Page 34 of Morally Black Betrothal
She glared at me. “You just said to figure out another way. That’s what I’ll have to do.”
“What about Kylie?”
Selena glanced at her daughter like she was nothing more than a pile of laundry she didn’t want to fold. Then she turned back to me. “Since you seem to think you can do everything better than me, you deal with her for once whileI‘figure things out.’”
That, of course, was when Kylie stirred on the couch. “Mama? Where are you going?”
“Sel,” I tried. “Come on.”
She had already grabbed her things. “Nope. Bye.”
“But I have to be at the hospital by one, and I haven’t even slept?—”
I was cut off when Selena slammed the door, leaving me all alone with a crying and confused little girl.
8
DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO I AM, BRO?
Brendan
Any expectation that Niall Black would have developed the slightest bit of sentimentality after escaping the jaws of death evaporated with his statement each time I arrived at the hospital over the next week: “Oh, it’s fuckin’you.”
Now that he was awake, Dad sounded like he had just walked out of the bookie’s office. Like he’d done nothing in the intervening years to massage the South Boston out of his accent.
Each day over the last week, I’d carved an hour out of myverybusy schedule to visit him in the hospital. I couldn’t have said why, exactly. God knew he’d never do the same for me.
Something about the right thing to do.
Something about whatshewould do.
I dreamed of blue eyes. A blond halo. Goodness that shone from within the person I was admittedlyhopingmight appear on the days I was there.
She hadn’t, though. Not even once.
And now, we were about to leave. The doctors were releasing him today.
“Dad, for the last time, it’s going to take time,” I said as I scanned an email about Dad’s exact condition from yet another major stockholder. They had been hitting my inbox every few minutes since the press release had gone out. “The doctors have some tests to run and paperwork to file. You just had major surgery. Take it easy.”
“Take it easy?” Even sick, Niall Black’s voice was a barely stifled roar. “You think I got to where I am by taking it easy? I’ve never taken it easy a day in my fuckin’ life.”
It was true. Dad was an ornery lion, but he worked harder than anyone. Blackguard Holding wouldn’t have gone from a bookie’s operation to one of the largest investment conglomerates in the world otherwise.
Didn’t make him any less of an asshole, though.
“I can’t be cooped up like a goddamn zoo animal when we’ve got four deals on the line.” He tugged on the oxygen line still in his nose. “Look at me. I’m a science experiment.”
“The deals are fine.” I thumbed past a proposal to invest in a theme park operation. Pass. It was better not to look like you were paying him too much attention. Otherwise, he’d really attack. “Both Orson and Fletcher signed the acquisitions. The other two are being reviewed by the boards of both companies, but they’re in the bag. I have it handled.”
He didn’t answer. Not a good sign. When Dad was quiet, that usually meant he was about to explode.
I answered three more emails before I allowed myself to look up.
His face was bright red.
“What?” I asked.
“Twelve fuckin’ weeks, Brendan.” Dad sounded like a groaning pipe. “The doctor just told me again this morning. I can’t fuckin’ work because of the stress.Stress, of all fuckin’things. Making me not work for twelve weeks is what’s causing me stress, I told the asshole.”
