Page 4 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

I smiled. He was finally flirting back. I had successfully cheered him up.

His eyes left mine.

I turned around to see that he was staring at the TV screen behind me. There was a news broadcast on about the tech mogul, James Hunter, and his new wife. He had gotten shot on their wedding night. It wasn't looking like he was going to make it. They had been reporting on it for the past several days. "It's tragic. Aren't they the sweetest couple? I really hope he pulls through."

"Yeah. Yeah, me too. I should probably get going. Could you check on my phone?"

I turned back to him. Like a switch, he looked grim again. "Yeah, sure. Let me go check."

As I walked down the hall I heard my dad coughing in his office. It probably wasn't the best time to have the conversation we needed to have. But I couldn't stand the thought of him lying to me. Just the thought made my blood boil. I needed to know why he didn't tell me about the bar failing. I needed to clear the air between us. I knocked on his door and poked my head in. "Hey, Dad."

"Hi, honey. How's business tonight?"

I bit my lip. Anna could handle everyone for a second. I stepped into his office and closed the door. "Good." I took a deep breath. "Dad, I saw the bills."

He raised his eyebrows. "What bills?"

I put my hands on my hips. "The overdue notices. The foreclosure."

His pretend shocked face disappeared. He nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was waiting for you to finish school. I didn't want..."

"The bank is taking back the bar at the end of next month? We barely have any time to fix this. You should have told me."

"I didn't tell you because there's nothing we can do."

"Of course there is. I don't even understand what happened. Everything seemed fine over winter break. And there's tons of people out there right now. It doesn't add up. We should be cash flow positive."

"We are. I've...been using the money."

"For what?"

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I didn't want you to find out like this."

"Find out what?"

"All the money has been going to my chemo treatments."

My whole body suddenly felt cold. "Chemo? What are you talking about?"

His eyes looked slightly teary. He clasped his hands together on the top of his desk, like this was just a normal business meeting. "I have lung cancer."

I shook my head. "No. Dad. You can't..." I put my hand over my mouth.

"I do."

"No. We have to go get a second opinion. That's impossible. You've never even smoked."

He shook his head. "I've gotten a second opinion."

"Okay, so what can we do next?"

"Nothing. I'm dying, Hails."

"But can't you get treatment? Can't..."

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