BOUND TO HIM (Book II: Captured series)

12. Logan

People get what they deserve.

It doesn't matter how much money or power you hold. We all have to die in the end. It's just a different route that leads to the same destination. For some it's quick and peaceful while others like my father suffer a slow, painful death.

I would be lying if I said I didn't see this coming yet it somehow felt wrong. I always pictured Brandon McKenzie's demise to be in a battle, at the hand of someone who hated him. Not through cancer. This is going to be torturous for him and I get it then. That was the point, for all the sufferings he's caused to the people from his past, he deserved to go through pain. For getting killed while fighting would be how he'd want it, and fate wasn't ready to let him have things his way. Not anymore.

As I'm marching up the stairs of my childhood home, my phone comes to life. Elle's tender voice on the other end is a surprise because she never calls me and I don't know why but sometimes the fact that she never really needs me frustrates the hell out of me. So I welcome the call with a smile on my face, my body already growing eager to see her again. My mother's eyes widen slightly before she realizes the reason behind my smile and she grins, continuing her way up.

I quickly put the phone away as I speak behind her, "I think I should talk to him alone, maybe if he thinks we're not all trying to pressure him out he'll give in"

"Son, he knows it already but sure we'll do it your way" She moves away from the door and I take lead. I wait for the old man to cease his coughing before entering. He sat at his desk, with a stack of papers in front of him, his eyes looking up over the rim of his glasses. "Did you bring that agreement with Elijah Salzar?" He questions in his usual hateful tone.

Somethings never change I guess.

"I handed it over to Catherine last night" I reply, shutting the door behind me while wondering how is he still worried about work. The man's dying on the inside yet he seemed so cool about it. Had he accepted the reality?

"So what brings you here?" He inquires, looking back down to whatever needed his utmost attention. A minute passes, I stand in silence not really sure how to bring it up. For once in my life I was glad at father's intelligence because his scowl tells me he's figured out the reason for my visit.

"Fucking hell! Tell your mother to mind her own fucking business" He leans back, tossing the pen in his grip at the desk to show his annoyance.

Classic Brandon McKenzie.

"Looking out for her husband's health seems like her business" I tell him.

"Do you even know how she found out? She hired someone to get information on me! My own fucking family!"

That's right, both my parents are crazy!

My mother's actions were not known to me and I try my best to conceal the surprise. I can deal with that later. "It's not like you share things with your family, especially something as crucial as you dying" I state, waiting for the word to leave some kind of effect on me but I get nothing. My father's at his death bed and I feel nothing. Should I be bothered by that revelation?

"I'm fine! People get over that!" He yells which immediately snaps back at him as he starts coughing his lungs out.

As I wait for him to settle down, realization hits me hard. He's in denial and my mother wants me to be the one to break it down to him. She knew exactly what would happen if she were to tell him the truth in his face and although it's a cunning scheme on her end, I'm willing to take the responsibility. In a way it's good that I feel empty about his sickness.

"Sometimes people do and sometimes they don't. I'm sorry to tell you in your case it's the latter"

"And you're saying this based on what?" He challenges, his voice tight but controlled.

"Based on the fact that I've read you're reports. Why  would you hide this from us?" I question back. My father is in the third stage of lung cancer and the fact that he's been keeping it a secret all this thine annoys me. No wonder my mother decided to hire someone.

"There's nothing to say! I'm fine" The constant wheezing says otherwise.

"How about you let me handle work? Go through your radiation and chemotherapy, get some rest" I suggest because the worst thing you can do to a dying person is to keep reminding them about it.

"No! This is the only thing I've got left!"

What an idiot! I wanted to walk over to his desk and shake some sense into him but I decide to take a different route. "Keep pretending and you'll have nothing"

"Get the hell out of here!" Another onslaught of coughs hit him and it's only then that I notice the cigarette lying in his ashtray and the glass of bourbon next to it. Just for his sake, I don't push him.

"It'll be easier if you come to terms with this" I turn around with those words, facing my mother outside. I shake my head and she nods at me as she whispers, "I've hired a full time nurse to be around him"

I could already imagine the hardships that poor woman would have to face if she's around my father but it doesn't change the fact that he needs someone.

"I'll stop by in the morning" I already knew that convincing my father is not a one time job. Considering his stubbornness and anger issues, I'll have to talk to him a few times to make him understand. I hug my mother goodbye before I head out, my body acting on its own to drive me to the only thing that made sense in my life.

A/N:

This was a rushed chapter so I had to cut it short!

And I didn't proof read it so I'm sorry for any errors!

I have my yearly medical test tomorrow so I'm trying to get to bed early!

Next chapter will be longer!

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Thank you for reading ❤️