31. Reorganization
Reorganization
Finn
Natasha was able to point us in the right direction with the codes her father used. We can prove Peter was skimming off the top, but it might not be enough. Roger’s words about my father keep echoing in my head.
If anyone could tame an out-of-control boss, it would be my dad.
We called it a night about thirty minutes ago. Everyone else headed up to their bedrooms, but I’m still down in the kitchen with a single light on, staring into a glass of whiskey. I should be tired after keeping Sara up all last night, but I’m not.
Tom getting shot and Sara being part of that has me wide awake.
When Peter kidnapped her, the fear was real.
But this… How do I spend every day for the rest of my life hovering over her?
Do I stunt her growth because I’m worried a sociopath might decide killing her could be the key to his happiness?
The light in the entryway comes on, followed by some shuffling feet. Roger appears in the doorway and meets my eyes like he’s not surprised to find me here. He heads to the refrigerator and pulls out the pitcher of water. As he gets a glass down, he clears his throat.
“I understand your reluctance to involve him.” Roger fills the glass and puts away the pitcher. He’s the one who brought up my father. He turns and looks at me. “But if I had the power to protect Caitlyn, I would use it.”
“He said he wants us to be family again without the strings attached.” I spent my childhood trying to live up to his expectations until I realized I’d never be good enough.
Has he really decided I’m not the man he needs to run his business, or is this just another attempt to lure me back in? “How do I trust that?”
Roger rubs his chest through his t-shirt. “This is as good a test as any other. It’s a favor, but one that keeps your loved ones safe.”
“He thinks I should marry Sara so my name will protect her.” I rattle the melting ice in my glass.
“It probably would, but it would also make her a target.” Roger leans against the counter.
“Maybe not the way Tom is a target, but people will try to glom on to her to win favor with your father. I’m not saying you shouldn’t marry her, but if you do, it should be for your own reasons and not because someone told you it would protect her. ”
Roger picks up the glass of water and sighs. “Someone will always be trying to hurt her or you or one of you guys, maybe not on this level, but you can’t protect her from the world. If he really will help you without pulling you into his business, why wouldn’t you take that?”
He squeezes my shoulder as he walks out of the room. I release my breath and down my whiskey. It’s something I don’t want to do, but I would do anything to protect Sara. Even make a deal with the devil himself.
I send off a text asking for a meeting in the morning. Figuring I won’t receive a response in the middle of the night, I head upstairs to my bedroom. I pause on the second floor, outside the primary bedroom. Did she go sleep with Dante? Or did she stay here?
I crack open the door and the bed is made. I grin. Good for her.
I’m the first one up in the morning, drinking my coffee and watching Peabody trot around the yard looking for the best place to go pee. The text came in and woke me up. He’ll be here in a few hours when everyone else is awake.
The sun barely lightens the sky. I could call it off, but sending that text settled something inside me I didn’t know was off. Roger is right. I have the power to end this. I have the power to protect my family.
Dad seemed sincere when he spoke to me and Sara. That he just wants his family. This will be the test. I don’t know if I’ll accept any deal to get what I need, but I’m prepared to think it over.
The door opens and shuts behind me. The warm scent of citrus flows over me before Sara moves to my side and leans her head against my arm.
“Morning,” she says while yawning.
I wrap my arm around her waist to hold her close. “My dad is coming this morning.”
She stiffens slightly. “Is everything okay?”
“I asked him to.”
“Oh.” Sara doesn’t shift from where we stand.
“That’s it?” I ask. I don’t know what I was expecting, but something more than oh.
“Your dad seems like a nice guy. Don’t worry. I know he’s not that nice of a guy, but he clearly loves you.” Sara shrugs. “As long as he doesn’t bring an official to marry us on the spot, we can talk to him. He might have good suggestions, even if he can’t help us directly.”
The weight lifts a little more.
“I love you, flower.” I kiss her temple as Peabody trots back over to us.
“I love you, Finn. This is the right call. I know it.”
I hope so. The morning becomes chaos as I fill in everyone.
Breakfast is made. Caitlyn wishes we had the croissants with chocolate in them.
Roger and Bitsy are still struggling with jet lag, drinking their coffee like it’s precious.
Wyatt makes Sara and Natasha omelets. Dante finishes his workout and joins us.
“I’m going to the hospital to visit with Tom so Drew can come back.” Bitsy sits back in her chair with her hands wrapped around her cup of coffee. “I’ll see about his discharge. With this many people in the house, we ought to be able to care for one invalid.”
“I’ll join you at the hospital as soon as the meeting is over.” Natasha glances at me.
It’s funny, we both understand growing up with well-meaning fathers who had our future mapped out for us and we both fell for Tom. Tom’s still one of my best friends. Are we a little broken? Yeah, but we’ve had falling-outs before. Not this serious, but I can see letting him back in.
Roger reaches over and puts his hand on Bitsy’s knee. “Don’t go anywhere without the guard.”
“Yes, sir.” She gives him this little secret smile.
I smirk and Sara’s eyes widen as she stares at her mother. Guess she never noticed that before. When her gaze finds mine, she lifts an eyebrow at my grin. I chuckle.
Bitsy and Caitlyn head out after breakfast and Drew returns.
“I like this better than being dragged out of bed,” Sara mumbles to me so Roger won’t hear.
“My dad does like to make things big.” Kidnapping us at the estate was new, but I shouldn’t have been surprised he knew all along about the place we went to hide. There’s not much my father doesn’t know about.
Sara sits between me and Dante on the couch. Wyatt sits in the armchair. His eyes linger on the door while his knee bounces. He might be more nervous than I am about this meeting.
Drew and Roger are in the other armchairs while Natasha sits beside Dante. We all surround Sara with the space opposite us available for my father.
Colin Lawson walks in with a few guys dressed in black suits. Always one to make an entrance. I learned from the best.
I rise and offer my father my hand. “Dad.”
Dad smiles and jerks me into a hug. “Finnigan! I honestly thought you’d never call.”
I shake my head at the name but hug him back. He holds me at arm’s length and looks me over before his gaze slides to Sara.
“How are you holding up, dear?” Dad releases me and holds out his hands toward Sara.
“I’m okay.” She offers him her hand and he engulfs it with both of his.
“Good. Good.” Dad’s gaze flicks to Natasha. “I’m grateful he got away with just a shoulder wound. Tom’s a good boy.”
Dad releases Sara’s hand and takes the empty chair, sitting on the edge of it like he’s in a hurry. He clasps his hands between his knees and takes in the solemn faces around the room.
“I’m here because I love you, Finnigan. I promised I’d do anything for you.” My dad clears his throat. “So tell me what you have so I can sweeten the pot.”
“What will it cost him?” Wyatt asks. His dark eyes hold my father’s.
“I always liked you best, Wyatt. So loyal and protective.” Dad smiles. “You have your father’s hard looks, but your mother’s softness.”
Wyatt’s lips press together. He doesn’t look a thing like Christopher Hawkins, the man that raised him.
“Gerald was an asshole,” Dad says. “Made a lot of enemies. Not sure if you feel any way toward the man, but I’m sorry for your loss.”
Wyatt straightens. “My loss?”
Fuck, what did my dad do now?
“Gerald died three years ago. He hustled the wrong person. I didn’t get the information until this week.
Doing a deal with someone and they thought I might be interested.
No one knows he’s dead except for the man who took his life and left him in an unmarked grave.
” My dad studies Wyatt. “He was a hard man to like, so I imagine he was an even harder man to love. Charismatic. Could convince you to give him your pants and he’d bring you even better ones.
But he never followed through on his deals.
Still, he’s the reason you exist, so I’m sorry for your loss. ”
Wyatt closes his eyes. Sara goes over to him and sits in his lap, wrapping her arms around him tight and he does the same to her. But it’s not pain on Wyatt’s face. It’s relief.
The specter of his father returning can’t continue to haunt him. I wish Tom and Wyatt could have gotten justice for Tom’s dad, but at least Gerald can’t hurt Wyatt anymore.
“That, like all of my information for you, is free.” My dad meets my eyes. “If you need me to have that body found for any reason, you let me know. That one is on the house. What he did to so many families was awful. He deserves his death to remain unacknowledged.”
“Thank you,” Wyatt says.
My father smiles at him before returning his gaze to mine. “Now how can I help?”
Wyatt
I’m sitting on my bed, still reeling from the information of my father’s death. From this nightmare finally being over. I don’t know if I should tell my mom. She seems to have moved on from my father a long time ago.
The door opens and Sara walks in and sits next to me on the bed, taking my hand in hers. I weave our fingers together. Fuck, even my breathing feels lighter.
“You okay?” Her words are soft.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I draw in a breath and release it.
We told Colin everything about Tom and Natasha. Peter and Alexander. Natasha filled in where we didn’t have information. We told him about the skimming and he nodded like that was good. In the end, he promised to put together the meeting.
“I don’t want you at the meeting.” I turn to look into Sara’s pale green eyes.
“Why?”
I trace a circle on the skin of her hand with my thumb. “I don’t think anything will go wrong, but I need you somewhere safe while we deal with Alexander.”
She nods. “Okay.”
A chuckle escapes me. “Not even a little fight about this?”
She shakes her head. “I trust you. If me being there makes you nervous, then I won’t go. I’ll stay here in the fortress with Mom and Caitlyn and Tom. Besides, I don’t know what purpose I would serve by being there.”
“You helped us through this whole thing. Your life and freedom were on the line. If you wanted to look that man in the eyes, I wouldn’t blame you. I just wanted you to know my feelings.”
“I don’t need to see him. Finn’s dad and Roger will make sure you all make it out okay. I’m done confronting my bullies for a while.” She smiles and it makes my heart warm.
“You really are amazing, Sara.”
“Thank you for finally noticing.” She bumps my arm with hers.
“I always noticed.”
“Are you sure you’re okay about your father?” She lays her head against my shoulder and squeezes my hand.
“Yeah.” I rest my head against hers. “Yeah, I’m finally free of him.”