True Blue Son (The Syndicate-Born Trilogy Book 3)

by K. M. Hodge

  Zane set up the IV with a full banana bag. “The potassium you ordered. Take off your shoes.”

  Charles toed off his shoes and pulled off his socks without comment, then lay down on the leather sofa. In a few minutes he would go into cardiac arrest, just like that goody-two-shoes old man.

  “How’s Manny?”

  The muscles along the boy’s jaw twitched. “Stable.”

  “Good. You know you don’t have to worry about anyone. I’ve got my men on everyone, even that psychiatrist and that detective friend of Manny’s. I assure you, Scott can’t touch them.”

  He didn’t understand why everyone was treating him like a monster.

  I’m the one who’s putting his life and freedom on the line to stop a fucking psychopath.

  “Whatever.” Zane cleaned a spot on Charles’ foot and jabbed him with the IV needle.

  “Ah, damn! Where’s the bedside manner, Doc?”

  Zane cleaned up the garbage, putting it all in his bag. “I have zero fucks left to give, Mr. MacAvoy.”

  “Damn if you aren’t just like your old man.” Charles unclenched his hands and tried to relax.

  “You knew him?” Zane stared at the IV, his lips forming a grim line.

  Charles couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the boy’s attempt to hide his interest. “Yeah, he married my ex-wife. He died saving her and their unborn baby. The papers called him Superman.” He turned his head to face the boy. “Wait, you haven’t read Jason’s book?”

  “No, no, I haven’t. Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

  “Touchy subject?”

  Zane sat cross-legged on the floor across the room. The kid looked just like a young Alex, right down to the scowl.

  He couldn’t help but wonder why talk of his biological father would get the kid all riled up like that, but best not to piss him off further—especially since his life was in the boy’s hands now.

  Instead, he texted out a message on his smart watch to Sally’s surgeon, giving the go ahead for the transplant. Zane seemed to be living up to his end of the bargain, so Charles needed to live up to his and help the boy’s mother, whose surgery was scheduled for that morning. The surgeon was under orders to begin as soon as Charles was wheeled into the hospital.

  As the minutes passed by, he started to feel a tightening in his chest that radiated down his arm. “Is this gonna hurt?”

  Zane chuckled and gave Charles his first genuine smile since he’d arrived. “Like a motherfucker.”

  Chapter 8

  Charles MacAvoy’s Estate

  Danville, Virginia

  June 28, 2026

  7:00 AM

  ~~~

  Charles winced and clutched at his chest. “Oh, fuck, this hurts!”

  Zane shifted on his spot on the floor. He had an ampule of morphine in his bag to help Charles with the pain, but wanted him to feel the full weight of his choices first. The man didn’t give a shit about anyone else but himself and his insatiable need to enact his revenge on Scott. He certainly didn’t care about Zane’s mother’s health and wellbeing. She was simply another means to his unsavory ends.

  “Can’t you give me something?” A stream of tears slid down Charles’s cheeks.

  Zane dug into his bag and pulled out the syringe and morphine. He drew out a reasonable dose and injected it into the IV port. He couldn’t in good conscious watch the man suffer anymore. “There.”

  Charles’ breathing became less shallow and the muscles in his face and hands began to relax. “What the fuck, kid! Why didn’t you give that to me sooner?”

  “You really have to ask me that?”

  Charles shook his head and activated his smart watch. “Point taken, but I think it’s time to call 911 so you should probably get out of here. There’s a car waiting for you outside to take you back to the hospital.”

  “I’ll order the medication you’ll need and have it waiting in the pharmacy for your personal nurse to pick up.” Zane started to pack up his things, his heart beating hard against his chest. The weight of his actions hit him hard.

  If this man dies....

  “Thanks, kid,” Charles said as he dialed 911. “Yeah, I think I’m having a heart attack,” he told the operator. “Yeah, my chest... it’s hard to breathe. Yes, please hurry.”

  Charles grabbed Zane by the wrist and mouthed, “Thank you.” A moment later, he started to slip into unconsciousness.

  Zane felt Charles’ pulse—thready, but still there. He let out a quick sigh of relief. He hadn’t killed the man, or at least not yet. Crossing himself, he said a quick prayer that the ambulance would get there in time. He then checked the room one last time to make sure he had everything—couldn’t afford to be sloppy now.

  He made his way through the winding halls of the house towards the back entrance and quickly exited the mansion. As he stepped outside, he could hear the EMT’s pulling up the circular drive in the front. He waited with bated breath until he heard them inside the house, and then snuck around to the front of the house where a car waited across the street with an armed guard standing beside it.

  Nodding to the guard, he hopped inside the car. “Let’s go. I want to get there as soon as possible.” He looked out the window at the flashing lights.

  They pulled into the hospital just ahead of the ambulance, which pulled into the bay a mere three minutes behind him.

  Zane waited until they took Charles inside, and then jogged inside unnoticed, grabbed his white coat, and headed towards the ER. He strolled towards Trauma Room One, where the doctor on call would be working on Charles, and stopped first at the nurses’ station.

  “What’s up?” he asked the charge nurse.

  “Cardiac arrest. The EMTs were able to get a good sinus rhythm in the ambulance.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” the nurse said as she pulled up files on her mini. “Make sure you answer your pages. We’re shorthanded.”

  Zane tapped the desk with his fist and walked down the hall to the trauma bay window that looked into Room One, and watched as the doctor on call and a handful of nurses worked on Charles.

  A touch on his shoulder made him jump.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” Julie said.

  Zane smiled and reached for her hand. Even with the dark circles under her eyes and her makeup-less face, she looked beautiful. “Hey.”

  She smiled back, but turned her attention to the goings on with Charles.

  “You get any sleep?”

  “No.” She stifled a yawn behind her hand. “So I guess this means the plan worked.”

  “Yeah, it worked.” He paused, then said, “How’s your dad?”

  “Still stable.”

  He looked down at her and his heart swelled. Her strength amazed him. He couldn’t imagine going through all this alone. “Come on, let’s not let him take another minute of our time.” Zane tugged her hand, leading her away. “I think we both could use a little sunshine and fresh air. Some of the nurses told me about a courtyard over here. It’s supposed to be nice.” He led her out the back door and squinted as his eyes adjusted to the bright light.

  Julie sighed and tipped back her head to face the sun.

  Zane took the brief moment to watch her and the way the light caught her hair, making it shine.

  She straightened and met his gaze, rewarding him with a tired half smile.

  “Come on, let’s sit down before we fall down.” He guided her with his hand on the small of her back to a bench in the middle of a quasi-rock garden.

  They sat and Julie leaned her head against his shoulder. Soon, the weight of her grew heavier and her breathing become slow and regular. An adorable little snoring sound confirmed that she was asleep.

  Zane took a deep breath and let the serenity of the space wash over him. In the quiet, his mind returned to the decision he had made to break his oath and assist a known murderer in breaking out of house arrest.

  Do no harm....

&nbs
p; He didn’t know if he could reconcile his reasoning for what he did. Only time would tell.

  His smart watch pinged announcing a new message.

  Mom: Hey, this is Jason. I borrowed your mom’s smart watch. She’s been admitted. Apparently, everything went as planned. She’s going into surgery in the next hour and would like to see you.

  Zane groaned and slumped against the back of the bench. He didn’t want to see his mother. Because of her, he’d done the unthinkable this morning. He wanted to be free of her and all of the unnecessary problems she brought into his life. The way he saw it, he’d gone above and beyond his call of duty as her son. For now, he needed some space, to figure out what he wanted for himself and his future, if he even had one.

  He silenced his watch and rested his head against Julie’s. His sleep was fitful as his mind worried over the wellbeing of his mother and Charles.

  ***

  St. Rita’s Hospital

  Danville, Virginia

  June 28, 2026

  9:00 AM

  ~~~

  For the first time in over an hour, Charles could finally breathe with ease. In accordance with the plan, he had been transferred to a private room at the back of the cardiac ward. In a few minutes he would be taken up to an operating room for his scheduled angioplasty, where he would, instead, have his home arrest chip transferred from his leg to Sally’s. Falsified lab reports would complete the ruse.

  He tried to keep his excitement in check. It wouldn’t be a success until he walked out of the hospital a free man.

  A free man!

  The thought sent a thrilling rush through his whole body, making his chest quake in the aftermath.

  Shit, I need to calm down.

  His personal nurse came in and held out a paper cup of pills and a cup of water. “Here ya go, Mr. MacAvoy. This is the Kayexolate that Dr. Ride ordered for you. It will bind with the excess potassium so you don’t go into cardiac arrest again, but you’ll still have to take it easy.”

  Because none of the real treatment for the potassium overdose could be on file, they did it all under the table. His personal nurse didn’t work for the hospital, and Zane had ordered the drugs and falsified the records. So far, everything was going as planned.

  Charles knocked back the pills.

  “Do you need anything else, sir?”

  “No, thank you.”

  Charles’ eyelids felt heavy, and the hard pull of sleep became too hard to fight. He closed his eyes, letting himself succumb to the rest he would need in order to face Scott.

  ***

  Zane awoke with a start. It took him a moment to realize he was still outside the hospital in the courtyard. The tendrils of the nightmare clung to him, making his heart race.

  Beside him, Julie snored in a seemingly dreamless sleep. He shifted her until her head rested comfortably in his lap. She needed her rest.

  A light blinked on his watch, and for a moment he thought of ignoring it, but he couldn’t avoid reality forever. His mother’s new boyfriend had been trying to call him for the last hour. Five minutes ago, Jason had sent him a text file. A selfish part of Zane wanted to ignore her, but he didn’t have it in him to be that big of an asshole. He needed to cool off first, though. By the time she got out of surgery, he might be ready to see and talk to her again.

  Until then, he would at least read the message from Jason.

  Dear Zane,

  I know you must be very upset right now and you have every right to be. I understand if you need some space from your mom right now. I don’t need to tell you that she loves you and that she never wanted you to be pulled into her battle. But that’s the thing about life, our best intentions are just that, intentions. Things don’t always work out the way we want. All we can do is choose how we handle what comes at us. It took me way too long to learn this lesson. I have a feeling that you’re smarter than I am and will pick it up a lot quicker.

  I have something that I want you to have. When my friend Katherine died, she gave me all of her notes and personal effects regarding the time in her life when it was her turn to fight The Syndicate. Her brother destroyed all of her journals except one. It was the journal she had kept for her son. Inside the pages I found a letter Alex had written. It was for his other son, your brother, but I’d like to think his words of advice would be similar for you.

  I hope I’m not overstepping any bounds with you. When you’re ready to see your mom, she’ll be here.

  Sincerely,

  Jason

  Zane scrolled down to the scanned copy of the letter. His hand shook and, for a second, he thought about deleting it. What good could possibly come from reading an eighteen-year-old letter from a father he didn’t know to a brother he never knew he had?

  The moment passed and he found himself enlarging the letter to read it.

  Dear Son,

  If you’re reading this, then I guess I didn’t make it after all, and that I had to leave you and your mom behind. That thought alone overwhelms me. My old man was never there for me. I was a mistake, a burden that they hadn’t expected. I vowed I would be different and would show you all the love in the world and protect you from all the dangers and hate. Instead, another man will most likely fill my roll. I don’t want to think about that, either.

  I’m sorry I’m not there for you now. I can’t imagine the things you will go through and the people you will meet along the way. Like most parents, I want nothing but the best for you. I want you to be successful and happy. I don’t care if you’re a doctor or a garbage man (though a doctor would be nice); I just want you to be happy. I, of all people, know that life doesn’t always work out that way, and you will face hardships and tragedies that will bring you to your knees. But I also know that there are going to be moments of awe and wonder that will fill your heart to the point of bursting. The beauty in life is that you get both the bitter and the sweet. They balance us and make us who we are—guide us to where we need to be.

  In all that you do, Son, follow your heart. In my short time here on Earth, that was one thing I learned. Your heart, even a weak one like my own, will always lead you on the right path. I love you, beyond reason and measure, and I am always with you.

  Love always,

  Dad

  Zane didn’t bother to wipe away the tears that streamed down his face.

  ***

  “Well, Sally Ann. As I live and breathe.”

  Sally looked up to see her priest, Father Kelley, from Ocean City standing outside her hospital room. “Father!”

  “It’s so good to see you, Sally.” Father walked in and pulled up a chair beside the bed. “While I’m surprised to see you alive, I think I was even more surprised by the call I received from this young man here telling me that you wished to be married again, this morning no less.”

  Sally looked over at Jason, who shrugged with that lopsided grin she had seen only in her dreams over the last year.

  “No time like the present,” he said.

  Sally chuckled. “Afraid I’ll change my mind, eh?”

  “Something like that.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets and worried his bottom lip.

  A panic welled up in her chest. “We don’t have rings! Zane isn’t here.”

  Jason pulled his hand out of his pocket and held out two shiny gold rings—one, a small thin loop, and the other a thick band. “My father’s wedding ring. I’ve had it on my keyring since he passed away years ago.” He placed the smallest loop in Sally’s hand. “And the nose ring is yours. I know it isn’t conventional, but you aren’t exactly a conventional woman. I don’t want you thinking you need to change who you are for me. I fell in love with a blue-haired woman with tattoos and a nose ring.”

  “Jason—”

  “I think I’ll let you put it on, though,” he said with a wink.

  Sally gave him a half smile. She loved him, but she also wanted her son to be there. She knew her Zane would be off somewhere cooling his heels and wouldn’t come o
ut of hiding until he wanted to, but knowing this didn’t take away the ache of missing him. “And Zane...? What about him? If we’re getting married, I want him to be here.”

  “I can’t get ahold of him. The nurses say he’s swamped.” He ruffled his hair and looked away from her

  He’s sweet to lie.

  “Do you want to do this?” He finally looked up at her with those puppy dog eyes of his.

  Why he wanted to marry her, she didn’t know, but there was no one else she would rather spend the rest of her life with. “Yes.”

  Father Kelley smiled broadly and clapped his hands together. “Wonderful. Just wonderful. You should know, Sally, that up until recently, Mr. Knettle here has been attending mass almost every Sunday.”

  “You have?”

  Jason shrugged and kissed her hand. “Marry me.”

  Sally nodded and bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.

  “We’re ready when you are, Father.” Jason beamed down at the priest.

  Sally reached for his hand and held it tight as she exchanged vows with the love of her life, the same pledges she’d made years ago to her late husband, but, this time, she meant every word. The look in Jason’s eyes told her that he meant every word, too.

  “The rings.” Father Kelley smiled and waited.

  When she slid the gold band over Jason’s finger, she choked back a sob, and fumbled to put in her nose ring.

  When the priest pronounced them married, Jason didn’t wait for permission. His mouth enveloped hers and, despite the priest looking on, she opened her mouth and deepened the kiss. With great reluctance, she broke the kiss and rested her palm against Jason’s cheek. She searched his eyes for any sign of doubt, but all she found was the love she felt swelling inside of her reflected back.

  A small smile cracked his lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Sally let out a nervous laugh. “Good to know.”

  “Let us pray.” Father Kelley cleared his throat and laid hands on both of them. “Holy Father, please bless this new union and protect the love these two share. We also ask this morning that you send your healing spirit upon Sally Ann, as she goes into surgery....”