Like I'm already in ruins.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

TANK

As I walk through the corridors of the hospital trying to find the signs leading to the billing office, I mentally calculate how long this trip will take. Leaving Emma after what happened last night was the last thing I wanted to do, but the first installment payment from my father hit my account this morning. Finn and I can finally clear the latest round of my mom's medical bills.

"She's fine, you know. She's safe at my penthouse. You need a keycard to reach that floor."

"Yeah I know." What he doesn't get is that I can't take chances with Emma. Just the thought of anything happening to her … is unimaginable. 

“Here it is. Billing.” Finn points at the sign on the door to our left.

We enter the small waiting room. The young woman behind the desk perks up and directs her smile at Finn.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, we’re here to arrange payment on our mother’s account.” Finn pulls the last hospital bill printout from his pocket and slides it across the desk to her.

She glances at me briefly and then turns to her computer. A few key taps later, she frowns. “The balance on this account has already been paid.”

“What?” I lean over the desk and try to see the screen of her computer. “It hasn’t been that long since we got the last bill. Who paid it?”

“Sir, I really can’t give out patient information. Someone in your family must have gotten their wires crossed. But you'll have to deal with it directly or your Mom has to authorize us to speak with you about her account."

Finn leans over the counter, all smile and charm. “It’s okay, sweetheart. It’s probably just our father. It’s Maxwell Marshall, right? That’s our dad. Usually we handle all these details but he must have gone ahead and taken care of it for us.”

She visibly relaxes. I can practically see her melting in front of us. Finn tends to have that effect on women. “Oh good. I’m glad.”

"Thank you for your help …” His eyes drop to the nametag pinned above her left breast. "Ms. Weston. We really appreciate it."

As we walk away, I ask, “How did you know it was him?”

Finn glances behind him. The nurse is still watching us. He waves and she smiles back at him. “Who else would it be? Not that many people know she’s sick and even fewer have that kind of cash. He’s probably just feeling guilty. Whatever. I don’t care why he did it. I’m just glad he did.”

“Yeah. Me too. I’m just surprised.”

“All right. I’m out of here. I have an appointment in a half hour.” He seems nervous and something about that dings my internal radar.

“What’s up with you today? You seem anxious about something. What’s this meeting for?”

“It’s nothing. Just meeting up with an old friend. I’ll see you later, Tank.”

The woman who answers the door of my father’s hotel room is about my age with wild red hair. I’ve never seen her before. I guess I should get used to this. My father is a rich man and he seems to have any number of people working for him.

“Uh, hi. I’m here to see my father. Is he here?” I probably should have called ahead but I was going on instinct.

“You must be Tank. I’m Charlene, your father’s personal assistant. He’s handling something right now but I’m sure he’ll want to see you. Follow me.”

His personal assistant. I wonder what the other lady was. His second assistant? Assistant to his personal assistant? Is this what I’ll be like in twenty years? It’s a strange thing to think of the future now. There was a time I wondered if I’d live to see thirty at all. Longevity isn’t assumed when you spend your time watching the world through a scope.

But I have an entirely different future to look forward to now. Since my mom’s astronomical hospital bill was cleared, I can use my money to set up the other treatments she needs. We can afford for her to complete chemotherapy and even try some of the therapies offered overseas. Things that aren’t approved yet in the U.S. but have been saving lives in other countries.

I’m not used to feeling gratitude but that’s what this is. He’s given me back my hope for a little while. The least I can do is say thank you in person.

It makes me feel guilty that I assumed he was so cold. He’s asked for very little actually. He just wanted to see me.

As we pass through the outer doors into the main area of the hotel suite, there’s a sudden, loud voice. The door to one of the bedrooms opens.

“Don’t think this is the last you’ve heard from me, old man. I know everything.” Mr. Boyd exits followed by two of the big, burly guys I remember from last time.

As they pass, Boyd points a finger at me. “He manipulates everyone around him. Don’t for one minute think you’re any different.”

One of the guys grabs him by the arm. “Come on. You’ve said your piece.”

“He hired that girl to draw you in and it worked. But he’ll get rid of you just as quickly as he did me when he’s done with you.”

I reach out and grab his arm. He’s so startled that he halts his tirade. I hold up a hand to the two security guys. “Wait a minute. Let him speak.”

His skin has turned a sickly shade of green under his spray tan but he must sense this will be his only chance. “You should know the truth about him. He uses his money to control everyone around him, including his children. He probably figured one million was a cheap price to pay to get you right where he wants you. You’re a fool if you believe otherwise.”