Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 21

Luna was furious, unleashing a string of curses. "I knew there was a reason Professor Krueger suddenly returned to the country. That Bro-Bait was behind it all along! Jar—"

The name died on her lips the second she realized Maloney was watching them. "That absolute bastard actually pulled strings for her. Doesn't he know Owen is waiting for that surgery?"

Sienna forced down the suffocating wave of despair in her chest and gently tugged at her friend's sleeve. "Luna, just sit down."

"Don't pull me! If I don't let this out, I'm going to lose my mind!" Luna's temper flared.

"That pick-me works in the same hospital as you. Even if that jerk didn't know about Owen's condition, there's no way she didn't!

Did he even bother to ask you a single question from start to finish? He even went to the Zellers' that night just to help her chase you out!

They clearly have no shame doing these things, so why should I be afraid to call them out?

Birds of a feather flock together. Those two are a match made in hell!"

"That's enough." Sienna shot Luna a warning look, gesturing toward Maloney.

He was, after all, Jarred's brother.

Luna finally clamped her mouth shut, though her face remained flushed with indignation.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Maloney raised an eyebrow. "What's going on? Who posted something so infuriating?"

Sienna lowered her gaze, clearly unwilling to dwell on the subject. "It's nothing. Just someone irrelevant."

The warmth in Maloney's eyes deepened, and he tactfully dropped the subject.

As soon as the plane touched down, Owen was rushed to the hospital.

The medical team Maloney had arranged was already on standby.

After a thorough examination, the attending physician addressed them. "Fortunately, he was brought in just in time. He isn't in critical danger at the moment. We'll schedule the surgery once all the test results are finalized."

The crushing anxiety that had gripped Sienna for the entire flight finally dissipated.

Maloney noticed her red-rimmed eyes and handed her a tissue.

The door clicked shut, but Maloney didn't immediately walk away.

He waited until he heard the deadbolt slide into place before turning and heading toward the balcony at the end of the hall.

Pulling out a cigarette and lighting it, he dialed Jarred's number.

The call connected quickly. The background noise was loud, filled with the faint thumping of music and overlapping voices.

"It's me," Maloney said, cutting straight to the point. "Was it your doing that Professor Krueger suddenly returned home?"

A lazy chuckle came through the receiver, carrying Jarred's signature arrogance. "Yeah. What's it to you?"

That completely indifferent tone made Maloney frown.

"Do you have any idea someone is desperately waiting for him to save their life?" His voice hardened.

"The line of people waiting for him to save their lives stretches from Berlin to Munich," Jarred replied smoothly, his tone laced with a chilling detachment. "But he only has two hands. What, is that my fault too?"