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“I screwed up my family so much that I lost one son in a prison fight. Camille couldn’t wait to be rid of us, and I knew that her ma was after her money. And what did I do? Nothing. Mind you, I didn’t know that John did what he did to her, but even when I found out, I did nothing. The father of the year over here actually stole a television from her place to make some cash, to shut your mother up.”
“Dad—” I try to interrupt, but he won’t let me get a word in.
“And you. God, you were a good boy. Good in school. So smart, and you had dreams. I saw that you wanted more, and I squashed all your dreams. I don’t even know why. Maybe I was jealous or just fucking scared to shit that I’d be alone if you left.” Tears well in my father’s eyes. “The best I can do is make this quick, for me and for you, and for Camille. I just ask one thing, one thing only.” He pauses, then says, “Do not go anywhere near your mother, especially Camille. Even if that means not coming to my funeral, which she won’t pay for anyway, so it may not be an issue. She’ll try to suck you in. She knows you have money. She knows Camille’s man is doing good for himself. It won’t take her long to blow through the insurance payout.”
“That’s bullshit,” I say harshly. I bolt out of my chair, dragging a hand over my face. This is so messed up. I’m fucking furious at my father, and still, I don’t want this for him. “This is what you’re going to do.” I point a finger straight at him. “You’re having that surgery.”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life avoiding a charge I can’t afford to pay. I don’t want to do that anymore,” Dad says. “I’m tired of being a leech, a drain on society. I’m just plain old tired.”
“Shut up, Dad. You’re having the surgery. You’re doing rehab. I have that covered. Then you’re going to AA and Gambler’s Anonymous. If you’re smart, you’ll leave that witch’s den and find yourself an apartment. Find a job. You know the trades and have been dicking around, but I know you can do it. If, and I mean a bigif,you manage to get your shit together, you may have a daughter and son-in-law who might let you see their kid. He’s a great little guy, and you’re missing out. I might let you get to know my girl. She’s the shit, Dad, Do you want to miss all that? Is that not something to fight for?”
“You have a girl?” This is the first time I’ve seen his eyes light up.
“Yeah. Her name’s Quinn.”
“Is she beautiful?”
“Gorgeous, Dad.” I blow out a breath.
He lowers his gaze. “What if I fuck it up again?”
“What-ifs don’t come into this. It depends on how much you want to change. I can’t do it for you. It’s going to be hard to let go of drinking, but the man I knew could do it. She beat you down, Dad. Mother or not, she’s vile. She’s like a cancer that’s spread and is trying to make everyone around her miserable. What do you say?”
“Will you visit me?”
“So long as you’re sober and I know you’re going to meetings, then yeah.”
“Okay, son. I’ll try,” he finally agrees, but I can see that he’s scared. His hands are trembling. His insecurities are like an open wound.
I calm my voice and take a step closer. “You can do this.” I rest my hand over his, careful not to disturb the tubes attached. I give him a minute to let this all sink in before telling him I’m letting Camille come back in. “You don’t have to worry about her. Camille is filled with hope, and to know that you’re going to have the surgery and get to a point where you can be part of her life is the greatest gift you can give her.”
“Keep your mother away from her, son. She’s hatching something. I’ve known her a long time, and I feel it in my bones,” he warns.
“I’ll keep watch,” I assure him. I didn’t tell him that the entire Pride will be keeping an eye open as well, or that Risk and Demon are on it as we speak.
* * *
Once we settled everything with Dr. Zane and requested that Saint be part of the surgery, upon Saint’s request, we checked in on Dad and found he was exhausted.
“It’ll get better once he has the procedure and starts looking after himself. I don’t know what you said in there”—Zane points to Dad’s room—“but this is the first time he’s been willing to do anything for himself. Ever since his wife left him here the night he was brought in, he’s gotten worse and not better.”
“We don’t want her anywhere near him,” I tell him.
“I can put a note on the file, but we can’t keep watch twenty-four seven.”
Guard’s been pretty quiet until this moment, but he picks the appropriate time to jump in. “I’m on it. Hammer and Wildcard can take turns with Thunder.” He walks away before I can thank him, with the phone already attached to his ear.
“I hate to ask, Camille, but I need someone at the clinic. Zane and I have to go over a few things here. I’ll make it in for one, maybe two this afternoon. Can you handle it?” Saint asks.
Camille looks up at Steady, who’s already nodding. “No worries, babe. My mother loves watching her grandson. I’ll drop you off, then take Kyrian there for the day.”
“I have to take Quinn home to get some work done,” I say. “Then I have to get my dad’s shit from my mother’s place. He’s not going back there. His only chance is a clean break.”
“I can come with you,” Quinn says.
I shake my head. “Hell, no.” I’m a little louder than I want to be, but the thought of that viper around Quinn makes my skin crawl.
“Not alone.” Guard is back. “Demon is already in the area. He’ll meet you at their place. Text him the address. Wait for him.” His tone says more than his words. Demon and Risk must have found something out. Guard glances toward the women, then back my way. It’s not something he wants to share at the moment.
