Free Trainwreck 2 (Trainwreck #2) by Nelle L'Amour

Chernoff.
    “Can I have a word with you outside?”
    My pulse accelerated. I knew what he wanted to talk about.
    Outside in the hall, Dr. Chernoff discussed my mother’s condition.
    “Is she doing well?” I ventured, avoiding the inevitable.
    “Yes, Sarah, she’s responding extraordinarily well to her treatment, but unfortunately, the grant underwriting the clinical trial is expiring. It terminates at the end of next week. Didn’t you receive my letter?”
    I pretended like I’d never received it. “Can’t you talk them into it?” I pleaded. “Maybe extend coverage for just one more month? I’m sure I can figure out a way to pay for it.”
    Dr. Chernoff planted his large hands on my shoulders. “Sarah, I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way. Call me on Monday, and we’ll figure out an alternative course of action.”
    My heart numbed as he disappeared down the hall. With my dire financial straits and precarious situation at work, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Fear and despair pulsed through me. A tear escaped my eye. I couldn’t lose my mother!
    Managing somehow to pull myself together, I returned to my mother’s room. She was back to sketching but now looked weary. “What did Dr. Chernoff want?” she asked.
    “Oh, he just wanted to tell me you’re doing great and will be out of here very soon.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about the grant situation.
    A smile danced on my mother’s lips, but her eyes seemed to be in a faraway place. “My darling, unlike love, cancer can be cured.”
    Her bittersweet words moved me. I wondered if she was thinking about my father, whom she’d never stopped loving, no matter how much he’d hurt her. Her smile faded and gave way to fatigue. She needed her rest. It was time for me to leave.
    I hugged her for the third time. “Bye, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
    “Goodbye, my sweet girl. Remember what I said about being a warrior.”
    I assured her I would. As I pivoted on my heel and headed toward the door, she called out to me. I wheeled around. She winked at me.
    “And darling, one last thing. I want to meet him.”
    From her lips to God’s ears. My love for my mom couldn’t be measured. Oh, please God, help me make her better.

Ari
    I studied the photos spread out on my desk. I had brought someone into the city to follow Sarah and her new boyfriend. While the PI my sister was using to track down Cassandra’s whereabouts hadn’t come up with a thing, mine had hit the jackpot in less than twenty-four hours. That’s because she was the best there is. A former top Secret Intelligence officer in the Soviet Union. Olga Palovksy. Vadim’s wife. They were now staying together at the pied-a-terre I owned not far from my apartment, which I sometimes used for a quick fuck and out-of-town guests. While Olga stayed close on Fernando’s trail, Vadim continued to shadow Ben. Ben, who adored my Hulk-like employee, was thrilled to have him shuttle him back and forth to school. Little did he know that Vadim never left the schoolyard, watching vigilantly for any sign of my evil ex.
    My skin heating, I narrowed my eyes at the photos. At first shocked by them, I was now teetering between confusion and rage. The latter was winning. Why the fuck would Sarah play this game of masquerade with me? Did she deliberately want to hurt me? What the hell was she trying to prove? I rubbed my temples, trying to make sense of it all and figure out my next move.
    “Well, hello, darling. Nice new digs you have. You must be doing very well.”
    The too familiar breathy voice stopped me cold in my thoughts. With a knot of dread in my stomach, I looked up. Cassandra, dressed to the nines, stood at the doorway to my office. Posing as if she were still a high-fashion model on a shoot for Vogue. With a fling of her head, she brushed a hand through her long, lustrous hair as she slithered toward me with her monstrous designer bag slung over her arm.
    “How the hell did you get