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My father watched me then released a quiet breath in disappointment. He turned to his place across from Axel. The coffee table was laden with bottles of wine and glasses, along with marinated olives, olive oil, and feta cubes. Fresh bread had been set out as well.
My father took the heat off me and looked at Axel instead. “How can I help you?”
“My father told me what you did.” Axel cut right to the chase, got straight to the point, didn’t waste my time or my father’s. There was no other reason for Axel to be there because they were no longer business partners. Now their only connection was familial, as crazy as that sounded. “Not only did you tell him I lost the love of my life to keep him alive because I was pinned under your thumb, but you proved my innocence.”
My father’s eyes dropped like he didn’t want the praise.
“If you hadn’t proved my innocence, telling him you were responsible for the bullet in his arm wouldn’t have mattered. How did you do that?”
He stared at the floor for a while before he lifted his gaze to meet Axel’s. “I hired a lot of people. A lot of PIs. Leveraged my connections in law enforcement. Spoke to the tech nerds I know to pull all the feeds I needed, breaking government protocol. I’ve made a lot of useful contacts in my long career.”
“That must have taken an entire team.”
“A team of thirty people, yeah,” he said. “But I’m glad I did it because you were telling the truth all along.”
“I’d like to pay you for those expenses?—”
“You owe me nothing.”
“That must have cost you millions.”
“Consider it a payment for all your pain and suffering.” He glanced at me and then looked at Axel again. “I hope the revelation allowed you to reconnect with your parents.”
“It did,” Axel said. “We had dinner together the other night. All four of us.”
My father gave a nod. “I imagine they loved my daughter.”
“How could they not?” Axel smiled slightly. “Thank you for what you did.”
“Don’t thank me,” he said simply. “It was the least I could do in light of all the hardship I caused you.”
Axel bowed his head and rubbed his palms together, thinking of his next words. “I spoke to Theo about the business. I was unable to persuade him to return the whole business to you. I’m sorry, but I can’t control what he does.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’ve decided to retire.”
I felt the flush of surprise rush through me like an electrical shock. My dad always said he would only retire when he dropped dead. But now, he seemed to do it willingly.
“Really?” Axel asked in mild surprise.
“Yes.” He rested his ankle on the opposite knee, his elbow propped on the armrest. “Theo is the sole owner of that business now. I wish him the best.”
“Why?” Axel asked.
He was quiet for a long time before he sucked in a slow breath and released it. “There’s more to life than power. Than money. I should focus my time on things that are important, like family…relationships…peace. Going to a nice restaurant and enjoying myself. Finding a woman to be my wife and partner. To prioritize the things that matter. Up until this point, I’ve only prioritized the things that don’t matter…to my detriment and utter ruin. Won’t make the same mistake twice.”
I looked at the coffee table, unable to believe he’d said all of that.
Axel turned to look at me, his eyes silently asking if I had anything to say.
My hands bunched together in my lap, and my eyes flicked down again.
Axel continued to stare, pressuring me with his intensity. When I said nothing, he left the couch and stepped away. “I’ll let you guys talk.” He headed to the front door.
“You said I didn’t have to talk.”
He looked at me over his shoulder before he proceeded to the front door. “Then don’t talk.” He walked out and stepped into the darkness, content being in the cold because he ran hot like the desert.
I looked at my father.
