ME
My father is not like yours was.
ME
And I can assure you, I have nothing to say. That won’t change.
P
I think you’ll regret that, son. But regardless, we need to talk.
P
In person.
It may seem cold or callous, but I have no desire to see or speak to my father, and I know that’s not what is important to Pete anyway. This is how my family works. Pete needs me for business, especially if my dad is on death’s door, and having me come home will just create a crack he can slink through. But I’m not fucking having it.
Duke is snoozing in his usual seat when I grab a towel and head for the shower. But as I do, my phone starts buzzing on the table beside me. It’s a New York area code.Pete.Fuck it, I’m done fucking around with him.
“You need to stop calling me,” I half growl into the phone.
I know he won’t say too much over the phone; his line is probably bugged by at least one government agency.
“Long time no chat, son.” The old country accent is much thicker in his voice than mine. He came from Ireland two years after we did.
“Aye, for good reason.”
“It’s time to let bygones be bygones, and there are some issues we need to discuss.”
I’m done speaking in tongues. “My father has had his funeral planned since I was a child. I won’t be coming back. I have nothing to say to him.”
“You know what happens when there’s much to be said andone party doesn’t cooperate?” my uncle asks me.
“Yeah, I fuckin’ do.”
I can picture exactly what happens a hundred times over thanks to the man rotting in New York.
“You have a good night, son.”
Pete hangs up after muttering those words, but they’re all I need to hear. He’s telling me he’ll come looking for me. Normally I wouldn’t give a fuck. I’ve hidden from them this entire time. Shit, even my home is owned by a numbered company rather than me. But if he comes looking now, he might find Olivia and the baby too. Over my dead body will the dark shadow of my father come anywhere near the only good sliver of light in my life.
I haven’t hurt a man in a long time. But I fear if my uncle takes this any further, if he ever finds me, I won’t just hurt him, I’ll put him in the fucking ground.
My rage has barely subsided when my phone rings again, but when I see Olivia’s name, my chest tightens with the thought of talking to her again before tomorrow. I couldn’t stay in the cab of my truck one second longer or I would’ve kissed her senseless, and I really don’t know if I would’ve had the strength to stop.
“Yes, you can bring the cow slippers,” I say gruffly into the phone.
“Asher?”
I sit up straighter on my sofa, immediately on high alert at the tone of her voice.
“Can you, um … I’m sorry, I know you haven’t been home long … I just—”
“Olivia, what is it?”
“I’m bleeding and I don’t know why.”
It feels like all the blood drains from my face, but I’m already grabbing my keys and blasting through the front door before she can say another word.
