Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 87

"Sienna is on the missing persons list."

Jarred's voice was unnervingly calm, the kind of quiet that sent chills down the spine. "I have to go."

There was a heavy pause before Holden's exasperated sigh crackled through the speaker.

"I understand how you feel, but you're still recovering. Do you have any idea what it's like in the disaster zone right now? You'd be gambling with your life!"

"I know."

"You don't know shit! If something happens to you, it's a massive loss for the department. I'm looking out for your well-being and the bigger picture, do you get that?"

Jarred's expression was stoic. "If you don't approve my deployment, I'll hand in my resignation."

Holden fell completely silent.

A few seconds later, he roared, "Jarred! Calm the hell down! Let's talk about this!"

But Jarred had already ended the call.

He turned to Declan. "Prep the relief supplies. We leave immediately."

Declan's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Even though Jarred was trying to play it cool, Declan could see right through him.

Jarred's shoulders were trembling slightly; he was running on pure adrenaline.

He should be lying in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV, not rushing into a disaster zone.

"Boss," Declan couldn't help but plead, "your wounds haven't healed. You need to be resting. The situation out there is chaotic, and if you get hurt again—"

Jarred met his gaze.

His eyes weren't angry, just completely empty of emotion.

The rest of Declan's warning died in his throat.

Declan knew he was wasting his breath.

Just hours ago, when they heard Sienna was running a high fever, Jarred had ripped out his IV before his treatment was even finished, desperate to go see her.

On the surface, his boss was a cynical playboy who didn't care about anything.

The bandages wrapped around her leg were damp with yellowish fluid, the edges stained a wince-inducing dark red.

She was fully conscious but completely washed out, her lips devoid of color.

Celeste sat dutifully by her side, murmuring softly as she wiped Helena's hands with a warm towel.

Seeing Jarred enter, she flashed him a perfectly calibrated look of concern before dropping her gaze and standing quietly beside the bed.

Helena had only woken up in the early hours of the morning.

The surgery was a success, but she couldn't move her leg an inch without agonizing pain tearing through the surgical site.

Seeing her son geared up like a soldier made her face darken even further.

"Where exactly do you think you're going?" Helena demanded, locking eyes with him. "Are you going after Sienna?"

Jarred met her stare without flinching. "Yes."

Helena's temper instantly flared. "Have you forgotten what she did to me?"

She pointed a trembling finger at Celeste. "If Celeste hadn't been here soothing me, staying up day and night to nurse me and keep my spirits up—even defending that woman—I would never forgive her!