. He kept himself occupied with the minutiae of leaving in an emergency, including a phone call to his boss, Gary Julian, to request the time off.
    Throughout his preparations, he did his best to come to terms with the news that his father was critically ill. The fact that a brain aneurysm had ruptured was frightening. That he’d been in a coma since they’d found him, even more so.
    Chloe watched him make his arrangements, her expression full of sadness and concern. She’d offered to come with him, but hanging around a hospital room with a toddler was no fun for anyone. He was glad she hadn’t delayed telling him, even if he desperately needed to rest. He’d been pulling unbelievably long hours at work, buried so deep within the belly of his current investigation that he barely had time to come up for air—but he needed to be with his family more. It was as simple as that.
    He looked around for his phone, intent on calling his mother and spied it on the coffee table in the living room. She’d be crazy with worry for his dad. The two of them were inseparable. He couldn’t imagine how she’d cope without him by her side.
    Scrolling through his contacts, he found his mother’s number and listened impatiently while the call dialed out. Chloe came into the room and leaned against the door frame with her arms loosely folded across her chest. He looked up at her and his heart warmed at the love and support in her gaze.
    He thought of his father lying near death in the hospital and