Page 32 of Legacy
“I have work.” I didn’t want him to worry about me. Not with everything that was happening. “Me and Conner will be fine without you.” I tried to force myself to smile. “We will just have dinner and chill.”
“I’ll be back before dinner.” Another kiss on the top of my head. He couldn’t seem to help himself. “It’s your birthday and I’m taking you out.” He smiled sadly. “No arguments.”
Across from us, Duke grinned. It was the kind of smile that said ‘I told you so’.
“What is that asshole smiling about?” Legacy cocked his head to the side. He didn’t look angry, just curious.
“You just went to prove my point, brother.”
“Point?” Legacy’s eyes flicked down to me. “What point?”
“Duke thinks you need me. That you are in love with me.”
“Oh.” Legacy shrugged. “I am in love with you. Pretty sure I’ve told you that before. And I need you. Probably more than you will ever need me. Don’t leave me, okay?”
“I…I just…” I stuttered. “I just don’t like being a bother.”
His arms around me tightened, squeezing the breath out of me but making me feel safe. “You’re the only thing in my life that doesn’t feel out of control right now. Don’t let go of me now.” His voice took on a begging note. “I need you.”
“I won’t leave you,” I promised, and there it was. No matter what my doubts and hang-ups were, I didn't want to leave him. It had been ten years since Paul had died and in those ten years, I had never allowed myself to be happy. I hadn’t thought I deserved it.
Being with Legacy made me happy. Or at least it made me feel like happiness was possible.
“Go to bed, baby.” Lifting my chin, Legacy caught my lips with his for a second. “I’m just going to talk to Duke for a minute and then I’ll be up.” Another kiss. “I think we both need sleep. And I want you in my arms when I drift off.”
Chapter Fourteen
Legacy
It felt like I was forever doomed to lose the people I loved. My mother, my brother and my best friend had all died, all left me, and now it looked like my father was going to as well.
I wasn’t particularly close to my dad. I never had been, but to hear the doctors talk about tumours and months at most to live was…words couldn’t describe.
I was about to lose my father.
And it would be a slow, agonising death. The kind of death that he wouldn’t want. I knew my father, the asshole that he was. He would want to go out swinging, throwing his fists and swearing like a trooper. The mass growing in his skull wouldn’t allow that.
By the end, he would be a shell of a man.
As much as I disliked him, I didn’t want that for him.
“How long has he…” To my right, my sister's voice broke. She had flown in this morning, coming instantly when I had called, leaving her husband on his world tour behind her. She liked our dad even less than I did. But he was still our dad.
Under the table, I reached for her hand and squeezed. Elodie had built an amazing life for herself. Married to a rockstar and living the dream, she had finally left all the pain of the past behind her. I hated dragging her back in.
“How long has he known?”
“He just didn’t want any of you to worry until it was time.”
“How long, Domino?” she snapped, her eyes flashing.
He met her angry gaze with quiet acceptance. “A few months. I didn’t find out straight away.”
A few months? I swallowed the news. Ghost had been dealing with his impending death for a few months alone. Hiding it from even his own family. Unwilling to ask for help.
“What treatment is available?” My voice came out strong. Much stronger than I felt. No matter what, Ghost was my dad, I had a responsibility to him.
Slowly, Domino turned his face to meet mine. He didn’t need to answer. I could read what he was going to say clearly on his face.
