“I don’t give a shit if you did or didn’t,” I tell him bluntly. He might have helped raise me, but none of that matters when it comes to anything to do with Cosima and me.
“All right.” War stands up from his desk, putting his fist down on it. “Are you and Cosima married?”
“Yes.” I’m not going to outwardly lie. I was willing to go along with Cosima and hide us being together because she thought itwould be best, but I was never a fan of the idea. It feels good to admit it out loud.
“Told you,” Ronan mutters, putting his feet up on the table. How the fuck does Ronan know? He might have assumed. He’s good at the shit. It’s creepy at times. “Where is my sister?”
“Sleeping.”
“Soyoucan force her to marry.” Dario stands too so he can fully face me.
“No one forced Cosima to do shit.” Ronan speaks again. When did he get all chatty? I have to say it fills me with emotion that he is taking up for me with Dario.
No, I didn’t force her; I more maneuvered her. I’m not going to lie and say that I wouldn’t have because Cosima was destined to be mine, one way or another. Even if I had to draft the docs myself and hack into the city's department of deeds to file them away. I would’ve stopped at nothing to have her.
“Cosima was always going to be mine,” I say matter-of-factly because it’s the truth.
“You lost your shit last night. Sal hadn’t done anything but speak to her, if his story is true. Is it?” Dario asks.
“I know what his intent was, and it won’t be tolerated. I don’t care what family he’s from. He made comments about my past and where I came from. Also about mine and Cosima's relationship. He knew exactly what he was doing, no matter what he says.” Dario stuffs his hands into his pockets, glancing at War. “Is that it?”
“No, that’s not it,” Dario grits out.
“There is a whole lot more to all of this I’m learning this morning,” War says, taking a deep breath. “How about everyone take a seat?” He motions with his hand.
“I’ll sit, but I want to make it real clear right now Cosima will be staying with me as my wife.”
“I wouldn’t get between the two of you,” War says with a firm nod.
“I wouldn’t either.” Ronan again chimes in. I throw a glance over to him; he merely shrugs. Dario doesn’t say shit, so I sit down.
“This is what I’ve been worried about.” Dario speaks when I plant my ass in the chair. “You lost your shit last night.” I don’t deny it; I only stare at Dario, waiting for him to go on with whatever he needs to say.
“Tell him,” War orders his father. “I was going to, but now, after last night and the news that Sal knows about Z’s past, he deserves to know.” War turns his gaze toward me. “Unless you already know and have not spoken of it to us.”
I sit up straighter. “Which part of my past?”
“Before you came to live here,” Dario says, running a hand down his face before he speaks again. “Your father and I were close; he was damn good with money. Had the Midas touch. Actually, the man was good at everything he did. Smart as shit.” Dario shakes his head like he’s remembering the past, drawing from it. “I always wondered if there was a line between genius and insanity.”
I have also wondered that. “There is no great genius without a touch of madness.” I speak, quoting Aristotle.
“Genius and madness is a good way to describe your father.” Dario stands, walking over to the wet bar and pouring himself a scotch. I don’t think breakfast has even been had. “You never ask about them.” He takes a healthy swig of his drink.
“I don’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t think that’s odd?” Dario asks. I close my eyes, rubbing them with the palms of my hands. An ache forming inmy chest, the need to have Cosima close right now, is starting to gnaw at me.
“I must not want to know,” I finally say.
“Spit it out; he doesn’t need you drawing it out,” War cuts in.
“Your father loved you and your mother. Anything he focused his attention on consumed him, and he was consumed by your mother.” I close my eyes again, my mind going back to that night, trying to put together the pieces.
“We weren’t leaving for a trip.” I recall the bag by the front door. My mother's face is becoming a bit more clear. “She was leaving us.”
