Page 88 of Matteo

Our father's housekeeper appears and greets us solemnly. “Mr. Knight will be with you shortly.”

Not ‘your father’ but Mr. Knight.

So very formal. It's always been this way. The housekeepers, chauffeurs, assistants, and security staff have all been trained to treat him with a level of deference bordering on reverence.

I never thought much about it before. Now it makes me think of Elizabeth. She told me how lucky I was to have brothers. She's said a few times now that I’m lucky to have so many siblings, and a father. I can almost feel her yearning to have something like that.

Oddly, she hasn’t asked me about my mom.

I realize now, because of Elizabeth, of how I’ve always taken it for granted, having people to celebrate birthdays with, and people to call when something good happens. People who show up because they love me.

This is what Elizabeth longs for. She doesn’t have to tell me, but I see it in her eyes. But, at the same time, she sees family through a different lens than I do.

A hopeful one. A big part of that is because she doesn’t know just how complicated families can be.

I wonder what she'd think if she were standing here now. Watching a housekeeper announce our father's arrival as though royalty were about to enter the room. I wonder what she'd make of the tension in all of us brothers whenever we’re summoned here.

I wonder what she'd say.

Lately, I find myself wondering that a lot.

“Please wait for him in the Great Room. Everything takes a bit longer these days,” she says, leading us there.

The old man has a personal medical nurse on duty at all times. He has a swathe of people looking after him; butler, personal attendant, a chef and a couple of housekeepers. All for one man living in his high glass tower, but how the mighty fall; though he hasn't fallen yet. That depends on whether one of us can come through for him. Jett, Zach, or me.

Still, it's difficult coming to terms with the idea that this man—who has run his empire without the need for sleep—isn’t as invincible as he once believed.

As we once believed.

His fragility must be such a blow to him, and with his kidneys failing, he's going to need more help as time goes on.

We find Jett, Dex and Zach standing around near the window, looking out. They turn as they hear our footsteps. No one is holding a drink. Everything about today is different. It's a different time, a different meal, a different mood. The only thing that remains the same is that none of us want to be here.

Jett glances at his watch. “You took your time.”

“We're on time,” Rio counters. “Didn't see the point of getting here a second earlier than was necessary.”

He high fives Dex who huffs out a breath. “He should have just sent a memo.”

“He did send a memo.” Enzo smoothes down his tie.

Dex frowns. “We didn’t have to fucking come here and eat though.”

Zach pipes up. “I'm not in the mood for brunch.” He’s staring out of the window, hasn’t even turned to greet us. I guess he’s getting ready to face the old man.

“Trust me, it's better this way than a dinner in the evening.” I inhale a deep breath, unsure why my insides suddenly feel shaky. I keep glancing at Jett and Zach, wanting to know, needing to know what they're thinking. What their intentions are.

“What's Dani up to today?” Rio asks Dex.

“Having a lie-in. Waiting for me to hurry up and get back.” He winks.

Rio shakes his head. “Schoolboy humor.”

“Can't remember the last time I had a lie in,” Jett moans.

Enzo grins. “Brooke got you cleaning out the rabbit's cage yet?”

“Luckily for me, she wants to do it herself.”