Page 36 of Grimm
His thanks and the sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. Angus wasn’t known for kindness, especially toward me. So, all I did was give a curt nod in return.
“It’s good to see you,” he said. “You look good.”
“Having a good woman in your life works miracles.”
That was the truth. Since Gina and I had been spending time together, I smiled and laughed more. Even Joker was giving me hell about it. She was changing me, in a good way, but I couldn’t say the same for Angus. Eleven years behind bars had left him a shell of the man he’d once been. His six-foot-three muscular frame was now much thinner. He’d definitely lost over a hundred pounds, at least. He looked sick more than anything, nothing like the Invincible man who’d raised me and ruled the streets of Vegas.
“You’re sick?” I asked, even though I was sure he’d say yes. Nothing else explained it. A rash covered one of his frail hands, which was more bones with skin draped over it, and his hair was much thinner.
He blew out a breath, catching my attention. “Cancer.”
I raked my hand through my hair, letting the news sink in that my dad, the man I despised, had cancer. How the hell did I process the news? Should I have been pissed no one told me? Did I even care that he was sick? So many emotions and questions swirled inside me.
“Ma said nothing,” was all I mustered as I stared into dull, sunken eyes.
“I haven’t told her.” He shrugged, like keeping her in the dark was no big deal. “And I don’t want you to, either.”
I frowned. “Why? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He sighed. “And I don’t think it would be good for her to know, Tavish. These past eleven years have taken a toll on her.”
And he was right. Although my mother knew how to keep up appearances, the sadness in her eyes was clear to me. Every day he was in here, her heart broke a little more. This news would kill her.
“Terminal?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the fact he was sick, and no one knew but me.
“Doc says I may have a few years left if I keep up my treatments, but no promises.”
“Shit. Dad… I—”
He raised his hand, cutting off my response even though I was at a loss for words. We hadn’t had the best relationship, but he was still my father. What did you say to a man who only had a few years of life left?
“It’s fine, Tavish.” His mouth split into a semblance of a smile. “I wasn’t the best father, husband, or person, in general, while on the outside, but being in here has taught me a lot about myself.”
“Is that right?” I asked, although my question was more rhetorical than anything. I didn’t believe him, but facing death head on could change a person. I wasn’t sure whether Angus was one of those people.
He chuckled. “I don’t expect you to believe me, son, and that’s okay. But I’ve made peace with my sins. All of them. Even if I don’t make it back out, I know you will look after your mother and your siblings. That’s all I could ever ask from you.”
“We’ll get you out, Angus.”
His shoulders loosened slightly. “If you do, that would be amazing. I’d like to die in my bed in peace. But if you don’t, please don’t hold on to that guilt. Karma’s a bitch, and I deserve everything coming to me.”
“We all do.”
“I didn’t show you when you were growing up, but I love you. I got lost there for a little while. The women, drugs, the power. In here, I learned some things about myself. Things that needed to be changed.”
“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my father?”
He laughed. For the first time in years, I heard my father genuinely laugh.
What the hell?
“I’m glad you found the other piece of your soul, son. Even though I didn’t realize it when I had her, that’s what your mother is to me. I know that now. I won’t say goodbye because you know I hate that shit, but just make sure you take care of yourself and your Old Lady.”
Without waiting for a reply, he hung up the phone, slowly stood, and the guard escorted him out of the room. I placed the phone on the hook and released a breath as the truth sunk in. My father was dying, and if I didn’t do something soon, he’d die an innocent man in prison.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
REGINA
