“What exactly do you know about what type of man he is?”
Shit. I walked right into that.
“I’ve been working with him for a few weeks now, and I just—”
“Stop. I didn’t make the sacrifices I made, and do the things I needed to do to get you into law school, just so that you could work with the dregs of the earth. That was not what I had in mind when I—” he stops himself.
“What is that supposed to mean? What did you do, Dad?” I lean forward in my chair, my elbows resting on the table.
“That’s not your concern.”
“Of course, it’s my concern. This has to do with me.”
“What I did to pay for your school is not your concern. I worked hard, I busted my ass, and in the end, you got the best education that I could provide you. I thought you’d make the world a better place, but instead, all you’re doing is cleaning it up from the criminals who—” Again, he stops talking.
“The criminals who what?”
“Forget it. There’s no talking to you.”
“Dad?”
He stands from his chair, and I follow suit. “I don’t want to fight with you.” My voice is low, sober.
“We aren’t fighting.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“Because I’m disappointed in you, Skye.” And then he turns and starts to walk out of the room.
My heart feels heavy. This is not what I wanted when I came here. I don’t know how much time we have, and I don’t want it to end this way.
“Dad,” I call out to him as he takes another step, this time to leave the room. He stops and turns around to look at me. “I’m sorry. I love you.” My words have him pivoting to look at me.
His chest rises and falls. His serious face softens. “I’m sorry, too, sweetheart.” Then he’s hugging me. “I’m so sorry I got cross.”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
“No, you don’t. You didn’t deserve it. I am proud of you every day. I’m so damn proud. I remember the girl you were, and I just—” A tear leaks from his eye. “I just wanted to give you everything.”
“You did.” My own eyes mist.
“I tried. I tried the best I could.”
“Dad, there was nothing I ever wanted for,” I tell him, and one lone drop of water trails down my cheek.
“You were and are my world, Skye.”
I pull back and look at him. My lips spread into a large, genuine smile. A playful one. “No other father would do half the stuff you did for me.”
“I didn’t do much.”
“I remember you taking me every day to the mall once it opened,” I remind him.
“You liked to shop.” He shrugs.
“But you couldn’t afford it.”
His cheeks redden. “I made do.”
“And then there were all the movies I dragged you to.”
His hand bats the air. “That was nothing.”
“And every day, you made me toast with strawberry jam because you knew I loved it.” At my words, his arms encircle me, one hand in the small of my back, the other rubbing comforting circles.
“You did love that.” He leans down and places a kiss on the top of my head. Like he used to when I was a little girl. When I needed him to make me feel safe.
“I did. I still do.” I hold my father tighter. I don’t know why he won’t tell me the truth about what he’s going through, and I don’t know if he ever will. But at this moment, protected in his arms, it doesn’t matter. Time isn’t something we have much of. We could have months, or we could have weeks. I refuse to waste the moments we have.
It’s been three days since I have seen my father, and the way he looked and talked still haunts my mind. I wish I would come out and ask him point-blank about everything, but truth be told, I’m scared. As much as I need to know from him that he’s dying, I’m petrified for him to confirm it.
I’m not usually this timid. Hell, I’m about to throw myself into the lion’s den tonight. But with my father, I will always be the lost little six-year-old who needed a home.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I stare at my reflection. My long black gown looks modest from the front. It’s the back that will stun, dipping lower than the small of my back.
Like Tobias, I have one goal, and tonight is when I set it in motion. It’s finally here. Tonight is the gala with Felix.
I’m not at all prepared. The first thing I want to do is ask him questions, but I don’t feel like he will answer any of them, not unless his guard is down. Maybe I can get him drunk.
The next thing is I need access to his computer. Not just his files. No, I need access to his apartment, which is risky, but seeing how he stares at me makes it even more so.