FAR GONE

Chapter 6

The broom rasped across the Delacroix marble floor. I had been here since before dawn, wiping, cleaning, fixing what I could—anything to keep my mind from drowning in the hospital room where Liam lay. Each swipe of the broom felt like a battle against helplessness.

“Kael?”

The sound of my name cut through the silence. I stiffened, straightened my back, and turned.

Mia stood a few feet away, her expression seems surprised. Her eyes flicked from the mop in my hand to the bucket at my side, disbelief painted on her face.

She came closer, her heels clicking faintly on the tiles. “Why are you here? Cleaning? You should be with your son in the hospital.”

I forced a faint smile, though my chest tightened. “Hospital bills don’t pay themselves. The doctor won’t wait for my grief.” My voice came out rough, tired, as if each word dragged its own weight.

Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak right away. Instead, she reached out and wrapped her hand around mine, stopping the broom mid-motion. The warmth of her touch startled me.

“Kael…” she said softly, her brows furrowing. “Are you okay? If you need any help, you should let me know.”

I glanced at her hand on mine, then back to her eyes. For a moment, I thought of saying yes, of unloading everything onto someone who actually cared. But I couldn’t.

“I’m doing great,” I replied.

Mia hesitated, then shifted the subject. “And Liam? Is he awake?”

I nodded, though my chest burned at the memory. “He’s awake. But… he didn’t recognize anyone. Not even his own name.” I swallowed hard, pressing my lips together before the cracks could show.

Mia gasped, her free hand flying to her mouth.

“The doctor said he’ll be fine soon,” I added quickly, steadying my tone. I had to believe those words; they were the only thing keeping me from breaking.

Just then, the crunch of tires against gravel echoed into the lot. A sleek black car rolled in, its headlights scattering shadows across the floor. Darren’s car.

The door swung open, and Darren stepped out, his tie loose, his expression sharp with surprise as his eyes landed on me.

“Kael?” he called, walking toward me. “What are you doing here at this hour?”

I straightened, leaning on the broom like it was a staff. “As you can see, I’m working.”

His brows drew together. “You’re on leave, Kael. Because of Liam.”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Liam is doing well. And if he’s fighting, I have no reason not to come to work.”

Darren studied me for a long second, then sighed. “Always stubborn.”

I tilted my head at him, forcing some curiosity into my tone. “And what about you? What are you doing here at this hour? Where are your wife and child?”

“They went to my father-in-law’s place for breakfast,” Darren replied, rubbing his neck. “He called us in. I had to make a quick stop to get some documents for a report.”

I gave a small nod, understanding more than I let on.

“Oh, and by the way,” Darren added, adjusting his cuff, “my father-in-law asked about you. Asked if you’d be joining us this morning. But… I wasn’t sure what to tell him.”

For a moment, I froze. Darren’s father-in-law—the richest man in the city. A man whose shadow could shield or suffocate anyone who stood beneath it. My mind raced. If I really intended to go against Milton, I couldn’t do it alone. I would need power, allies strong enough to tip the balance. With the president’s support and Darren’s father-in-law behind me… Milton wouldn’t stand a chance.

I inhaled slowly, the broom slipping slightly in my grip. This was dangerous ground, but maybe it was the ground I had to step on.

“Darren,” I said, my voice firm now. He glanced back at me.

“I’ll attend the gathering.”

Darren’s voice cut through the silence, sharp with disbelief.

“Kael… do you even know what you’re saying? Your son is lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and you’re talking about this? How the hell do you want to go there now?”

I clenched my fists, swallowing hard. The weight of Liam’s pale face still burned into my mind, but I couldn’t shake the feeling in my chest. This wasn’t just about sitting and waiting anymore.

“This is what I want, Darren,” I said, my voice rough but steady. “Please… grant it for me.”

Darren stared at me for a long second, his lips parting as if he wanted to argue again. Then he exhaled slowly, shoulders dropping.

“Fine,” he muttered. “Follow me inside.”

We walked down the dim corridor, the hum of the fluorescent lights buzzing above us like gnats in my ears. Darren’s office smelled faintly of cigar smoke and old leather. He shut the door behind us and turned, his eyes sharp as blades.

“Tell me, Kael,” Darren demanded, “what are you all about right now?”

I met his gaze without flinching. “You once told me to relocate my family abroad. You said it was the only way to protect them. But right now…” I shook my head, my throat tightening. “Right now, I don’t think running will save us. What I need is power—the kind of power that can shield them here, no matter what comes.”

His jaw clenched, and his tone turned bitter.

“And you’re thinking of finding that power from Delacroix?”

I let out a breath, the decision already carved into my bones. “Yes.”

Darren slammed his palm against the desk, his voice breaking with anger.

“Kael, you know who that man is! Delacroix is a monster in human skin. He doesn’t care about loyalty, or blood, or family. All he sees is money. He uses people, chews them up, and discards them like mercenaries. You want to put yourself in his hands?”

I stepped forward, my voice trembling but unyielding.

“If it’s about my family… I’ll do anything. Anything, Darren. I don’t care what it costs me.”

For a long moment, Darren just looked at me—like he was searching my face for some trace of hesitation. His shoulders finally sagged, and the fire in his eyes dimmed into reluctant acceptance.

“No problem then,” he said quietly, almost