Page 70 of Designation: Null

“What? What do you mean? Since when?” Logan asks, and reaches for Robert, on the verge of collapse.

“Let’s all sit down,” Robert says, like the voice of reason. He leads them to the living room. “Aaron, can I get you something to drink? Logan?”

“What? No,” Logan says.

“Could I have some water?” Aaron asks, blinking rapidly as he looks around the room.

“Sure. I’m gonna throw a shirt on, too,” Robert says and disappears into the bedroom.

Aaron leans closer. “Logan, I’m sure this is quite a shock to you. But you need to know. Father likely won’t survive the week. He had a heart attack and they didn’t get him to the hospital in time. He’s brain dead.”

Logan isn’t sure how he feels but a hysterical laugh is gathering force beneath his ribs. He takes a deep breath and tries to will it away. “How did I not know this?”

“The moment word gets out, the shareholders might revolt. We’ve been keeping it quiet while we waited to see if he might recover. I’m sorry, Logan. I’m sorry about all of this.”

Robert comes back into the room, bringing them both something to drink, and sits down beside Logan. “What is it?” he asks.

“My father is dying.”

“Logan, I’m so sorry,” Robert says.

“Will you get Daniel out?” Logan demands, cutting off Robert’s sympathy. There are more important things than condolences.

“Of course! Let’s get him out. How do we do that?” Aaron asks.

“If he’s now under your custody then you can bring him out of stasis. You said you received the notification of Logan’s change in status?” Robert asks calmly.

“I’m going through everything. I have access to his accounts now. I thought I had access to everything but I didn’t. His secretary brought me the email, told me that you and Daniel were alive, and I rushed over here immediately.” He takes a shaky breath. “You have to understand, Logan. Please. I knew you both had gone into the military, but I didn’t know you’d become submissive. Father never mentioned. He said you were both dead. That it happened when I was working overseas and that negotiations were too delicate for me to return for the funeral.”

“And you believed that?”

“Logan, I’ve seen your headstones. Of course I did. He said you were both heroes. He lamented often that I wasn’t more like you.”

Logan laughs bitterly. “And yet he hated me and Daniel and told us how at least he had one son who wasn’t a mistake.”

Aaron is very pale. He shakes his head, jaw clenched tight as he seems to be deciding what to say.

“I’m so sorry,” Aaron finally responds. “I know that means nothing. I’ll get him out, Logan. I swear. And of course you can do what you like with your life. I won’t interfere,” he promises, looking between the two of them.

“Youcan’tinterfere,” Robert says, voice hard and with more than a hint of threat. “He’s an adult who can make his own decisions. The law agrees with that. If you try to control him or Daniel, then we’ll sue. We will make your life a misery—”

Logan has a very hard time not sobbing or whimpering then. Robert wants to protect Daniel, too. He didn’t tell his Daddy about his brother and he should have. Hell, he would have. He just needed the timing to be right and it never was. But he can tell that Robert means it, that he will keep the both of them safe and Logan trusts him to do so. The relief of knowing that he can trust Robert, his Dominant, with his brother’s secret is such a relief that he has to put his head in his hands and take several deep breaths. Everything will be okay.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Aaron holds up his hands. The conversation isn’t over. Robert puts a hand on Logan’s shoulder, a silent offer of support.

“Please. This isn’t necessary. Logan can do whatever he wants to do. He’ll have a trust and property and you can both disappear forever if that’s what you need to do. I hope it won’t be but I won’t stand in your way, Logan.” He seems sincere.

“I want Daniel out of there,” Logan says, leaning forward. “If you’re apologetic, then that’s what you’ll do. What happened to him isn’t his fault. He’s missed so much already and….” His voice breaks. “What if he’s cold?”

Aaron shoves to his feet and pulls out his phone, calling his attorney. He goes to the corner of the room, looking out the window as he tries to get information about Daniel.

Logan buries his head back in his hands, overwhelmed by all of it. Seeing Aaron again—his brother who isn’t ashamed of him. His father is dying and Logan should feel grief but he doesn’t. He’s free. Maybe they both are. Should he feel guilty for only feeling relief that his father is dying? Does he have to go see him? Doesn’t he want proof that his father is actually dying?

Robert puts an arm around him, hauling him close.

Aaron gets off the phone and comes back. “They’re going to see what they can do. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything,” he promises. “We’ll get him out. I’ll spend whatever it takes, Logan.”

The silence is painful, neither of them knowing what to say. Where to start. At last, Aaron says, “If you want to see him before he dies, then we should go now. He won’t wake up and god knows if he can hear you—”

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