Page 5 of Commit
The truth is, being a hitman pays exceedingly well. I’ve amassed a lot of money over the years. So much that I’ll never have to work another day in my life. Neither would my boys or their children when the time comes.
My house is paid for, as is the summer home and all my vehicles. I could have bought more, but for years, I lived a nomadic lifestyle, and that seemed pointless.
Turning on the radio, I listen to a country song about a man heartbroken that his wife left and took the dog. It makes me want to rip my own ears off, but it’s the distraction I need.
Yeah, there are a million things I could have done differently. But I didn’t, so now it’s time to deal with the fallout. Luckily, I have thick skin, and like Atlas pointed out, they might be my sons, but they’re not boys anymore. They can love and be protective of their mom’s memory, but I’ll be damned if I take their shit.
When I get to the hospital, I park the car and head inside, giving my ex-wife’s details to the woman at the information desk when I reach it. She gives me a sympathetic look before directing me to the third floor.
I take the elevator up, ignoring the looks I’m getting from the two nurses talking quietly to each other. On any other day, I might have taken one of them in the janitor’s closet. Hell, I would have taken them both together. But today, all I can think about is Landon and Abbot.
When the doors slide open, I walk out, not bothering to flash the nurses my patented smirk or play the gentleman by letting them leave first so that I can check out their asses. I just focus on getting to my boys.
I spot Landon first, taking in his wrinkled suit and the stubble on his face as he talks to one of the doctors. Abbot’s sitting in one of the hard chairs, staring off into space as he absently runs his fingers through the mass of blonde hair belonging to the girl curled next to him with her head in his lap.
“Dad?”
I refocus when I hear Landon’s voice. He says something to the doctor, who nods before he walks away.
Landon walks over to me, and I take in the way he carries himself. Say what you will about my boys, but they loved their mother. Her loss will affect them in a way losing me never did.
I get it. She was there for them. She stuck around—was there for every scraped knee, every football game, even their first heartbreak.
They didn’t get anything like that from me, so playing the father angle now won’t get me anywhere. It’s easier to let them take the lead with our relationship.
“You didn’t need to come,” Landon says before running his hands through his hair.
“Yeah, son, I did. What do you need from me?”
He opens his mouth but shakes his head and looks over at his brother, who’s still staring at the wall like there’s nobody else around.
“Look, a lot has happened since the last time we saw you. I don’t even know where to start. And honestly, I just don’t have the energy to get into it now.”
I don’t let his attitude bother me. “Do the police have any idea what happened?”
“If they do, they aren’t speaking. So far, all I know is that she was hit by a car, and it took off.” Landon grits his teeth as he continues. “She coded three times before they got her here. After that last time, the test showed no signs of any brain activity. They turned the machines off just before I called you. We’re just waiting for them to clean her up so we can go see her and say our goodbyes.”
He rubs his hand over his face. “When was the last time you spoke to Mom?”
I wrack my brain, knowing it’s been a while but not realizing just how long it’s been until now. “It’s been about four years. Jesus.”
He nods, his eyes moving back to his brother. “Abbot implied as much.”
“I wasn’t there before, but I’m here now.”
“Are you? Or are you gonna bail at the first sign of responsibility?”
I tense at that and take a step closer, lowering my voice so only he can hear me. “I get that you’re pissed, Landon, but I’m not gonna stand here and let you use me as a punching bag. You wanna take your shots? Wait until we’re behind closed doors.”
He sneers. “Right, I wouldn’t want to damage your reputation. Your boss might not like that.”
I sigh. I can’t say I’m surprised he knows about Atlas. The man is a big name around these parts, and Landon, ironically enough, decided to go into law. We’re on two very different sides, and though I’m proud as fuck of him, he still needs to learn when to watch his mouth.
“If you know who I work for, then you know you should be very careful about what you say around other people who can hear you. If you’re disrespectful, it will have to be dealt with.”
He rolls his eyes but, thankfully, doesn’t say anything more on the subject. “Did you know Mom got remarried?”
That makes me jolt. “What the fuck?”