Read Online The Fighter's Secret Child (The Burton Brothers Series Book 3) by Leslie North - Free Book Online Page A

hands limp.
    Glancing at her, Beck asked, “Do all kids fall asleep that fast? Or is it just…?”
    Rachel let out a breath and touched a finger to Chaz’s leg. “It’s his condition. Do you want me to—? ”
    “What did I say about that arm?” Beck shook his head, “And I want to hear more about what’s going on with him. Bed first for him.” He carried Chaz into the house and into his bedroom. Rachel grabbed Chaz’s stuffed dog—Chaz wanted a dog more than anything, but and if he’d been a healthy boy she would have gotten him a puppy.
    But puppies grew up—and they could be rowdy and strong. Right now she couldn’t trust that Chaz wouldn’t be hurt. She tucked Chaz’s doggy into his arms and kissed his cheek. And she wondered if she was being too protective of him. But he was all she had right now. She couldn’t lose him.
    Leaving the door open a crack, she headed back to the kitchen. But she found Beck out on the back porch. He gestured to a French door he’d left open. “That leads into Chaz’s room. You’ll hear if he wakes.” Beck waved to a rattan chair. Rachel sat down, her injured arm cradled in her lap. The sun felt good on her shoulders, but a chill caught at her insides. Beck looked grim—his face set and she wondered how he would react. Would he lose his temper as they talked?
    She dove in and started to explain what she knew about the illness Chaz suffered. She had talked with the doctors, and had then done more research online.
    “You can’t even imagine how much energy he has some days. Before he got sick, there were days I would pray for him to sleep just another half an hour. Now…” Throat tight, she broke off the words. She didn’t want to think about the endless tests, the slow way Chaz seemed to be fading. Rachel sighed. “Chaz has been so sick, and until I know he’s not going to get worse,” she broke off, and shook her head.”
    Beck leaned forward. “What’s wrong with him? I thought you said it was curable?”
    Rachel nodded. “It is. Most of the time. But nothing’s for certain. It’s a bone marrow disease—the blood cells—well, he doesn’t make enough of them. Usually it shows up in people in their teens or twenties, but it’s also usually caused by some infection, or drugs, or chemical exposure, like with radiation treatment for cancer. But it can be hereditary. And Chaz…he’s like a lot of other cases…the doctors just don’t know what caused it. He’s on immunosuppressive drugs right now—and that means even a cold could be bad for him. But that’s the first step to finding a marrow donor match. That would give his body the ability to make the blood cells he needs.”
    Beck straightened. “Okay, so you need a donor. Mason, Bryant and I can head in today to get tested. And then we do the deal and he’s cured?”
    Looking away, Rachel swallowed. Beck made it sound so easy. “Untreated, Chaz could die. Even treated…there’s about a seventy percent survival rate. The younger he is, the better his chances.”
    Beck pushed out a loud breath and Rachel glanced at him. “Seventy…hell, Rachel, why didn’t you call me before this?”
    She hugged herself. “I…Chaz’s diagnosis came in about a month ago. We…you wouldn’t believe all the testing. And the donation…that’s not going to be fun for anyone. They’ll probably take it from the back of your pelvic bone.” She rubbed her lower back. “They tested me first and I can still feel it at times.”
    “Are you serious?”
    She nodded. “You’ll be almost fully recovered in about three months or so, but it can take up to a year for all the side effects to go away, and that includes fatigue, pain, headaches, dizziness, and—”
    “Whoa.” He held up a hand. “You’re telling me this could put me out for a year?”
    Rachel pressed her lips tight. “A year of your life for all of Chaz—that didn’t sound so bad to me.”
    “Rachel, I make my living with fighting. If I’m not