“Thank you once again for the kind words and for the trust you have in me, Mister MacNamara, but once again I tell you Caleb's heart doesn't belong to me. There is this guy your son has feelings for, even if he was lately ignored, if not rejected, by the man. I'll be the friend he needs when things go bad, the one who listens to him and wipes his tears but nothing more. Not until this Saint fellow is completely out of your son's life.”
“Brennan, Cillian, you are home earlier. How is that possible? Alasdair told us the plane wouldn’t be ready for the flight sooner that tomorrow morning. Ardan will be so happy to see you, too!” Caleb's enthusiastic voice made the two men turn their heads in his direction, abandoning their conversation.
“Brennan, son. Welcome home. I missed you dearly! You too, Cillian!” Voice thick with emotion, Godfrey hugged the young man and the teen to his chest. “How was the flight home? It's a pleasure to introduce you to...”
“The reason we came home earlier than planned.” Brennan cut his father short, much to the man's disbelief. “I got some disturbing news from people I trust that this fellow has slowly been insinuating himself in Ardan's life, making himself indispensable. Gaining all the power for himself is his ultimate goal, and he will do anything to achieve it.” Brennan shot daggers in Zachary's direction, his voice dripping with hate.
“Look, I don't know who told you what, and honestly I don't care. There are several ways of solving this problem, and the choice is yours. I can leave this place right now, I can stay and watch as you become overwhelmed with tasks and worries, like Ardan did, or I can help with whatever I can.” Zachary gave Brennan a piercing stare, waiting for his answer.
“You stay...for now. As soon as Ardan is out of the hospital and back where he belongs, or when Saint returns, you take a step back.”
“We have a deal.” Zachary nodded, wrapping Caleb in an affection-filled gaze. “I will never abandon you,” was the message the younger man could read in those light-green eyes.