Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
It was hard to imagine my father being anything other than the upstanding man he was today. All he seemed to care about was family, wine, and the beauty of Tuscany. “When did that all change?”
“Your mother.”
“She didn’t want you to be that man anymore?”
“No… I didn’t want to be that man anymore. I wanted to deserve her. I wanted to protect her. You can’t protect a woman if people constantly want your head on a spike. If anything, you’re often the very reason she’s in danger in the first place. I wanted a quiet life where we could raise a family and live in peace. I craved silence when all I ever wanted was war. When your mother told me she was pregnant with you, I knew I had to end all my wars. I had to change everything if I was going to bring you into this world. So, I sent her away to a safe place, and I fought until everything was finally said and done. I won’t get into the specifics because they don’t matter anymore. I can’t start that up again. I can’t kick the dust back into the air. I can’t watch my son become involved in a life I’ve worked so hard to protect him from.”
My father used to be a criminal and a murderer. I was nothing like that. “You’re comparing me to yourself, but I’ve never killed anyone. All I’ve done is pulled women from the Underground.”
“But that’s where it starts, Con. And if they raise a gun to you, you have no other choice but to fight back. And you have to pull that trigger quicker than they do. Before you know it, you’ve started a war that will last a decade. I’m trying to save you time and heartache. You have a beautiful woman living in that house with you. If you don’t care about yourself, at least care about her.”
All I ever did was take care of her. I shielded her from everything that could possibly hurt her. It was practically my purpose.
“You promised you wouldn’t go back there,” my father said. “And Barsettis keep their promises.”
“I know.”
“Let this go. Forget about Bones. Forget about those women. You may save one woman, but that won’t stop another hundred from being captured. When you cut off the head of a snake, two more will grow back.”
“So we do nothing?” I asked quietly. “Just give up?”
His gaze turned cold again. “I’ve paid my dues, Conway. I’ve righted my wrongs. Let someone else deal with it now. The Barsettis have suffered far too long. It’s our time to enjoy peace. If you have any respect for me and your mother, you will let us live the rest of our lives in peace. If you really need to do this, please wait until we’re dead and gone.”
Imagining them buried six feet under sent a wave of depression throughout my body. It made me weak, sick, and broken all at the same time. I was still resentful toward my father for being so harsh, but I couldn’t refuse his request. I wouldn’t take away his peace, not when it meant so much to him. He did an amazing job raising me. The least I could do in return was give him what he wanted. “I’ll drop it, Father.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Good.”
I could never tell him the truth about my relationship with Muse. If I did, what would he think of me then? I bought her at the Underground and made her my prisoner. I took advantage of her because she was so weak. He would probably be even more disappointed in me.
Our relationship was different now, but it didn’t change how it started. Maybe I cared about her now, maybe I would do anything to protect her now, but it wasn’t always that way. “I should get going…”
“Yeah. You have a long drive ahead of you.”
We faced each other in silence, neither one of us making the first move.
We were both stubborn like that.
But I was less stubborn. I moved in and hugged him.
He hugged me back. His arms remained around my body for a long time, and he held me close. He’d never held me this long, not since I was a boy.
I let the touch linger. I was a grown man with a billion-dollar empire, but at the end of the day, I was still a son who needed his father.
He pulled away and gripped both of my shoulders. “I love you, son.”
“I love you too, Father.”
He grabbed the back of my head and kissed me on the forehead. “Tell Sapphire your mother and I say hello.”
I nodded. “I will.” Turning away, I walked out of the house. I didn’t want to look at my father again before leaving because it was too hard. He was always sad when I left. He did his best to hide it, but I could see it in his eyes.