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He shakes his head. “Such a disappointment. After I saw you with her, I had your office bugged. I’m always a step ahead for a reason. Your pathetic friend wanted ten million, and you didn’t even wire the money. I gave her twenty,” he grits out.
Fucking cunt.I ball my fists, racking my brain, but my thoughts race and jumble. I can’t grasp a single one that makes sense.
“Dad, there’s no going back once you do this. The James kids are innocent. They had nothing to do with the affair. This is fucking insane,” I say, pulling at my hair and pacing, talking more to myself at this point. He paid twenty million dollars for evidence he plans to turn over to the mob so he can get back at a man who slept with his wife.And Mia fucking took it.
As the ground sinks below me, I grab for his shirt. “You can’t do this. I won’t let you.”
He pushes me back and reaches into his pocket. “Keep your hands to yourself, Jonathan.” When he pulls his hand out, he’s gripping a handgun. “I brought you into this world, and I have no fucking problem taking you out.”
I hold up my hands and step back. He’s fucking lost it. How long has he been this delusional?
A knock sounds, and my father glares at me before sticking the gun into the back of his pants. He walks toward the door, flicks on the lights, and turns toward me. “Keep your mouth shut while they’re here. I’m serious, Jay. They’ll kill us if they know the truth. You may care about your sweet Catherine, but you won’t live to see another day if you open your mouth in front of these men.”
Grinding my molars, I look away from him. I can’t stand the sight of him. He takes the reaction as a tacit agreement and opens the door.
Two men step inside with ease, arms swinging casually. They move toward the center of the room, not waiting for my father to actually invite them in. Their presence fills the space, their chests puffed and their faces hard, the weapons on their hips unhidden. When the taller of the two spots me, he smacks his friend’s arm. The shorter guy smiles when he takes me in. At my feet, the broken glass draws their attention.
“You having a party?” one says as he looks from me to my father.
My father shakes his head. “It’s just my son. He’s leaving.” He nods toward the door.
I should take his advice. Get out of here and warn Theo. Make sure he gets everyone out of town quickly.
But part of me still wonders if I can stop this.
I suck in a breath. “I’ll clean this up before I head out,” I say, gesturing to the glass.
My father rolls his eyes. “Come with me,” he says to the two men. “I have the disk in my office.” With a glare, he stomps past me, the men following him. “In here,” he says, pushing his office door open. “I’ll grab drinks.” If my father is nervous, his voice doesn’t give anything away. But when he turns, his eyes are wild. He pushes his gun into my hand. “If you hear anything…”
My mouth drops open. “You just threatened me with this, and now you want me to save you if your deal with the mob goes sideways?”
His eyes harden and his jaw tenses. “We rise together, or we burn together. Choose the right side, Jonathan.” He presses the weapon into my hands. “Your mother did this to us. Remember that. The James family and your mother. It’s you and me against the world. It always has been.”
I can’t keep up with his words. But his eyes, they’re the same ones that comforted me when I was a kid. The man who taught me everything I know about our business. The man I spent every holiday with. The only parent I’ve ever really known. I just need time to get him to realize that this is a devil’s errand. That he won’t be happy even if the James family ceases to exist. He’s still heartbroken over my mother’s death.
Even if he was likely the cause of it.
I take the weapon, though, and watch him stalk into the office and shut the door, my mind spinning. What the fuck do I do now?
I take out my phone and stare at the picture of Cat and me in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center. Her eyes are lit up with pure joy, and my expression matches hers. I’d do anything for her.
I type out a quick text as I make up my mind. I’ll protect Cat or die trying.
Irrevocably. Completely. Head over fucking heels. It always has been and always will be only you.
Resolutely, I prowl toward the closed office door, gun in hand, side chosen.
“As you can imagine, this can’t get back to me,” my father says.
“The boss just wants his money back. And to take care of those responsible,” the shorter man says.
I listen beside the door, waiting for more information about what my dad obtained.
“The proof is in my safe. But I have the names,” he replies.
With that, I know. I open the door and stare him down. He meets my glare with a depraved smile on his face, winking at me before turning back to his guests.
“Dad, don’t,” I plead.
