Page 75 of Twisted Bonds
"Yes, it's me. I'm happy to know you're not dead."
I shake my head disbelievingly at my father, but he only shrugs. I hope he loses his attitude. Even though he's not showing it, Grandpa can sense it.
"Dad!" I start to lecture him, but I'm stopped.
"It's quite alright. Bain has a right to be upset with me, but hopefully, he allows me to try and explain." My grandfather looks in my direction briefly before turning back in his son's direction. "We have a lot to talk about, Son."
"That we do," my father says. "But I think you need to rest for a while, and then we'll talk."
My grandfather pats my father on the chest. "That sounds good. I can use a quick nap."
"I need to steal Beau for a moment. Will you be okay with your nurse walking you to your room?" Dad asks.
"I'll be fine," Grandpa says, squeezing my hand. "Go with your father. We can catch up after my nap."
"Are you sure?" I ask.
He nods and Cal comes over, taking my place. I follow my father back to his office, and just as I'm about to lay into him, he holds his hand up, stopping me.
"Ryan is gone."
"What?"
"I got a text," he says.
I pull my phone out and see that I've got a text from Ryan, too. Opening it up, I read what she sent and then re-read it. My father's right. Ryan is gone.
Forty-Two
Bain
Reading Ryan's text has had me reeling for the last ten minutes. What the hell was she thinking? She knows I don't want her going on those missions anymore because they're too dangerous. The fact that she took Laney and Heather with her does nothing to ease my anger.
Calm down, Bain. You have no say in Ryan's life anymore.I try reminding myself, but fuck that. I do have a say when she's putting her life in danger. These men do not fuck around, and Ryan is a gorgeous woman. There is no telling what can happen to her, and the fact that she waited to tell me just before her plane took off is not something I will let slide.
I don't care if I can no longer call her mine. When she gets back, I'm going to put her over my knee and redden that ass of hers. I know she's got a good head on her shoulders, but these people are some of the most dangerous. Agent Castor will be hearing from me as well.
Looking at my watch, I curse and head out of my office. Chloe had stopped in to tell me that my father and his nurse would be here shortly. I'm not looking forward to this, but I'm curious about my father. I thought he was dead all these years. How Liam could do that to me, I don't know, but I can't just blame my father. If I wasn't so pissed at the old man, I wouldhave thought more about it and demanded to see the death certificate and personal belongings. That's on me.
I walk out the front door and stop at the top of the steps. Beau and Chloe are already down with my father, and when he looks up, my chest tightens. He's wearing sunglasses, but I know I'll find white, glazed-over eyes behind them due to his blindness. This isn't what causes my reaction, though. It's his appearance.
Beau and Chloe have made it sound like he's some pathetic-looking old man, but the man I see before me doesn't look much different than when I last saw him before the fire. Although my father is wearing a casual outfit of a light blue polo shirt and khakis, he appears to have aged only slightly in the last thirteen years. He's an older version of me.
So, jealousy takes hold when I see Chloe latch on to his hand and arm while smiling warmly up at him. She's giving him the smile that was always mine before she was taken from me. I haven't seen it since she's been back—not until now, that is.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I watch their interaction closely, and even though they seem to be close, I can't determine if there is something more between them. Chloe has spoken fondly of my father in the bits of conversations that we've had. She holds no ill will toward him after what his brother made her do, and that's the problem.Did my wife develop a special bond with her father-in-law? One that is affecting our relationship?I can't help but ask myself this.
I know I'm being ridiculous. I'm still longing for my young ex-stepdaughter while getting jealous of my wife and my own father. I understand how Beau is feeling and know I'm a hypocrite. When my eyes land on him, my son's look tells me he's thinking the same thing.
I watch them climb the steps, and when they reach the top, Beau's words solidify my thoughts from moments ago.
"How does it feel,Dad?"
I don't let it show that his words had their desired effect—I can't. Call me selfish, but that means I'll have no choice but to give Ryan up completely, and I now know that I'm not ready to face that. It doesn't matter that he's right and that I must let him and Ryan work things out, I will not do anything without talking to her first. She doesn't even know that Chloe has denied me or that my wife and I have been discussing drawing up the papers to dissolve our marriage, but that she and Cayley will remain here and be taken care of.All of this needs to be factored into the decision Ryan and I have to make, and yes, we also need to consider my son.
Opening the door for them, I exchange a few words with my father. I can see he is a bit worn out, so I leave him, letting him know we will talk later. I need to discuss a mutual little redhead with my son, so I steal him away, allowing Chloe and my father's nurse, Cal, to settle him into his new room, which just so happens to be across from my wife's.
"She can't be gone. Why would she leave without telling us first? What does this mean?" Beau asks, beginning to freak out.
