Chapter Thirty

Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Mandee

Dad wakes up less than ten minutes after we walk in the room and groans.

I try to hold it all back, but tears fall.

“I wanna hug you, but don’t want to hurt you.”

“Bring it in, Doodlebug. I’m fucked up.” He sighs, and so I do.

“Don’t ever get in an accident again, not ever,” I cry.

He chuckles. I think he’s high. “That’s why they’re called accidents—can’t plan for them.”

I pull back and nod as I bat away tears.

“Why the fuck are my legs in the air?” he grumbles.

“Both broke, but you’re alive, Dad,” I answer.

“Gail?” he mumbles as he tries to swallow.

“Was that your date’s name?” I try to joke, and then I shake my head. “They won’t tell us anything because her family’s not here.”

“Those Falcon boys around?” he asks, looking at Phoenix then me.

I nod. “Sorry, Dad, but I like him.”

“Knew that. But, where are they?”

“I really like him, and I—”

“Gail Falcon. The driver was—”

“What?” I gasp.

“Called me. Wanted to meet,” he says.

“Daddy?” I want to go to him. I want to, but I can’t.

“I’ll explain later. Go. Come back when you can. Gonna be fine.”

Phoenix and I both hurry toward the door.

“Girls, stay away from the father. Bad news. Stay away. Not fucking around.”

“I know, Dad,” I say, running back and kissing his cheek.

“Hey,” he says when I’m at the door again. “He the one?”

I nod, and he groans.

“You sure he’s worth the trouble?”

“Yeah, Daddy, I’m sure.”

“Tell him, when all is well, he and I are gonna chat. And by that, I mean he’s gonna listen. Now go.”

Phoenix and I all but run back to the waiting room. When we get through the door, I see Gray sitting with his head in his hands.

I run up and squat down in front of him. “Gray,” I start.

He looks up, and I swear I see tears filling his eyes. He knows.

I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. I feel his chin on my head, and then I feel him take a deep breath.

“Dad told us. How is she?”

“She’s critical,” he whispers. “Waiting on her surgeon, or a nurse, or something—someone to tell us. Juliana and Garrett are talking to the nurse. Think she’s going over her chart.”

“So, you’ll know soon,” I tell him, leaning back and taking his hands. “Dad woke up, and he told us. We came—”

“You should go back with him,” he says.

“He told us to come be with you.” I kiss his hands.

“You told him—”

“No, I guess your mom did. She wanted to meet him?”

“Probably gonna try to pay him off to keep you away, like she did Phoenix.”

“No, Gray, she told him something about your dad being a bad man.”

He takes my hands and pulls me up as he stands. “I wanna talk to him.”

“You sure?”

He nods. “I just want to know, Mandee. I wanna know what she knows.” He looks over, and I follow his eyes. He’s looking at Gage.

Gage nods. “Me, too.”

§

When Gray and I walk in, Dad’s still awake.

“How’s your mom?” Dad immediately asks.

“Waiting to find out.” Gray walks up to his side. “Got a lot of questions. I know you got some, too. I’ll put your mind at ease. I love her. I was gonna take off, got to New York, and couldn’t do it. I’m gonna read that book about love, the one your wife and Mandee put together, and I promise you, whatever it takes, she’ll be happy.”

Dad nods. “Probably not the right time to say it, but gonna, anyway. I will kill you with my bare hands if you hurt her.”

Gray nods back. “Wouldn’t expect anything different.”

“Your mom called me, said she knew something was brewing between our kids. Told me that, when her boys find the one, they don’t let go. Told me she may not have been the best role model. Asked if I could meet her, and I, of course, agreed.” Dad stops and squints his eyes. I know he’s in pain.

“You need to stop, that’s cool. Need to rest, I get it.”

“I’m fine.” He opens his eyes. “Your dad wants back. Says he’ll ruin you boys if she doesn’t allow it. Apparently, he’s looking for money, and she refuses to give it to him.”

“He has his own company in Portugal. Evidently, he doesn’t know how to manage it.”

“Your mom probably was better at it than him. She knows she’s messed up a lot, but seems to have done it for the right reasons. As a father, I get it. We don’t always know what the hell our actions and choices are gonna cause. We just want to make sure you’re okay.” He looks at me, and I smile sadly at him.

“She said you are the one she thinks he targets. Said she walked in on an argument. So, she wanted me to be aware of it. She wanted me to know you were a better man than him. And your heart”—he rolls his eyes—“it’s a big one.”

He looks beyond us and nods. “Come on in.”

I look back as Gage, Phoenix, Garrett, and Juliana walk in.

“Go on,” Gray says.

I look up at him. “You told them?”

He nods. “Told you I was gonna.”

I lean into him.

Dad looks at me, then Gray, and back at me, before looking away and continuing. “He has two children with someone whose dad died, and she confronted him. He told her he was doing what he had to, to protect his boys. He told her it was for all of you. Then he tried to get money out of your mom. So did the woman. Your mom sent her money. When I asked why, she told me that no child should go hungry. The bitch told her it wasn’t enough. Not sure of the figure, but I’m telling you, it’s more than I’ve ever touched.”

“Two kids?” Gray asks.

Dad nods. “Don’t know all the details. Older one, you named a guitar after?”

Gray shrugs. “She’s family.”

“You’ve met her?” Garrett asks from behind.

“No. But it doesn’t matter. I know what I’d do for you two, what you’d do for me, what you’ve done for each other,” Gray states.

“Your mom said Mags was a better woman than she was. She credits her for who you boys are. I told her to give herself some credit.”

“Why?” Gage asks.

“Because she did what she did, wanting you boys to have a good life. She protected you from all that, and I know damn well she was telling the truth when she said she had no idea the hell Garrett went through. She said her intuition was right and was glad you didn’t have a constant reminder of a half-sister who is family to that monster.” He points at Gage. “She didn’t know about you and the rock, either.”

“She told you that?” Gage’s eyes widen.

“She told me a lot. I’m not saying a word outside of here. Your secrets are mine now, too. Apparently, my daughter’s going to be part of this fucked-up mess.” Grayson stiffens at his words. Dad notices. “I’m not sorry about that. I’m happy she’ll have men who will do whatever necessary to protect their family. Which brings me full-circle. Your father is running scared. Scared men do stupid shit.”

“Brand,” Juliana gasps.

“Fuck,” Garrett snarls.

Dad looks at me. “Call Janice and have her get them before she heads here.”

“Janice the bartender, Mom’s friend?” I ask as I scroll through my phone.

“Janice, the woman I’m gonna start dating as soon as I get back, if she’ll have me.”

I nod. “Is she the one you went on a date that night I was, you know.”

“Yeah,” he says.

“You do know you’re fucked up, Will, and you seriously should try it more often. You act half-human,” Phoenix tells him.

He closes his eyes. “You’re fired.”

“Again?”