Page 49 of Steel & Jenna
The doctor was just leavingwhen a man stepped into Jack’s hospital room. He’d never met him before, but the expensive suit, haircut, and air about him clued Jack in quickly as to who he was.
Mr. Zarin must have sensed who he was too, because he moved to place himself between Jack and Mr. Scanlon. If things turned physical, there was no doubt who would win. But as Jack had learned the day before, the Scanlons didn’t fight their own battles.
Well, except for the youngest Scanlon.
Jack’s good eye looked behind Mr. Scanlon but caught no sign of Jenna.
“I came alone,” Mr. Scanlon said, guessing who Jack was looking for. “I thought it would give us a chance to talk. Man to man,” he added. Coming into the room, he eyed Mr. Zarin. “You must be Arnold Zarin. I heard Jack and his little sister were staying with a family friend for the weekend.” He reached his hand out to Mr. Zarin. “Barnaby Scanlon, but my friends call me Barry. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Mr. Zarin just stared at the outstretched hand. Jack had to turn his neck so he could see Mr. Zarin’s face and the man’s expression said he was neither impressed by their visitor nor pleased about the visit.
After several tense seconds, Mr. Scanlon dropped his hand. “Very well. I suppose after yesterday I deserve some coldness. But politeness is a virtue, Mr. Zarin.” Mr. Scanlon stepped to the side so he was standing at the bottom of Jack’s bed. “And you must be Jack Duncan.”
“Must I?” Jack questioned shortly. He didn’t like that his heart rate was being projected on a monitor for Mr. Scanlon to see.
Mr. Scanlon’s eyes narrowed at Jack’s insolence but also ignored it. After a pause, his lips twitched as if he was trying to force a smile that refused to form. “I do want to apologize for my wife’s behavior yesterday. As you can imagine, she was a bit distraught when she thought you were hurting our daughter. You must forgive a mother’s instincts to protect her baby.”
Jack bit his tongue against repeating “must I” again. Instead he just stared at Mr. Scanlon down the length of his bed.
He was sitting up slightly but not fully. His ribs couldn’t take sitting upright just yet, but he’d needed to move. He was stuck in this bed for the foreseeable future. It was bad enough he had a catheter in his bladder and had had to use a bedpan the night before. He did not like Mr. Scanlon being in his room while he was so vulnerable, but Mr. Zarin’s presence helped.
The two of them had stayed up as late as Jack could with the pain medication coursing through his system. To Jack’s surprise, Mr. Zarin hadn’t tried to talk him out of continuing to see Jenna or even scolded him for his spontaneous proposal. Instead, Mr. Zarin had told Jack about how he and Mrs. Zarin had met and how Mr. Zarin had bet Mrs. Zarin a whole quarter that he could getherto kisshim. Then Mr. Zarin had kissed young Daphne Blake, who had gasped and claimed that he’d just lost the bet becausehehad kissedher.
Mr. Zarin had handed her a quarter and told her it was worth it.
They were seventeen at the time and married within the year. That was twenty-five years ago.
“I know the look of a man who loves a woman, Jack. Just remember that loving her is not worth losing yourself. Learn who you are as a man so you canbecomethe man you need to be for her.”
“What is it we can do for you, Mr. Scanlon?” Mr. Zarin asked when the silence stretched on.
“Well, it’s more of what I can do for you.” Though Mr. Zarin had asked the question, it was Jack Mr. Scanlon spoke to. “I’m sure you’re aware of my offer to pay your medical expenses. After all, it’s the least I can do.”
“It truly is,” Mr. Zarin muttered under his breath. Neither Jack nor Mr. Zarin commented that it hadn’t been Mr. Scanlon’sofferthat was getting him to pay Jack’s hospital bill.
“I am a powerful man, Jack. No doubt, it was that power that drew you to my daughter in the first place. You know that I can get things done, get things for you. So, here I am.” The man opened his arms wide like a preacher. “Tell me what it is you want and it’s yours.”
“I want Jenna.”
Mr. Scanlon’s eyes narrowed as he slowly lowered his arms. “Well, unfortunately, Jenna is not an option.”
Jack remained silent.
Mr. Scanlon shifted, his face twitching as if he was fighting a scowl. “Come now, son. There must besomethingyou want.Anything.”
“I want Jenna.”
Mr. Scanlon’s nostrils flared as he squared his shoulders. “Jenna is not an option,” he repeated. Like she was a horse up for auction. “I am already writing a check for your medical expenses. Surely, I can add a little more on for you… To ease your broken heart.”
“Jen-na,” Jack repeated, saying her name in two distinct syllables.
Mr. Scanlon’s knuckles gripped the edge of Jack’s bed so tightly that they turned white. “A boy your age? I’m sure you’ve got your eye on a sweet pair of wheels for when you get your license. How about it? I’ve got a garage full of cars. Take your pick!”
“J-E-N-N-A,” Jack spelled her name out for her father.
“Ten thousand!” Mr. Scanlon said in a loud voice. “Cash! I can have it delivered to your room within the hour.”
“Ten billion,” Jack countered.
