Page 27 of Finding Forgiveness
And here we go.
Cassandra’s mother may be a top-notch surgeon, but the worst thing she can do to me is remove a vital organ and sell it on the black market. Her father, on the other hand, is a powerful politician with friends in high places. He has the means to undo all the good that I’ve accomplished, and I can only hope for his daughter’s sake he doesn’t.
I’m feeling like shit by the time I make it downstairs for breakfast. I tossed and turned all night, despite being dead on my feet. I’ve barely slept in the past five days and I’m running on empty. My call with Cassandra’s father is what kept me up. I have no clue what their next move might be, but I think it’s time we left Melbourne and headed back to Sydney.
“Morning, Mum,” I say placing a kiss on the side of her head.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
I nod at my father across the table as I take a seat. “Dad.”
“Son,” he answers, peering at me over the top of the newspaper he’s reading. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Honestly … like shit. I barely slept.”
“You’re worried about, Cass?” my mum asks, placing a cup of coffee down in front of me and rubbing her hand down my arm.
“Her dad called me yesterday afternoon.”
That news has my father sitting up straighter in his seat and placing the paper down on the table. “He did? What did he want?”
“He was under the impression that we were keeping Cass here against her will.”
“That’s bullshit,” he snaps.
“I know. I informed him of that, but I still hold concerns. I’m not sure what his plans are going forward, so I’m thinking of taking Cassie back to Sydney today. Her father has connections in Melbourne … she’d be a lot safer away from here.”
“I have connections here too, Son. Cassandra isn’t a minor, so there’s not much they can do.”
“I still don’t trust them.”
Our conversation is cut short when Blake comes barrelling into the kitchen. “Grandma,” he shrieks, running over to wrap his arms around her waist. “Can I have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast please?”
My mum leans down and kisses the top of his head. “You can have whatever you like, sweetheart.”
I find myself smiling as I watch them. Although Blake has only been in her life for a short time and is not her biological grandson, you can see the love she holds for him. It makes me sad to think I’ll never be able to give her grandkids. It’s not that I don’t want to be a father, because I do, I just can’t see myself settling down.
My sister and her fiancé enter the kitchen a few minutes later, looking all loved up. Mason takes a seat next to me and proceeds to punch me in the arm. “You look like shit,” he says.
“Fuck …” My words die off when I get a scathing look from my father.
Jacinta kisses Mum and then moves over to wrap her arms around Dad’s neck. “Morning, Daddy,” she says. I use his distraction to flip Mason the bird.
“Is Cass coming down?” I ask.
“Yeah, she’ll be down in a minute,” Jacinta answers. “She’s just getting dressed.”
I had to fight the urge to not check on her throughout the night, or again this morning when I woke. She was so close, yet she seemed so far away. I know it’s going to be a struggle having her living with me full-time, but it’s a small price to pay to keep her safe.
After taking a sip of my coffee, I pull out my phone and start searching for flights. “When do you guys plan on heading home?” I ask, looking between my sister and Mason.
“Not sure,” Jacinta says with a shrug.
“I think Cass and I will leave today if I can get us on a flight.”
“Why so soon?” she asks, frowning.
“I think the sooner I get her away from Melbourne, the better.”
