I hated that I was relieved to see him. But I was. The only person that scared me more than him was his wife.
“That wasn’t a meeting! You’ve lost your damned mind. She can’t take over, Richard. She’s not a Cannavaro. She’s not blood.”
“She’s my blood,” my father said calmly.
“My grandfather will roll in his grave. This is Isabella’s legacy. You’ll tarnish the family’s good name…”
“I will not ask you nicely again,” my father said. “You can either leave right now, or I’ll have you escorted out.”
“Just because you don’t want me here doesn’t mean this isn’t my home,” Mrs. Pruitt said.
“Now, Patricia.”
“Next you’ll tell me you’re going to give the little half-breed the Pruitt name.”
I pressed down on Jacob’s ears a little harder. She didn’t mean…she couldn’t possibly be talking about my son? Half-breed? With what? The help?
“Get out!” Mr. Pruitt said.
“You’ll pay for this,” she spat.
He grabbed her wrist before she could storm off. “Don’t waste my time with idle threats.”
She pulled her wrist out of his grasp. And with one last hard glare at me, she strutted off, her high-heels echoing. I closedmy eyes at the noise. It sounded just like Isabella. When she’d walked down the hallways of Empire High.
I jumped when my father put his hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” my father said. “She was out of line. I didn’t realize you were coming or she wouldn’t have been here.”
I shook my head as my hands dropped from Jacob’s ears. “This was a mistake. Come on, Jacob, we need to go.”
But Jacob didn’t move. He was staring intently at my father. So intently that his eyes were almost in slits.
“Jacob,” I said and put my hand down for him to hold, but he didn’t take it. He just kept staring.
“Please don’t go,” my father said. “Patricia was out of line. Your mother wasn’t…she…” his voice trailed off. “Your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me. She gave me you.”
Right, and I gave you a free kidney.He was really full of it. But it was the things he said like this that made me falter. Because when he spoke of my mother, I could hear the love in his voice. But love wasn’t enough.
“And you can ignore anything Patricia says. The company is yours. It was always meant to be yours.”
I shook my head. “I came here to tell you that I’m staying in New York. Because Jacob wants to stay.” I looked down at my son who was still just staring at my father. “But staying doesn’t mean you’re going to be in our lives. There’s nothing you cando that will make me believe you didn’t have a hand in what happened with Miller. I don’t want you or Poppy or anyone you’re associated with anywhere near my son. Or me. And I want no part of your business.”
“But, Angel, you were made for this. You’re my daughter…”
“I’m not. And I’m not your angel. Or your princess. I’m Brooklyn Miller.” My voice cracked on Miller’s name. “As long as you’re associated with the mob, I want nothing to do with you.”
For once my father was silent.
“It’s time to go, Jacob.” I wasn’t sure what he’d wanted to see my father for. But I hoped it was just to see him. Because Jacob hadn’t said a word. I put my hand out for him, but again, he still didn’t take.
“What happened to your face?” Jacob finally said as he stared at my father.
Mr. Pruitt touched his nose. His eyes were a little less black and blue today. “Your mother hit me. She has a great right hook.”
Jacob looked up at me and smiled. “Daddy told you too?”
Told me what?Before I could ask, Jacob punched my father. Right in the nuts. Really freaking hard.
