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He’ll need an army, a whole lot of ammunition, and luck, to do it.
We cut a corner, and Savage grimaces. “It’s cold as a motherfucker out here and you don’t have a coat on.”
He’s right. It’s cold, but my shirt sends a conflicting message to my father, one of loyalty to the brand, that may or may not include him. I want to be sure he sees it the minute I walk in the door.
Savage’s phone rings. He grabs it and answers. “Savage here. What the fuck do you want?” He eyes me and then listens again before he hangs up. “Adam says that Isaac hasn’t exited his house since you left Denver. It’s reading off to him. He’s going in for a closer look.”
It’s not off to me. Isaac had a fight with his big bad boss, and father, and now he’s sulking like the little bitch he is and always has been. He’s probably been told to stand down and wait on daddy to call him with the “all clear” because I’m dealt with. I’m about to be dealt with, all right. I don’t voice any of this to Savage. I’ll let Adam confirm Isaac’s tucked in bed or washed up in a bottle.
A block from the hotel, I stop at the entrance to a coffee shop. “I’ll be right back.” I don’t wait on Savage to reply.
I walk inside, order two hazelnut lattes, just the way my father likes them, one for him, one for me to hold. When the coffees are in hand, I exit the coffee shop and hand one of them to Savage. “You can drink what you want of that one, but I need the cup at the hotel.”
“You’re taking your father coffee?”
“Of course. I want this to be a cordial meeting.” I think of the lesson my father was speaking of when we ended that chess game between me and Isaac right before I started law school:Never fight a war as the underdog. I’ve let myself act like the underdog with him. I never was.
Which is why I focus on the lesson my mother taught me:no regrets.
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Harper. “Eric!” she exclaims, answering on the first ring. “What’s happening?”
I almost smile with her excitement and I would if I wasn’t headed to see my father. When the fuck was anyone ever this damn glad to hear my voice. “Nothing yet, but you remember you said you had something to say to me earlier?”
She’s quiet a moment. “Yes?” she asks, a tremble in her voice.
“I fucking love you, woman. Time isn’t going to change that and I would have rather said this in person. I’ll tell you again when I see you in person.”
“I love you, too, but why are you saying this now? What are you going to do? Forget whatever it is. Come back, and tell me you love me in person.”
“I’ll be back soon. Be naked when I get there.”
Savage looks at me. “Oh shit. No one confesses love on the phone unless they’re about to do something stupid. You’re going to choke him out.”
He smiles.
I don’t.
Chapter seventy-four
Harper
“What are you about to do, Eric?” I whisper, adrenaline shooting through me.
I set my phone down and rush to the living room to find Smith watching TV. Even before he sees me, he’s on his feet facing me.
“Eric called me right before he went in to meet his father. I think he’s going to do something stupid.”
“Savage is with him.”
“Will Savage stop him from doing whatever craziness he’s planning?”
“Savage is the kind of guy who’ll take over.”
“Take over? Eric won’t let him take over.”
“He’ll take over,” he repeats.
“No. He won’t. Eric won’t let that happen.”
