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“Yes?” I stand, my heart suddenly in my throat as I pray for him to give me good news.
“It seems your father likely collapsed from shock, but he seems fine now and can see visitors. He’s asking for you.”
I breathe a laugh, my face splitting into a wide smile as his words ease my anxiety. “Thank you, Doctor.” Making a beeline for the swinging doors, my feet feel as light as feathers as I race to see my dad.
26
LUKE
Ifollow Mia into the hospital room, flanked by Zach and Cilian. The sterile scent of disinfectant hangs in the air, mixing with the hushed whispers and beeping of machines. Mike lies in the bed, his face pale and drawn, but as soon as our group enters, something changes in his expression and a storm begins brewing behind his weary eyes.
“What the hell are you three doing here?” he growls, his voice gravelly and filled with a volatile edge as he looks pointedly at Zach, Cilian, and me.
Mia rushes forward, concern etched across her face. “Daddy, they came to visit. We were worried about you.”
“Worried?” Mike’s eyebrows buckle into a thunderous frown. “Worried about what? That they didn’t kill me off the first time?”
Zach exchanges a bewildered glance with Cilian, and I feel a knot tightening in my stomach. This isn’t the Mike we know. His anger is explosive, volatile. I’ve never seen him this mad before—not in all the years I’ve known him.
“Daddy, please,” Mia pleads, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Don’t overstress yourself.”
“Don’t stress myself?” he growls in disbelief. “You traitors think you can waltz right in here and pretend to be the honorable men I considered my friends! I’ll kill every last one of you.”
“Daddy!” Mia gasps.
Before we can utter a word in our defense, Mike launches into a tirade that makes my jaw drop. “You, Luke, with your charming smile and supposed loyalty. Zach, the quiet one who hides his true intentions. And Cilian, the joker who can’t be trusted. The three of you, preying on my daughter like vultures while I’m away!”
Mia’s eyes widen as she takes a step forward, and though I know Mike would never lay a hand on his daughter, my instincts urge me to reach out and protect her. But I know she wouldn’t thank me for that right now. So instead, I ball my hands into fists and force myself to remain still.
“That’s not what happened at all,” Mia insists, her voice growing defensive. “These menareyour friends, and they’ve been nothing but respectful and good to me.”
“Friends?” Mike’s laughter is harsh, echoing off the sterile walls. “Friends who can’t wait to get their hands on you. The lecherous bastards. You stay away from my daughter. She’s too young and far too good for any of you. I won’t let you ruin her life!”
As if possessed by some twisted determination, Mike starts to climb out of his hospital bed. “I’ll knock your lights out, you cowards. Sneaking behind my back!”
“Daddy, what are you doing?” Mia shrieks. “Get back in bed right now! You just recovered from a collapse. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack!”
Panic seizes me, and I exchange a frantic glance with Zach and Cilian. We move in unison, grabbing Mike’s arms, trying to restrain him before he hurts himself.
“Mike, calm down!” I urge, struggling to keep his flailing limbs in check.
But he’s beyond reason, his eyes wild with fury. “Let me go! I’ll teach you all a lesson. You call yourself my business partner. Well, I’d rather liquidate the entire venture than let you near my daughter ever again!”
Mia’s face looks stricken, and she places her palms on his chest as she tries to make him look her in the face. “Daddy, please! You don’t mean it. You just need to calm down and take a minute.”
But Mike is relentless. He continues to thrash against our attempts to hold him back, his face turning an alarming shade of red. The beeping of the machines in the room increases, matching the rapid tempo of my heart.
And just as it seems like things are spiraling out of control, the door swings open, and in walks Tina. Our former secretary and Mike’s current young girlfriend carries a tray of coffees in one hand. “What on earth is going on here?” Her gaze flicks from Mike to us, and she sets the tray down on a nearby table.
“I’m about to teach these bastards a lesson.” Mike’s eyes narrow at each of us, but Tina simply plants her hands on her hips.
“Mike, you’re being silly. You really need to calm down. Can you really blame your friends for developing feelings for Mia?”
Mike’s struggles lessen as Tina seems to have gotten through to him. “Yes,” he grumbles. “I can’t believe you would still call them my friends after we found them in bed with my daughter,” he mutters, eyeing us suspiciously. “She’s nearly half your age. You watched her grow up, for God’s sake, you sick, twisted bastards.”
“Like you’re one to talk,” Tina chides, crossing her arms as she pops her hip. “Considering you just got engaged to someone the same age as your daughter. Love doesn’t always have to make sense. It finds people in the most mysterious of ways. You should be happy for Mia because she’s clearly found three men you both respect and care for a great deal.”
The room falls into a stunned silence. Even Mike seems shocked out of his anger by Tina’s speech. Then Mia’s eyes widen as they shift between Tina and her father.
