Page 128 of The Beast's Heart

He laughs softly. “Weren’t you the one who was telling me there’s too much space in our old home?”

I hadn’t even thought of that, hadn’t even considered the possibility. Adam has adopted the children. They could live in Surrey as easily as in Scotland. “You wouldn’t mind? Having children running around?”

“Mind? Have you forgotten your old man so completely in a mere six months?”

Dad loves children. That’s why he became a teacher, and why he had so many of us. He dotes on his grandchildren when he gets to see them, which isn’t nearly as often as he’d like.

“I—I’ll speak to Adam.” This feels huge, overwhelming and yet so very right. I’m almost afraid to hope it might work out.

I called Zane before I went in to see Dad. The updated Covid protocols only allow one visitor at a time, so Zane goes in to see him when I leave and I wait for him outside the building.

I text Adam again.

Good news. The surgery went well :). Dad is awake and back to his old self already. Thank you so much for everything. Can we talk?

Radio silence continues. I try not to worry. Maybe something happened to his phone. Maybe he didn’t bring his charger to New York and it ran out of battery. Or he lost it.

Or he doesn’t want to speak to me and is trying to make a clean break. The thought is like a loose tooth. I keep worrying at it. It’s not out of character for Adam to avoid things he’s uncomfortable with. I didn’t give him an answer about staying with them. Is he upset about that?

After Zane’s done with his visit, we return to Elam’s house, where Elam fusses over me. He’s shocked to hear I haven’t eaten since he last fed me and positions me in front of the television, with the remote in one hand and a sandwich in the other.

Now the adrenaline of the day has worn out, exhaustion seeps into my bones. I flip between channels.

A Hallmark movie. An advert for an all-in-one vacuum cleaner. Something about wildlife. A cooking show. Adocumentary about Cleopatra. An advertisement for a sports match. An episode of Real Housewives?—

I flip back to the sports ad. Something caught my attention and I’m not sure what.

Bright 3D text advertising a LEGENDARY RAMPAGE is super imposed on a silhouette of a mystery guest. A booming voice is saying, “—Friday night, streaming live from the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Back in the ring for the first time in over a decade, this legend is hungry for blood.”

I hardly hear the rest—some punt for pay-per-view.

“Hey, Zane? What day is it?” I ask.

Zane is chatting to Elam in the kitchen. He pokes his head out. “Friday. Why?”

My heart is in my throat. “Can I have Brian’s number, please?”

Elam comes over, concerned, but he doesn’t ask why I need it.

Brian answers on the first ring. He seems delighted that I’m not a telesales call and is ready to chat. It’s a moment before I can work in my question. “Have you seen Adam today?”

“What? No. I thought he was with you.”

I feel the blood drain from my face and Zane must see it because he comes to sit beside me. “What’s wrong?”

“I— I think that I just saw him on TV.” I would recognize that silhouette anywhere. “I think he’s going to fight. Tonight.”

Zane and Elam are looking at me expectantly. Brian says, “Okay?”

Of course, to them he’s just a wrestler. That’s what he does. I know it’s supposed to be a secret, but I have to tell them. “Adam can’t fight. He has brain trauma. He could die.”

Brian swears softly on the line. Elam’s hand flies to his throat. Zane’s brow furrows, his gaze turning intense. “What do you want to do?”

I wring my hands. “I think I need to come up with another bullshit plan. I need to save him.”

53

GEOFF

---