Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
He nodded. At least when it came to family issues, he accepted our father’s authority, most likely because Dad also spoiled him when there wasn’t a life-or-death situation involved.
When Arturo had gotten himself pulled together, he accepted one of the sandwiches. We coerced Jacob into sitting with him so the rest of us could meet to go over what had happened.
X joined us by video, and I gave him a detailed explanation of capturing and interrogating Franco. He assured me that he would provide whatever help I needed to eliminate the remaining threat to my family.
When we ended the call with him, I looked around the room at Grant, Rogue, Ghost, and Rhys. “Thank you for all your help.”
Grant held out his hand to me. “You’re welcome. I’d be willing to work with you anytime.”
His words meant a lot to me, but I wondered how he’d feel if he knew I intended to stay at the ranch. Rhys had admitted he loved me, and I loved him. There was no way in hell I could go back to Chicago and leave him. Rhys belonged in Texas, and as much as I’d never thought I’d end up on a ranch—I never thought I’d end up anywhere but doing my father’s bidding in Chicago—I’d find a way to make it work. The place was growing on me every day.
“It’s time for me to call my father.”
“Good luck,” Rogue said.
“I’ll need it.”
“Feel free to use this room,” Grant said. “The rest of us will leave you to it.”
“Are you sticking around?” I asked Ghost, doubting he’d give me a straight answer.
“Yes, until Arturo is home.”
That was interesting. Was X expecting there to be more serious trouble? There wasn’t anyone on Franco’s list of accomplices who had the power base or skill to move against my father, and certainly none of them had any kind of claim to leadership of the family.
Everyone but Rhys headed back upstairs. He reached for my hand and laced his fingers through mine. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
I cupped his chin and kissed him. It took all my willpower to pull back after only a few seconds. “Thank you.”
“How did this happen?” He gestured between us. “You and me?”
“I have no idea, but I like it. A lot.”
“Me too.” His smile seemed to make everything okay.
I made the call. Rhys pointed to a chair, and I sat down as my father answered. Rhys turned another chair to face me and laid a hand on my thigh. I covered it with my own, thankful for his presence. Once I finished telling him about Arturo, my father was not going to like the rest of what I had to say.
“Teodoro, did you find your brother?”
“Yes. He’s with me, and he’s unharmed. Franco is dead.”
“I didn’t authorize you to kill him.”
Was he really going to do this? “You intended to let him live after what he did?”
“No. I intended to interrogate him and kill him myself.”
“I got the names of all his associates before he died.”
“You should have given me the information and let me make the call on whether it was enough.”
“You should have told me what was going on instead of me having to hear it from Aunt Van.”
He huffed. “I can’t believe she defied me like that.”
“She’s never been precisely docile, and she’s an excellent strategist. You should use that to your advantage.”
“No. It’s not her place to—”
“It could be if you’d reconsider the old-fashioned rules.”
I heard something that was likely his hand slamming down on his desk. “I will not tolerate this disrespect from you.”
“I found Arturo and kept him safe. I thought that was what mattered most.”
“It all matters.”
Did it, though? I no longer thought so. “I wish you had told me what was really going on. Why didn’t you bring me in on this from the beginning?”
“I knew Franco would target you. I… I wanted to protect you.”
“Thank you, but I hope I’ve proven that I can take care of myself.”
“You’ve proven you’re as stubborn as ever.”
That wasn’t going to change. “One of X’s men will pass on the list of Franco’s associates. Would you like Arturo to stay here until they are dealt with?”
“Yes. I don’t want him here again until things are calm, but I expect you on the next plane.”
“I’ve gotten the information you need, and I’ll make sure you have the necessary assistance to remove everyone who was loyal to Franco, but I won’t be the one helping you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not coming back.” Rhys’s eyes went wide, and I squeezed his hand.
“Do you think you can just walk away from me and your family?”
I took a long, slow breath before continuing. “What I would prefer is to have your blessing to leave the family business, with you knowing that in an emergency, if you need my services, you can call on me. I’d like to stay in contact with you, but I won’t return to be your hitman. Dario should be your heir, not me.”