Chapter 13 #2
I shoved War’s arm away from me and surged toward Dad until I was in his face.
“He told me the truth, which you should’ve done the moment I was old enough.
You fucking lied to my face and made a fool out of me.
You planted a spy as my friend and scared off men who were interested in me.
” I poked his chest, ignoring the flicker of hurt in his eyes. “You are a shitty father.”
“Enough,” Dad growled. “We’ll talk about this when we get home.”
“No.” I stepped back, shaking my head. “You can play whatever games you want, Dad, but I’m not a pawn for you to move whenever you please. You can go fuck yourself.”
Dad’s eyes widened slightly because it was the first time I’d ever said anything like that to him.
I’d always been the son who tried everything to please him, the one who brought home the grades that made him proud.
And I was happy to be that person. Until now.
Until his lies came to light and I had to deal with the consequences.
Dad huffed. “Kit—”
“Sky was right to leave. Anywhere is better than with you. Hell, I’d choose Mom over you.”
The words had their desired effect. Dad’s emotions shuttered, and his eyes flashed with anger. “I gave you everything. I protected you.”
“You lied to me. You were the reason I needed protection.”
Dad laughed sardonically. “I gave you the best life you could’ve had. You should be thanking me.”
Hurt streaked through me. “Go to hell, Derek Uhlig.”
Riccardo cleared his throat behind us. “Ah, the joys of family drama. As fun as this is to watch, Derek, you and I need to discuss your other son and my cousin. Their situation is cause for concern.”
Gaia made a sound of disbelief. “That’s an understatement. If our dear Francesca finds out about her husband’s affair, all hell will break loose. Not just in the South, either.”
I observed Dad and how he processed his emotions. Before, I thought I could gauge his anger, pride, and happiness, but the man in front of me was a stranger. He remained stoic, his lips pursed in displeasure.
“Sir—” War shifted beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, but Dad’s sharp glare cut him off.
“Don’t speak to me right now, War. You’re on my shitlist.”
“Don’t talk to my boyfriend like that,” I snarled.
Dad faltered and genuine surprise flickered across his face for a short moment—long enough for me to see and recognize it. “Your boyfriend?” His attention slid from me to War, alight with fury. “You took the chance to fuck my son after I sent you to bring him home?”
“That’s not how it happened,” War said, but Dad could be stubborn once he got an idea into his head.
He strode forward, shoving War’s chest, and I yelled in frustration.
“Don’t touch him!”
Dad ignored me, pushing War backward, forcing him to step away from me, even as I grasped Dad’s shirt and tugged him. At least his guards and the Sabbatinis didn’t get involved.
“You fucking little weasel. I should kill you for laying a finger on him.” Dad shoved harder, and War didn’t resist, allowing Dad to back him up against Riccardo’s desk.
I’d had enough. War might’ve decided to let Dad manhandle him, but I wouldn’t permit it.
I swung my fist, and my knuckles slammed into the back of Dad’s head. Dad grunted and flew to the side, catching himself on a chair before he could fall to the floor. Behind me, I heard snickering, but I ignored the assholes.
I jumped in front of War and pointed at Dad as he turned to us. “Don’t fucking touch him. He respects you so much that he fought what he felt for me, but he cares for me, and I’m not going to let you treat him like shit. He’s mine.”
Dad touched the back of his head, eyes wide.. I’d never hit anyone and he knew it. A sense of pride swept through me, making me feel ten feet tall.
War touched my shoulder. “Kit, don’t.”
“No.” I laid my hand on top of his and glanced at him. “He doesn’t get to touch you like that. You should’ve laid him out like I know you can.”
Dad exhaled loudly. “Fucking hell, Kit. There are better men out there for you.”
“Probably.” I met his gaze with a hard stare. “But you wouldn’t let me talk to any of them. I choose him now. He’s my boyfriend, and if you want me to go home to New Gothenburg, you’ll respect him as he respects you. You decide. It’s either me and War, or no one.”
Dad’s nostrils flared, and he shot a glare over my shoulder as more laughter erupted.
“Makes me glad I never had kids,” Riccardo said from behind me. I ignored him.
“Wait until Mamma decides it’s time for you to get married,” Gaia said, and Riccardo laughed again.
“Non succederà,” he retorted, and it took me a moment to realize it was Italian.
While my nonna was Italian, I’d never learned the language, and Dad hadn’t either.
It was a shame, as it might’ve helped him.
Gaia murmured something back, and they began to argue in their second—or was it first?
—language. Their Louisiana accents at least told me they’d been raised here.
“Fine,” Dad said, straightening. “If you have to have a boyfriend, War is a good one. You can come home now.”
I snorted. “Can I? Gee. Thanks, Dad.”
“As touching as this is, I believe you owe us something, Uhlig.” Riccardo held out his hand, prompting Dad to glare at him.
Dad nodded to one of his men, who passed Riccardo a briefcase. Riccardo slammed it onto the desk and flipped the latches before yanking it open. He grinned as stacks of cash came into view.
He waved his hand in a circle. “Good. You can take your son home. We’ll handle Francesca.”
“What do you mean, handle?” War grasped my hips and moved me out of the way so he could step forward. “Was she the one who sent someone to kill Kit?”
“According to Arrigo, yes. My cousin was very annoyed.” Riccardo tsked. “But he’s always hated her. We’ll investigate and report back to you. The last thing any of us need is pissed-off Covolos.”
“What about Sky?” I asked.
Riccardo regarded me carefully. “Maybe ask your father.”
I spun toward Dad, who sighed. “Sky’s no longer my problem. I’ve fixed too many of his mistakes. I offered him a ride home, where he’s obviously welcome, but he refused, so now he can deal with his own issues.”
“He’s twenty,” I argued. “He’s stupid, Dad. He doesn’t know what he’s getting involved in. Drag him home.”
Dad’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Wasn’t it you who told me to let him live his life?”
“I didn’t know this was what he was involved in. Bring him back to New Gothenburg.”
“No.” Dad shook his head. “My protection of Sky has ended. He’s made his choice.”
Frustration bubbled in my chest, and I clenched my teeth, digging my fingernails into my palms until the skin burned. “Let me talk to him. I’ll go to the apartment right now. If I can’t convince him to come home, then let me say goodbye. I deserve that much.”
War tensed beside me, touching my elbow, and I leaned closer to him.
A tic started in Dad’s jaw, and he exhaled, nostrils flaring.
His irritation wasn’t new, but it was the first time in a long time that it was directed at me.
The good son was getting on his nerves. Fine.
Maybe I was tired of being perfect. Maybe I wanted to take care of myself now, especially after all the lies.
“You have two hours. That’s it. If you’re not back by then, I will send out a fucking army looking for you. Am I clear?”
I nodded.
“And take War with you.” His eyes narrowed on War. “If you want permission to date Kit, you’ll bring him back in one piece.”
“He doesn’t need your permission,” I snapped, earning a surprised look from Dad.
He definitely wasn’t used to me talking back, but he should’ve expected it.
After all the years he lied to me, I was allowed to be angry.
“I’ll be back in two hours. Let’s go, War.
” I slid my hand into his and stalked out of the office, ignoring a whistle from one of the Sabbatinis—I wasn’t sure which one.
War didn’t speak until we were outside the house again.
He was too quiet, and I hated that Dad had made him feel small.
I understood War’s need to respect authority.
I could only imagine the training he’d acquired in the navy.
But he needed to break out of that habit if he wanted to keep me.
Dad wasn’t the government. He was a criminal.
The doors opened behind us, and we spun, ready for another fight, but it was Massimo who swept out. He stopped in front of us and threw a set of keys at War, who caught them with ease.
“Take my Porsche. It’ll be better than waiting for an Uber.” He smirked, his cold blue eyes bright and amused. He nodded toward a red sports car that made my heart skip a beat. Damn, she was pretty. A lot prettier than Dad’s Bentley.
“Why?” War asked suspiciously, stepping in front of me again. He took his protective boyfriend role seriously, and though my stomach fluttered, I kept it to myself.
Massimo cocked one eyebrow—not two like an amateur, but one, like the arrogant motherfucker he apparently was.
“Because unlike my brothers, I knew about Sky, and I like the kid. He’s quicker than a rattlesnake caught in a trap and just as smart.
If Francesca knows about him and Arrigo, he’s in trouble.
Ric’s priorities aren’t Sky’s safety, but our deal with the Covolos.
So, if I were you, I’d convince Sky to leave while he still has legs to walk away on. ”
Fear threaded through me, spiking my blood pressure and throbbing in my head.
I swallowed around razorblades, my gaze shooting to War for reassurance.
But he was stony-faced, grim determination set on his features.
He was a man who’d spent years in the service of a criminal.
He knew what people in this world were capable of, and now my brother was in danger.