Page 6 of Craving Paradise

I know there’s talk about changing the succession laws, but nothing has changed, and it will go to the next male heir in the family, which means if my sister has a son, it will go to him. There are ways around it, and it’s my job to know them, so when the time comes, I’ll cross that bridge. It’s a long way away. I’m not looking for a wife at all. I barely have time to date, and when I do, it’s not for long because, let’s just say, I’m not choosing the right women.

“Text me the details, Autumn. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I reassure my sister.

“Okay, hurry.”

I grab my coat and rush out the door, slamming it behind me. It’s miserable at this time of the morning. I unlock my car parked out front and jump in just as Autumn’s texts come through. I type the information into the GPS and head off.

It doesn’t take me long to make it to the hospital, find a parking space, and check in with the receptionist who explains where to go.

“Oh, thank God.” Autumn sighs as she sees me walking through the door. She gets up and rushes toward me, and I wrap her in my arms as she breaks down. I hug her tightly, knowing how much this is killing her, seeing our father in the hospital. I look over her shoulder and see him hooked up to machines. His face is black and blue, dried blood crusted on his knuckles.

“What happened?”

“All the paramedics told the hospital was he was jumped by three men, and onlookers called for help.”

It’s not going to take a rocket scientist to work out that he’s fallen off the wagon again, has borrowed money from some loan sharks, and they came to collect his debt. I should have known. I saw the signs that he might go off the deep end after his mother passed away last month, but he reassured me he was okay and was in contact with his sponsor. He’s done this so many times before. I should have known and stopped it before he hit rock bottom again. But it’s exhausting.

“He’s gambling again, isn’t he?” my sister asks, looking over at me as I stare down at his battered body.

“I don’t think this was random, no.” I sigh.

“I thought he was dealing with Grandmother’s death well. Guess he knows how to hide it, doesn’t he?” Autumn states sadly.

“I’m sick of doing this. We’ve been in this situation so many times I’ve lost count.” I shove my hands into my pockets, rocking back and forth on my heels.

“He’s sick, Jay. He can’t help himself,” my sister adds, defending our father.

“There has to come a point when he wants to do better.”

“He lost his mother. He didn’t do this on purpose,” Autumn tries to argue on our father’s behalf.

“But when will it stop? When he’s dead?” I ask her.

“Jasper,” she says with a gasp.

“I’m the one picking up the pieces here. I’m done. Things need to change.”

“I know, but can we deal with them in a day or two? Let’s pray Dad makes it through the next twelve hours,” she responds, wiping away her tears.

* * *

“Hey, Mum,” I greet, answering my phone.

“I just heard about Benjamin. Is he okay?” she asks, concern lacing her words. Even after all these years, she still worries about my father.

“He fell off the wagon because of Grandma,” I explain to her, not that it’s an excuse.

“Thought that might be the case. Do you want me to come to the hospital, sweetheart?”

He’s not her responsibility anymore. “No, we’ve got this, but I want to talk to you about something. Autumn isn’t in the right headspace to talk about it, but I think we should.”

“Go on, sweetie, what is it?”

“It’s time I take over the family estate,” I blurt out. The thought has been on my mind for a while now. Taking the estate off my father’s hands might be what he needs to kick this terrible disease.

My mother falls silent on the other end of the phone.

Shit. Does she think this is a bad idea?

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