Dad’s hands stopped moving and his head lifted. Slowly, he closed his laptop and stared at me with intensity.
“We don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mom objected.
Twisting my neck to face her, I blinked blankly at her, studying her body language at the same time. “I know about the girl and the drinking.”
“Why must you dig your nose into things you have no business knowing?” Dad asked.
“It was clear the two of you were hiding something. His fiancée is worried sick about him and the two of you refuse to tell her anything.”
“For good reason,” Mom defended. “That girl isn’t strong enough for Rome and the life we live. She’s weak minded so there was no need to tell her the truth. Plus, your brother made a mistake. We fixed it, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“What we do for your brother has nothing to do with you anyway.”
“Nakyra told me you two have been pushing for Rome to take over. I know that’s not for no reason. You covered this up for a reason bigger than just image, what is it?” I stepped backand crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for one of them to answer. My parents were alike in more ways than one. They were calculated and conniving. They would do anything to stay on top. Dad was ruthless in business and always found a way to make deals happen when he needed to.
“Your father is?—”
“Marisol,” Dad interjected, cutting a slicing look in her direction.
“He’s going to find out anyway, Deacon. Maybe it’s time for you to bring up that thing you were talking about.”
Now they had me curious. “Dad’s what? What’s going on? What else are you two hiding?” Wetting my lips, I bounced my eyes between the two of them and flattened my lips.
“I’ve been meaning to call and ask you to stop by, but I’ve been busy.”
I grunted out a laugh. “Before I arrived in town, it had been over six months since we spoke. Why do you suddenly need to talk to me?”
“I’m sick,” Dad admitted.
“Sick?” I raised a brow. He said it as if mentioning the weather, like it was no big deal.
“They found a mass on my lung and I have to start treatment soon.”
“Cancerous?”
“They believe so. I have to get further testing done.”
I slid my eyes to Mom; she looked in distress for the first time since I arrived. “And that’s why you’ve been pushing for Rome to take over sooner? What do I have to do with this?”
Dad straightened. “Once I start my treatment I’ll have to step down as CEO. My plan was to do it sooner than later, but with your brother unable to take over, I’ve been putting off treatment until I have someone capable enough to take over.”
I waited to feel something about hearing that my dad was sick, but I felt nothing. Growing up he was in the same position as my mom. He might have helped create me but he didn’t raise me or show any paternal love toward me.
“And what does this have to do with me?”
Mom scoffed. “Seriously, Creed? Do you have to sound so insensitive?” She gave me a displeased look.
Ignoring her, I stayed focused on my dad.
“If Rome doesn’t wake up soon, then you’ll have to step up and take over until he does.”
My head cocked to the side. “And why would I do that? Don’t you have a VP for this?”
“If you think I would hand my company down to someone who doesn’t share my blood then you’re out of your mind. My father built this company to what it is today and I will not disgrace his legacy by putting a non-Thornton in charge.”
My eyes went to Rome. Nothing seemed to have changed since I visited him a week ago.
“I have my own business to run.”
