Killian (Hope City #8) - Kris Michaels Page 0,82
his hands in the pockets of his bespoke slacks. “Sometimes, actions we take push us down the wrong road. Past wrongs are almost impossible to fix.”
Killian adjusted on the bed, and the movement caught his father’s attention. “Do you need assistance?”
“No, thank you. What past wrongs are you speaking of?”
His father’s humorless chuckle preceded his return to the hospital bed. “They are so numerous, but toward you, I would start with trying to force you into a mold in which you would never fit.”
Killian rubbed his face and adjusted in the bed again. “You’ll forgive me if I’m slightly taken aback.”
“I would expect nothing else.” His father cocked his head. “I am drawing up the papers to release my holding in your company.”
“Why?”
“Because it is the right thing to do. For me.” His father paced back to the window.
Killian watched his father for a moment. “Perhaps I can rephrase that question to ‘why now?’”
“Several months ago, I had a visit from a woman I initially met here at the hospital. She was… a straight shooter, I believe you might say.” He shrugged. “I believe her parting comment to me was to pull my head out of my ass or I’d not only lose Ryker but I’d lose the rest of my family.”
Killian felt his mouth go slack and drop open. What? Who in the world? “Who?”
Benjamin chuckled. “One Mrs. Hannah King. She spoke her mind, and when I would have thrown her out of the house, she stepped up and shook a finger at me, all while continuing to lecture me on family and the importance of relationships, especially as one grows older.”
A quick huff of disbelief turned into a chuff of laughter and then a full-on rumble. “Hover Mother, activate.” He murmured the words Bekki and her brothers had repeatedly muttered about their mom.
“Since that time, I have taken stock of the things I have done—or not done. I am an imperfect man who has made many mistakes. This is me trying to rectify at least one of them.”
Killian snapped his attention to his father. “Are you dying?”
His father’s eyes flared. “I assure you I am in good health.”
“Huh.” Killian dropped his head back against the pillow. “What is your next course of action in your redemption plan?”
“Xander, Dimitri, and Elias. Each deserves this visit.”
“But not Ryker.”
Benjamin drew a deep breath and looked down at the floor. “Ryker has borne the brunt of my ire for his entire life. My anger is not with him, but with his father. Due to his remarkable resemblance to his father, both in voice and physical stature, he was an unfortunate substitute for my hatred. I regret my actions; however, I was incapable of preventing them.”
Killian surged forward and hissed as his incision pulled. “Excuse me, what?”
“A story I must first tell Ryker. I will offer him an explanation for my actions and I will apologize, but that is a task I must undertake when I deem it appropriate.” His father cleared his throat. “Do you require any assistance? Help getting the build site repaired or medical care while you recuperate?”
“Ah, no, thanks. I’ll call my project manager. He’s probably going crazy.” Killian glanced at the clock. Yeah, Garret would be insane. He should have had Bekki call him last night.
“I drove to the development this morning before I came here. The explosion has strewn debris across a wide area and several containers were damaged. There was a small group of men at the gate. I pulled in and identified your project manager. I asked him to do what he could when the police released the scene. He asked that you call when possible.”
He felt his eyebrows raise toward the ceiling. “Thank you.”
His father’s eyes darted toward the door and then back to him. “I will leave now, but I would like the opportunity to call on you in a couple days to see how you are feeling.”
Killian nodded. “Any time, sir.”
His father drew a deep breath and then another. A smile tugged on the edges of his lips. “This is a good start. I look forward to further progress.”
“As do I, sir.”
He watched his father leave and dropped his head against the pillow. Either hell had frozen over, or Benjamin Ganas was up to something. Killian glanced out the window. Yeah… no snow.
Chapter 19
Bekki parked her car in front of Killian’s condo. A mental snort echoed in her head at the term ‘condo’. It was a house. It was actually a set