“And yet one rumor is all it takes. I’ve killed more people than I can ever count, I’ve burned down businesses and slaughtered traitors, I’ve fueled the resurgence in the drug market and smothered out smaller families that dare encroach on my weapons deals. I do all of that and no one bats an eye.”
“Do you want them to?” Don drinks slowly. “Sounds like youwantthem to hate you for that.”
“I don’t care if they do or don’t. I just don’t understand where the line is. Stuff like that I can admit to because of who we are. But shit that isn’t true with my brother is what stains our reputation the most? How does that make any sense?”
Don shrugs one shoulder. “You’re asking the wrong person. That stains me too.”
“But why? We’re in a room of the elite from all organized crime across the city and I still feel the weight of their judgment. I can almost hear them whisperingbetter hope she doesn’t get pregnant or she’ll end up like his brother’s ex.” I drain my glass in one gulp.
“Trish has gotten to you, hasn’t she?” Don looks me up and down. “What did she say?”
He’s right. Ever since I saw her in the hospital and she threatened to make sure I’d never see my baby based on a lie, it’s all I can think about. Shaking my head, I set my glass down and face him. “She knew I was engaged. I don’t know how she found out and I don’t care, but she knew. The woman youwantme to marry threatens to take my baby out of state if I marry anyone who isn’t her.”
“And you respond by telling the world you’re not marrying her?” Don lifts one brow.
“What can I say? I don’t do well backed into a corner.”
“Clearly.”
“But you would have me marry her.”
Don sighs deeply. “I… am of two minds, Dean. Marrying Trish would be amazing for the family. The good will it would buy us would be overwhelming. Her family is rich and powerful and we can always use more of that, never mind that the Wilcoxes are from old money, just like you are. It’s a criminal match made in heaven if you want to guarantee staying on top because anyone else who marries her immediately gets a crown.”
“I just have to sacrifice my mental stability, my emotional health and mylifebecause the second she feels pissed off, I’ll end up with scissors in the back of my neck.”
Don snorts humorlessly. “Welcome to married life.”
“Fuck that. She made me think she’d lost the baby, Don. That woman is a real monster.”
Don sighs deeply, like air rushing out of a paper bag. “And that’s my other mind, Dean. Beyond the family and the business, I care about you. And she is one twisted fucker.”
“A twisted fucker you want me to marry.”
“We all make sacrifices. She’s carrying yourbaby. Your heir.”
“Sacrifices?” I scoff. “It’s suicide. Literally.”
“And Clover isn’t?” Don fixes me with a steady stare.
“No, she’s not.”
“But Trish?—”
“You know she’ll hold that baby over me for the rest of my life like some kind of sadistic threat.”
Don grunts. “This woman who came out of nowhere, you really love her?”
I briefly close my eyes and step away from the bar. “She didn’t come out of nowhere,” I say as I wander back toward the party. “You just weren’t paying attention.”
“Hmm. Congrats, kid,” Don says and he turns to face the bar.
Deep down, I know he means well. He carries almost as much weight and responsibility as I do with the family and he wants us to strive for the best. For that aspect, I appreciate him. Maybe if I were stronger, I could swallow all my pain and put up with Trish until she grew bored of me, but I know she’s greedy enough to never let me go unless I pull away.
Clover has no idea what she’s saving me from.
She also hasn’t come back from the washroom.
I wander the party, scanning every person I see hoping to glimpse her. It doesn’t take long because to me, Clover stands out like a radiant beacon in that gorgeous dress and no one else comes close to matching her.
