Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
I’d ignored my dad’s calls as long as I could, but I knew if I didn’t answer now he’d likely just show up at my house, and I didn’t need the guys dealing with that mess.
When my phone buzzed for the fifth time in an hour with “Dad” flashing across the screen, I reluctantly stepped out of the hospital room, giving Abby’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before slipping into the hallway.
“Hey, Dad, I can’t really talk,” I answered, keeping my voice low. This unit was quiet except for the occasional squeak of nurses’ shoes on the linoleum and the distant beeping of medical equipment.
“What the hell is going on with you? I’ve been trying to reach you for days,” he said, his voice sharp with impatience. I could picture him sitting at his massive mahogany desk, expensive pen tapping against the polished surface like he did whenever he was irritated.
“I’m at the hospital. My girlfriend’s grandma has cancer. She’s dying, so I’ve been here supporting Abby and her brother.”
He let out a sigh—one I knew too well because it was the typical disappointed sigh he always gave me.
“Son, Abby’s a nice girl and all, but I think it’s safe to say she’s a distraction to you.
I need you at the meeting we’re having tomorrow afternoon at Holt to go over the next stage for the development.
You need to be part of this process if you’re going to take over the business. ”
I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cool wall of the hospital corridor. I thought about Abby inside that room, holding her grandmother’s hand as if she could keep her tethered to this world through sheer force of will.
“Dad, I just told you I can’t. I’m not going to leave her to deal with this shit on her own. It’s only one meeting that I’m going to miss. Being here for her is more important.” My voice came out stronger than I thought it could when talking to my dad.
The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening. I could imagine him straightening in his chair, his jaw tightening the way it did when he was about to lay down the law. I’d never pushed back like this before.
When he finally spoke, it was with a tone of such authority combined with malice that it made bitterness roil in my gut.
“This girl is a burden and I’m telling you right now, Foster, I will not let her destroy the future I have built for you.
The same one that I am wrapping in a perfect bow for you to take over, and now you’re acting like an ungrateful little shit.
First you ignore my calls, and now you’re suggesting you skip a meeting? Absolutely not.”
“Dad—” I tried to interject, but he cut me off, his tone cold as ice.
“I will destroy her if you don’t break up with her.
Fall back in line, and get your shit together.
You will come to this meeting tomorrow, and she will no longer be a part of your life.
Your focus needs to be on what’s best for The Kane Group, which means being at this meeting tomorrow.
And let’s not forget, son, I’m friends with powerful people and I can destroy her before she even gets a career going.
I could have her fired as an intern from Holt.
I could blacklist her in this community faster than she can blink.
Do not push me. I expect you to end it and to end it immediately. I will see you tomorrow at four.”
He hung up, but I was frozen, still holding my phone to my ear as I stared unseeingly at the wall in front of me. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my skin. A nurse asked if I was okay as she passed, but I barely managed a nod.
Goddamn, I hated my dad.
But what was worse was that I knew it wasn’t an empty threat.
He did have friends in high places and could easily sideline Abby’s career before it ever got a chance to start.
The Kane name carried weight in Montana and the surrounding areas—my father had made sure of that with his ruthless business tactics and strategic “friendships” with the right people.
She’d already lost so much, and she was about to lose more.
I slumped into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs lining the hallway, my head in my hands.
I couldn’t stomach the idea of bringing more pain to her life by breaking her heart when she was already being faced with a mountain of grief.
The thought of walking back into that room and going back on my promise to be there for her made me physically ill.
But as I walked back into the hospital room and saw her with one hand holding Gram’s while the other arm was wrapped around her brother’s shoulders, all I could think about was how much I fucking loved her.
I loved her quiet strength, her brilliance, the way she bit her lower lip when she concentrated, how she brought out the best in me.
My life would be a black void without her. Maybe it made me weak, or maybe loving her was finally making me strong, but I couldn’t risk losing her.
She looked up as I entered, her eyes red-rimmed but dry for the moment. She gave me a small, tired smile that broke my heart and pieced it back together all at once. Mason nodded at me, the small gesture of acknowledgment significant from the typically withdrawn teenager.
I couldn’t give her up, but I couldn’t be the reason she never got the career she’d worked so hard for.
I had no idea what I was going to do.