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“What?” I asked, unsure what that meant.
“He rejected their offer because he knew there would be a retaliation. A retaliation that would get me killed. But it worked out even better—because now you want nothing to do with the business.”
“Dad, I think this would have happened anyway.”
“I’ve been in this business a long time, and there’s never been such a conflict.”
“In the last couple of months, I’ve seena lotof conflict.” I swallowed, remembering the way I sat at that table in the restaurant and feared Theo and Axel were about to kill my father right before my very eyes. “I thought I was tough. I thought I could handle anything. But I realize now that I don’t have the balls for this game.”
His eyes stared into mine. “I inherently disagree.”
“I’ve decided to open a restaurant instead.”
Once my father realized this wasn’t a discussion but an announcement, his body went rigid in the chair. His eyes dropped to the wine and lingered for a few seconds before he swallowed. He turned to the window, scratched the scruff at his neck, and then looked at me once again. “A restaurant.” He barely spoke above a whisper, but those words conveyed so much resentment.
“Yes.”
“A restaurant won’t make you rich.”
“Money isn’t everything?—”
“It is everything.”
“Well, my husband is very rich, so…” I didn’t view his money as my own, but as husband and wife, as partners, I would have to accept his wealth someday.
Both of his eyebrows lifted in surprise. “If this is what you’ve decided, then there’s no reason to remain married to him.”
My eyes were on my glass of wine, and they lifted when I heard what he said.
“You married him so we could reclaim our family business. If you’ve really decided to leave, then he’s no longer useful to you. Your marital obligations have expired. Leave him. I’ll give you the money to open the restaurant.”
This conversation had taken an unexpected turn. “I asked you to open a restaurant before, but you rejected the idea?—”
“Because the family business is a better idea.”
“If I leave him…” I stared at the wineglass. “There’s no incentive to keep you in the business.” My eyes lifted to meet his again.
My father stared as he considered what I’d said. “You could ask. If you truly want nothing to do with this life, you’ll need to get rid of Axel because he still ties you to his criminal activity. If someone wants to hurt him, they’ll hurt you instead.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
“I don’t think he’ll cut me out of the business,” he said. “Not when he needs me. Everything just went to shit with the Colombians, so we can’t afford any more losses.”
My stomach was tied in knots, and I felt a draft in the room even though none of the windows were cracked. I stared at the half-eaten pizza and avoided my father’s stare.
“So, leave him, sweetheart.”
When I came home, Axel was already on the couch, in nothing but his sweatpants and slightly damp hair. His schedule was random, so there were nights he’d be gone and days he wouldn’t leave the couch.
“Hey, baby.” One arm was over the back of the couch, and his powerful legs were stretched far apart. The table held his decanter of scotch and his empty glass. It wasn’t even dinnertime yet, and he’d already started to drink.
“Hey…” I walked around the couch to put down my purse and slip off my heels.
“What was that?” he asked without turning around.
“What?”
“I expect a kiss when my loving wife comes home.”
