Page 100 of Blind Prophet

There. That’s mature.

I’ve never been to a therapist, but I have to believe that’s what he’d tell me to say.

The door slams with an earsplitting loud bang.

I didn’t quite mean to slam it, but it’s a heavy fucking door.

The walk to my father’s house passes in a blur. By the time his house comes into view, I’ve got some ideas on how to prove to Caroline that the accusations are meritless. She’s going to feel like shit once I prove I’m not the asshole she believes me to be. Or will she?

Maybe this is all one big work project. She didn’t plan on spending the weekend.

Of course, Nick also mentioned the attacks. Is he the entity funding Arrow’s investigation? He told me to keep Caroline here.

Is more going on than I read in those messages between Caroline and SF?

I’ve always assumed Putin was behind the crap going on around the world. He’s the worst kind of greedy because what he wants more than anything is power and for history to see him as one of Russia’s great leaders, which in his mind requires expansion, treating the world like a Risk board for megalomaniacs. China’s Xi isn’t much better, but Europe doesn’t fit into his near-term or even mid-term goals.

My father’s house is quiet as I enter. It’s always quiet. He has plenty of staff, but they’re relegated to other sections of the house.

A light glows below the door to my father’s office suite. I rap against the door and push it open without waiting for a response.

My father reclines in his chaise lounge, eyes closed. Geoffrey sits behind his desk, tapping away on a keyboard.

He starts at my entrance. He’s in a suit, like always. The lamplight reflects on the gray strands, swept back and styled. With one quick scan of the room, I confirm the absence of nursing staff.

“Are you here because of my text?” He looks genuinely surprised, which is fair, because he didn’t ask me to come over. Typically, when he texts, I respond in kind.

“Wanted to check on Dad.”And for the thousandth time, my investment portfolios are not your concern, Geoffrey.“Have you seen his nurse?”

I’d like to find out how much they had to give him for him to settle down. If I’d known seeing Caroline would disrupt his day so significantly, I wouldn’t have brought her around.

My shoulder muscles burn, and I stretch my neck to the right, kneading the tight muscle. Dad’s eyelids flicker, like he’s waking. Or maybe he’s in REM.

“Why did you send me that text?” Clearly, Dad has been sleeping.

“Going through my to-do list. Like I said, I didn’t expect an immediate response.”

That’s fair. I often leave it to my assistant to respond to Geoffrey.

“I’ve been checking in with you on your—” I hold up a hand to stop him from continuing.

“I know.”I’m sorry, is on the tip of my tongue, but I bite it back, because Geoffrey’s still not in the right here. He’s fully aware he could back off and not bother me every time Dad tells him to, and Dad wouldn’t register if it was done or not. He’d probably love to manage part of my portfolio, but it’s not gonna happen. Unlike my father, I only hire the best, especially when it comes to portfolio management.

“Why is Caroline back?”

Does he remember her? Did he come to our wedding? Probably. Dad’s invitation list numbered in the hundreds.

“Does she want something?” Geoffrey’s question strikes me as intrusive, but depending on what he overheard Dad saying this afternoon, maybe it’s not. “Did she tell you why she’s here?”

“What did Dad say to you?”

“Dorian.” There’s a rattle in Dad’s throat.

“Are you thirsty?” I step to a bar cart that’s over to the side. Top-shelf alcohol bottles still adorn the bottom, but the pitchers on top are now water and orange juice. I pour Dad a highball glass of water and bring it to him with a straw, sitting on the edge of the chaise. Alcohol isn’t recommended, and whereas I thought we’d fight forever on that point, in the last year or so, it’s almost as if he’s forgotten to argue over his beverage choice.

His hand trembles as he reaches for the glass, so I keep hold of it as he sips.

A shadow falls over the rug, and I look up to find Geoffrey standing over us.

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