Page 90 of Matteo

“Well, he has,” the old man says calmly. “He knows the results. He keeps me updated on the process. You've all kindly had yourselves tested, and for that I thank you. I appreciate it.”

Nobody says anything because it really didn't feel like a choice. It felt like an obligation. Something we had no hand in.

And something I'm starting to regret.

I glance at Jett. “I thought you matched?”

He clears his throat. “Matched blood, but I failed tissue typing.”

Lucky bastard.

For once in his life, Jett failed a test and still managed to come out ahead.

“A kidney from family means considerably more than one from a donor list,” the old man continues. “At present, Matteo is the only compatible match identified. Zach's testing is still ongoing. Regardless, I appreciate both of your efforts.”

Zach's expression hardens. “I've never heard you appreciate anything before, and today you've used that word numerous times already.”

The room falls silent.

“It's only because your life is on the line,” he says.

The old man stares back at him, unperturbed. “I know what you all must be thinking,” he says quietly, looking tired and worn down.

“Do you?” Zach snaps. “Do you know what I’m thinking?”

“You’re upset. I understand your rage.”

Zach’s face twists. “I’m not sure you do.”

“You should’ve just sent a text.” Dex steps into the firestorm. “Or put it in a memo like you normally do. No reason for a Knight family brunch, lunch, dinner, breakfast, whatever.”

The old man doesn’t respond.

“Did you really need a whole family meeting for this? Since when do you start caring about family?” Zach snarls. The resentment that’s been festering under his skin is now erupting like molten lava.

The old man adjusts the cuffs of his shirt. Even on a weekend, at home with failing health, he’s still wearing a crisp white shirt.

Oddly, no fucking tie though. “I have provided for you all as best as I could,” he says. “You are all set for life. Your children will want for nothing, neither will your grandchildren or their children. You have everything that money can buy. You can do anything, have anything, be anything. What I have given you is priceless.”

“Of course you would believe that,” Zach mutters, loud enough for us all to hear. Surprisingly, no one else has anything else to say about this ludicrous statement, but if my brothers feel what I’m feeling inside, they’re probably seething. My anger simmers dangerously beneath the surface, with old wounds and resentments bubbling close to the top.

“Why are we here?” Rio asks. “You already seem to know how things stand on the testing front. What more is there to discuss?”

The old man shakes his head. “No reason. I haven’t been in the office much lately. Haven’t seen any of you, and it's been a while since we all got together.”

I can't believe what I'm hearing, and judging by the looks on everyone's faces, neither can they. The silence engulfing us is heavy as we all realize that the old man is falling apart before our eyes. Not just physically, but emotionally.

Maybe his medication is messing with his heart, and dissolving that layer of steel it’s encased in. Maybe his brain is slowly turning to mush. Whatever it is, we don’t recognize this man. Since when does he get us together because he wants to see us?

It’s never been about us. For him it’s always been about the company, the next acquisition, the next merger, the next dollar.

He has so much and he’ll never be able to spend what he already has, not in a thousand lifetimes. He doesn’t understand what we are all now coming to realize; life is richer because of the people and the connections you have, because of the love and relationships you foster.

Sitting among us now, he suddenly looks so much older, and somehow smaller. And more human.

I feel a touch of guilt at the resentment I carry—because I might have to help him. Because despite everything he's done, despite every reason I've ever had to hate him, a small part of me doesn't want him to die.

I glance around the room. Nobody knows what to say. We've spent so many years being angry at him that none of us know how to handle his new vulnerability. And because of that, the pressure building inside my chest becomes harder to ignore.