Pushing back the chair, I rise and loom over his bedside. “You’re flat on your back. Your men are out of commission. I might be your worst-kept fucking secret, but I’m the one who’s finally going to take care of the shit you’ve let hang over this family for years.”
I back away toward the door as Dom’s stare turns harder with my every step. I grip the doorway.
“You don’t think I can do it? That’s fine by me, Dom. I’ll let you know when it’s done. You can thank me then.”
I stride out of the room and stalk down the hall.
“Cannon.”
My name comes out of nowhere, and my head’s on a swivel as I try to figure out where the hell the rough voice is coming from. The room next door belongs to Creighton, and he’s sitting up in his bed with Holly nowhere in sight.
I stop in the doorway. “What?”
He’s propped up on pillows, and I’m happy to see his color has started to come back. Of course a bullet wouldn’t be able to keep Creighton Karas down for long. The man’s practically superhuman.
He waves me in with two fingers, and like the errand boy I’ve always been, I step inside at his beckoning. As soon as the thought occurs to me, my feet stop when I’m only halfway to his bed.
“What?” I repeat, my tone sharp.
Creighton swallows, and I’m reminded of all the times I picked up the phone to reach out to him for advice, but didn’t call because he told me he never wanted to hear from me again.
“You’ve got nothing to prove to that old man or anyone else. You hear me?”
My hands clench into fists at my sides. “It’s been years, Crey. You don’t know shit about me anymore, including what I’ve got to prove and to whom.”
“It hasn’t been long enough for me to forget what kind of man you are. You want to get out of this shit? This life? I can get you out. Cut ties with Dom. Walk away and move on.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks, and I have to wonder if he’s holding himself back from straight up giving me orders like he used to be able to. But not anymore. I’m not Creighton Karas’s man. I’m not anyone’s fucking man butmine.It’s time to prove that to every single goddamned person in the world who thinks I’m nothing but a lackey.
“I appreciate your offer, Crey. But I don’t need it. I’m done following Dom’s orders or anyone else’s. I’m my own man, and I make my own fucking decisions.”
Creighton’s lined features smooth out. His dark gaze shifts, and what I see there looks a hell of a lot like pride.
“Be safe then, brother. You and I have a lot to talk about when I get out of here, and I’ll regret it until the last day of my life if we don’t get that chance.”
Brother.
The word hits me like a cement truck.
This man, the one who helped me figure out exactly who I was and taught me so much about life, is recognizing me as an equal. The weight I’ve been carrying around at the breach in our relationship dissipates where I stand.
“I’d like that, Crey. See you soon.”
He nods at me and I head out of the room, almost running into Holly, who is returning with a container from the cafeteria.
“Holly. Take care of him.”
“I will, Cannon.” She smiles at me. “And you take care of yourself.”
I stride out of the room, sure she overheard at least part of our brief conversation. I’m almost to the next doorway when I hear Creighton’s gravelly voice, and my feet stop of their own volition.
“He better not get himself killed. Not now. Not when I’m just getting him back. I won’t have it.”
“Oh, babe. You know Cannon’s not like that.”
“That was before. I don’t know this Cannon, but I sure as hell hope I get the chance to.”
I don’t know if Creighton is aware I can still hear him, but I start moving again, my determination fueled by sources in every direction.