Chapter 29
HUNTER
The last thing I wanted to do was call Jamison and beg for his help, and now I need Jonah’s take on what to do.
I’m at a roadblock, and since he’s part owner, he has a right to know how this diabolical plan of our mother will affect him.
I rattle my knuckles against his open office door and step inside. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
He glances up from his computer. “Yeah. What’s this about?”
I close the door and turn back to him. “I’m in a shit situation and I don’t see any way out of it.”
“Sit down and let me help.” He points to the chairs in front of his desk.
I rub my neck and take a seat. “I had the misfortune of seeing our mother today. The answers to the questions I’ve had for the past few months about what she wants from me were spelled out.”
The muscles in his jaw tighten. “Since you look like she killed you with whatever she told you, I’m frightened to hear what she said.”
“Rightfully so.” I lean forward and scrub my palms over my face. “She has me by the balls, Jonah, and there’s no good solution.”
“Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me everything.”
“She wants my son to be the next successor of the French mob.”
“I hope you told her to fuck off.”
The evilness of today slams against my heart.
I meet Jonah’s angered gaze. “I tried, but she’s set on taking him.”
He tips his chin my way. “Why your son?”
“She said since I gave up one kid, she knew I could do it again because I have it in me to be just like her. The thought repulses me.” I shudder and grow nauseous.
“That’s a vicious thing for her to say.”
I stare at the floor.
How did my life become such a train wreck?
I raise my head, defeat coming off me in droves. “That’s only the start of what she wants. I have to cut off all contact with Dorothy. If I don’t, she’ll kill her.”
“Why? What does Dori have to do with raising your son?”
“It’s not Dorothy she’s worried about. It’s her brother. You know he’s in the FBI, and our lunatic mother doesn’t want anyone with ties to the FBI in the company. Especially at Dorothy’s level.”
Jonah’s face pales. “Fuck, Hunter.”
“It gets worse than that. When you and I retire, my son is to be named the CEO, and he’ll pave the way for the mob to infiltrate the business.”
Jonah’s head lowers. “And if you don’t let that happen, then what?”
“The lives of everyone I love are on the chopping block. One by one, our mother will have them taken out.” I stand and trudge to the window.
Jonah joins me by my side. “What can you do to stop her? Because that’s the only solution I see. ”
I face him. “I did the riskiest thing I could and called Jamison.”
Jonah’s brow creases together. “Jamison?”
“Yeah.”
“Why him?”
“Jamison and Aiden are best friends. I was hoping when Jamison discovered Dorothy’s life was on the line, he would help me get Aiden on board. Together, we could plan a way to trap our mother and get her locked up.”
I’ve never been in a mess like this. Unless Jamison can get Aiden to hear him out, I lose everything.
“What did Jamison say?” Jonah asks.
The air in my lungs gets sucked out. “He said that would be a problem because Aiden found out about Jamison’s relationship with Dorothy and is on the warpath.”
“You weren’t kidding when you said you’re in a terrible situation.” Jonah glances at the floor, shaking his head. “We have to find a solution. We can’t let the mob infiltrate the business.”
The heaviness of the day takes hold. I search the room for an answer to my problems.
I stalk to the beverage station in his office. “Do you want one?”
“You don’t need to ask. I’m right there with you.” Jonah rubs his face with his hands. “Fuck! This is so fucking bad.”
“I know.” I finish making us a heavy pour of whiskey. “Jamison knew Dorothy was reinstated today. Mateo told him. I made him swear not to tell her or else her life is at risk. He agreed.”
“It’s better for him, even if her life wasn’t on the line.” Jonah takes his drink from me.
“It is. What he doesn’t know is if I can get Jamison’s help with Aiden and the FBI catches our mother, I plan on telling Dorothy she has her job back. She’ll accept it and not move. ”
“Let me guess. You plan on getting her back if that happens.”
“I do.”
“When your back is against the wall, you’re completely ruthless. Jamison will be out of his mind that he helps you, then you turn around and make him look bad in Dori’s eyes by telling her he hid that fact from her.”
I shrug unapologetically. “She was devastated when he kept secrets from her before. She will be again. I have to do whatever I can to get the upper hand.”
“You’re forgetting one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll have done the same thing. She’ll be upset with you too.” Jonah strides back to his desk.
“True, but she’ll be working here again, so I’ll be able to make it up to her in ways he can’t.” I swirl the amber liquid in my glass before taking a sip.
“What if Dori decides to move with Jamison? She seems to be in love with the guy.”
“She loves me too.” Desperation sets in. I won’t lose her.
“Maybe she does, but she’s with him now. They have a long history.”
“Who’s side are you on?”
“Yours, of course. But I don’t want to see you get your hopes up only to be let down. I’ve never seen you like this. It’s hard not to worry about you.”
“I appreciate your concern. There’s hope she’ll stay because I don’t see her giving up her career. She loves her job too much.”
“You better hope that’s the case.” He sits behind his desk. “Tell me your plan to get our mother caught.”
“Once I have Aiden’s help, I’m going to tell Isabella I’m not taking my mom’s threats seriously. I’m going to tell her I’m bringing Dorothy back into the business and have no intention of letting the baby go once he’s born. She’ll run right to our mom and tell her everything.”
“And what happens after that?”
“I’ll have to wait and see how Aiden wants to do it, but we’ll set a trap somehow. Let’s just hope Jamison can get Aiden to reason with him. From what I gather, Aiden’s about to kill him. I have to trust his love for his sister will override any grievances he has with Jamison.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to find a message from Jamison. “Speak of the devil.”
Jamison: Aiden’s not taking my calls. I sent him an email with as much information as I had.
It’s the best I can do, but I think we need to contact someone else in the organization, just in case.
I would do it on my own, but I don’t know the specifics of your meeting with your mother.
Contact me when you decide what we should do.
I take a seat, placing my phone and my drink on the side table next to the chair. “Jamison sent Aiden an email. Now I sit and wait.”
“You don’t have time to sit and wait. If this doesn’t get resolved soon, everything we’re working for and what Dad built gets destroyed.”
“I’m aware, Jonah. I just don’t know what to do.”
He runs his hand over his mouth a few times. “Have you told Dad?”
“Fuck no. He’ll panic.”
“Yeah, he will, but he knows our mother better than we do. Maybe he can help us.”
I consider it for a second, but my chest caves in. “The problem with that is our mother is watching me. If she figures out that I went to the FBI after she warned me not to, she’ll kill all of us. Dad won’t stay out of it. He’ll go ballistic and make it known they’re involved. ”
“You’re right about that.” Jonah finishes his drink. “How are you going to make sure she doesn’t find out you’re talking with Aiden?”
“From what I can tell, she doesn’t know everything. She didn’t know Dorothy had been reinstated, which makes me believe she doesn’t have access to my emails. I’ll tell Jamison that’s the best way to communicate so we can organize a takedown.” I sip the last of my whiskey.
“What about your phone? Could she have it bugged?”
“I don’t think so. Dad sent me a text saying Dorothy had been reinstated. If our mother were tracing my phone calls and text messages, she would’ve known that.”
Jonah nods, and his expression grows glum. “I hope this works, or everything we’ve worked for will be lost.”
“That and I’ll lose Dorothy and my son.”
My smile grows as I read Aiden’s email one more time.
Hunter,
I received an email about needing my help. I won’t work with Jamison, but I will work with you to get your mother apprehended under one condition.
Once Dori is out of danger, you find a way to get her back in a relationship with you. You do everything in your power.
I have to believe if she risked her career for you before she ended it with you, she cares deeply for you. Get your relationship back on track with my sister as soon as possible.
Tell me everything I need to know, and we’ll go from there. The sooner, the better. Aiden
I take a minute to formulate a plan about how this could work. Once I have an idea, I email him.
Aiden ,
It’s great news you’re willing to help. I’ll send you a detailed list of everything you need to know shortly. I want to be sure I’m not forgetting anything, so I’d like to work on it first and then send it over.
In the meantime, trust me when I say this. I’m going to do all I can to work things out with your sister. With your help, it can be done.
Thanks, Hunter
My plan is falling into place. And with Aiden’s blessing around Dorothy and me, this is turning out even better than I thought it would.
I’ll remove my mother from the picture. I’ll tell Dorothy she can return to work and that Jamison kept that information from her. Then all I have to do is make sure Jamison stays far away. The rest will come in time.
She still loves me. I just need to remind her how good it is when we’re together. With her clause gone, it will be a breeze.
No more hiding out in a bubble. I’ll be able to give her a life of love and luxury while showing her off to the world. I’ll be able to honor her in a way I’ve always wanted to.
I sink back against my chair and dream of all the places I’ll take her. Maybe I can even find ways for her to travel with me for business meetings. I’m sure there are ways to bring the marketing director to some of the events.
An email from Isabella slides into my inbox, reminding me of one more thing I’ll have to figure out: how to get Dorothy on board with co-parenting my son.
I’m still not sure how much time I’ll get to spend with him at first, but with my mother in custody, Isabella will have him. And thinking about her raising an Efron is enough to make me want to fight for as much time as I can.
Maybe there’s a way to take down Isabella too.
I open her email and read it.
Hunter,
I can only assume you have the paternity results back. You shouldn’t have doubted me .
We need to discuss his future and how we’re going to deal with my pregnancy.
I’m aware you met with your mother. You know the plan now, so don’t go spreading the news this is your baby.
No one can know. I plan to tell everyone the father is an old flame who recently passed away, and because of my pain around that loss, the baby is going up for adoption.
Once he’s old enough and knows how the French organization works, it will be leaked that he is your son. The world will know he’s the rightful heir of the Efron dynasty. We will make sure he has the DNA test to prove it.
He will be raised learning about the gambling industry, so he’s ready to take over for you when you retire. If you fight us on giving him your title, there will be consequences. All the ones you love will be at risk.
You’ll need to stick to this arrangement. If you don’t, there will be hell to pay.
Until next time,
Isabella
She has this pregnancy figured out and how it will benefit her to the last detail. I’ll need to figure out how to remove her from the picture.
She’s going to be mad about not getting the money she’s supposed to be paid for giving my son to the mob. No doubt, she’ll turn around and gun for me.
I could use both of these things in my favor in a custody battle. I create a file and filter all correspondences from her into a record for my attorney. And with Aiden’s help, I’ll ensure my son doesn’t end up in my mother’s hands.
My life is about to change drastically. If I get full custody of him, I’ll need to figure out my work commitments.
My father managed to raise two sons all by himself while growing Efron Worldwide. There’s no reason I can’t. He’d probably be able to give me a lot of pointers.
The only thing left to do is get Dorothy back and keep my son away from the mob. Nothing is more important than those two things.
I shake my head at how protective I feel about him. I don’t want him.
Or do I?
My thoughts go back to Jonah’s question.
Who do I want to be like?
My dad or my mother?
And there’s my answer. My mother may think I’m just like her, but she doesn’t know me very well.
I will never be like her and abandon a son who needs a good father. I can and will be that for him.
The problem is that even with my mother out of the way, her mobster husband may still expect him. That means I have a lot to worry about.