Chapter 22 #2
Her father paled, and seconds later, a surge of red crept up his neck.
She fought to keep the tremble racking her body out of her voice. “Needless to say, I have been holding onto this information because I didn’t want to use it. You are my family, such as it is. But you will not threaten me or someone I care for again. That stops here. Right now.”
Her gaze shifted to Noah, because despite everything he had done in the past, she was closest to him in age, and the memories of them playing together before her father had separated them by work and training and schooling were hard to forget.
“Needless to say, discovering you planned to sell me off as a security measure to cover your misappropriation of funds left me no choice but to confront you. Still, you got yourself into the mess you’re in. You can get yourself out of it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he growled.
Her father’s barely veiled fury sent shivers of fear through her, but she canted her head to one side, her heart pounding in her chest so fast that she felt a bit dizzy.
“On that drive, you’ll find copies of financial records, hidden account numbers for the offshore accounts you use, the businesses used to launder money, and enough information to bury all of you.
Though I suppose you could possibly manage to cut a deal with the authorities, I seriously doubt you’d make it into protective custody once certain clientele discovers the extent of your theft. ”
Without looking away from him, Sloane stretched out a hand and plucked her father’s favorite drink from the table beside her. She then leaned forward and placed it between them. “For you, Daddy.”
He swiped it up without a word and downed it in two large swallows, grimacing at the burn as he visibly tried to steady himself.
“You can’t do this to us, Sloane. How do I explain this little rebellion of yours?”
Her father shook his head, the facade of power shaken and visibly rocked by the news. He looked like a man now. Just a man and a frightened one at that.
“How can you do this to me after everything I’ve done for you?”
She canted her head to the other side as she stared at him. “How could you expect me to turn a blind eye to my morals and ethics, much less marry a mobster?”
“They want a connection, Sloane.” Her father ran a shaky hand through his hair.
“So give them one. You have two single sons. Or better yet—marry someone yourself. Surely one of your associates has a mob princess they’re willing to insert as a spy to keep you in line? Given your activities, it would certainly be a smart move on their part to do so.”
“Not it,” Noah said quickly, like when we were kids. “Count me out.”
Her father glanced around as though making sure no one was close enough to overhear them before glaring at Noah with such venom she felt the intensity and nearly laughed at Noah’s still not going to be me expression, even though he wasn’t looking at her.
Her father sat with his hands fisted in front of him, like he wanted to wrap them around her neck and squeeze to express the rage. Had they been somewhere private, she believed he wouldn’t have held back. Had he always been this man?
“I should have forced your compliance sooner. I’ve spoiled you.”
“Maybe you have. But we both know you didn’t force me to come back here because you knew I’d never be okay with what you’re doing. And neither would Mama have been.”
“You don’t understand the situation,” her father said. “These men… You can’t do this to me. To us.”
“She’s doing to you what you were going to do to her,” Noah interjected in a low voice.
“And she did it well, in my opinion. Just like a chip off the ol’ block, as they say.
Sloane’s won her freedom. And she’s right.
You’re to blame for the situation we’re in.
You’re the one who got greedy, so it’s only right that you pay the price.
You can volunteer to marry someone from their organization.
It’s your fingerprints all over their accounts, after all. God knows they’re not mine.”
Her father looked up at Noah in surprised fury.
“I know better than to bite the hands that feed me,” Noah said. “So does Jarrett. This is on you.”
“You ungrateful little— You’re all turning against me? I’ve given you everything,” her father growled, surging to his feet as though he was going to battle the three of them.
Noah and Jarrett stood as well, and Noah shifted protectively toward Sloane.
“You have endangered us,” she said softly. “You’ve sacrificed all of us and for what? More money? Will it ever be enough? It won’t, will it? Because no matter how much money you make or steal,” she said, lowering her voice as she also stood, “you’ll always want more.”
“I will destroy your little boyfriend,” her father growled. “He’ll have nothing when I’m done with him.”
The fear that came with his words almost took her under.
But she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, refusing to let the fear win.
“Try it. Try it and see how quickly your dirty secrets become public record. I don’t want to use that.
I don’t want to destroy my family. Out of respect for Mama, I don’t want a war, but I will do what it takes to live my life free of you.
If you come near me again or threaten the people I love—my brothers included—if you so much as breathe in my or any of the Blackwells direction after this meeting, I will blast your deception to every corner of the earth.
And I think we both know your clients will do far more to make you suffer for your behavior than the authorities ever could. ”
Her father paled once again, going from ruddy red to a sickly green in seconds. He glanced down at the thumb drive on the table and swiped it up, fisting it and holding it like he wanted to punch her with it.
“One of many,” she said again, just in case he needed to hear it. “You have more to lose by trying to force my compliance than you do by letting me go. Take the loss, Daddy.”
Her heart squeezed a bit at the fury and panic and contempt he wore like the expensive pin-striped suit.
“I am your father,” he growled. “You can’t do this to me. This is all a show. You don’t have real proof.”
Sloane lifted her chin a notch higher and exhaled the tension lining her shoulders and neck.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. And if anything happens to me or anyone I love at any point, the fail-safes I have in place will activate.
Every account you dipped into will be notified, along with the authorities.
Goodbye, Daddy. Don’t ever contact me again. ”
Her father’s hand repeatedly pulsed over the USB drive. His nostrils flared with every breath, and then—then he bit out a curse and stalked away.
Jarrett blinked at her but dipped his head as though in thanks and slowly followed, not making any attempt to catch up to their father. Only Noah remained behind.
Once Jarrett and her father exited the hotel, she turned to look up at Noah—who looked as shaky as she inwardly felt. She’d done it. She’d actually done it, but now she felt like it had all been a dream.
Noah gave a slow, soft whistle. “I don’t know, kiddo. You might be more cut out for the family business than you think.”
A high-pitched laugh left her, and she shook her head. She might have had to beat her father at his own game, but it didn’t mean she ever wanted to play it again. “That’s a hard pass.”
“So what now? You heading back to Carolina Cove?”
She pressed a hand to her fluttering stomach and nodded. “That’s the plan. Noah…”
“No, kiddo.”
“You can. You can make a break, too. Get out before he gets you killed. Do it now. Just—walk away.”
A muscle spasmed in his jaw, and for a moment, he looked intrigued by the idea.
“It’s too late for that. While I’ve stayed on the up-and-up, I’m in too deep.
But who knows? Maybe I will give in and marry that mob princess,” he said in a low voice.
“Have a few kids. With that backing, I could take over the company and keep things as clean as I can.”
“Father won’t like that.”
Noah’s grin was wide and bright. “No, he wouldn’t. But after watching you today, I’m feeling inspired.”
She laughed softly and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight—one last time. Because if he stayed in the world her father created, she might never see him again. “You’re an absolute idiot, but I still love you.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“I love you, too. And I’m sorry. You’re not only a lot smarter than I am but braver too.”
She stared up at him, taking in every detail of his expression. “Are you ever going to tell me what Father holds over you?”
Noah looked…sad.
“I was young and stupid. Too stupid to make sure I had a way out before confronting him. I’m proud of you, kiddo. For standing your ground and fighting for what you really want. Now get out of here and go live the life you just blackmailed us to have.”