Sabrina
Ihearevery word that my father says to Silas as I sit in the small office with the door open. It’s so typical of my father to act like this. He sends one asshole packing, and then morphs into the same controlling asshole that he just got rid of. This has to stop. I won’t stand for it this time. Charging back to the open warehouse area, I face off with him.
“Dad, you can’t do this again.”
“Leave it alone, princess.”
“Please.”
“I’ll deal with this, honey.”
“No, Dad. You won’t. You can’t make everything about business… I mean, how dare you propose that to him? It’s not right.” I step up beside Silas and squeeze his hand. “My decision to see him again or not, has nothing to do with your business dealings together.”
“Mr. Rizzo, I appreciate and respect the offer, but your daughter is her own woman,” Silas says, backing me up. “She can do whatever she wants, and if she chooses to associate with me and my club, it’s her choice. Everything else on the table has to do with me and my choice. I’ll think about it and let you know soon, if that works for you.”
“Mmm, a diplomatic reply.” My father strokes his beard and has an unreadable expression on his face. “How do you feel about that answer, princess?”
I thread my fingers more securely through Silas’s. “I need a moment with him, Dad.”
“I don’t know how much privacy you can get, given the venue, darling. But you’re welcome to give it a shot.”
I drag Silas into the small office. The questions flitting across his face only makes me more sure of what I want. “The timing kind of sucks for a conversation like this, but…”
Silas nods, but his eyebrows are still stuck in a permanent state of confusion. “Just say it. What’s going on?”
Running a hand through my hair, I glance up at the ceiling. “I’m not sure how to put this into words without sounding completely forward right now, but I don’t want to walk away without saying it. I want to know more about you, Silas. I want to be with you. This isn’t one of those‘let’s be together forever’things, because I don’t know that I can see that far ahead. The reason is pretty obvious, since well, look at who we are. But I want to try, if you’re up for it.”
He turns and rubs his jaw, then starts to light up a cigarette. He probably didn’t see this coming, yet here I am, dumping a massive bomb on him. And as usual, he goes radio silent. I just wished he’d say something. Anything.
“Silas? Are you just going to stare at the wall?”
He turns to look my way again, and takes a long drag on his cigarette.
Not a word.
Jesus, it’s annoying as hell, practically baring my soul to him and not getting an iota of feedback. I fold my arms. “I’m going to assume you’re thinking it over, all right? That way, I don’t have to bash your teeth in with my fist.” That gets a smile out of him. Except I wasn’t kidding about that. “While you’re in a listening mood, I’ve got another suggestion. Since I have your full attention, you know, as you refuse totalk?”
The man remains oddly silent, but presses his lips together after taking another pull of his cigarette, and gives me an attentive nod. I’m not sure whether to choke him or get close, so I start talking and don’t stop.
“Would you consider offering protective services to clients at the law firm where I work? I’m thinking that our divorce clients may be perfect as low-hanging fruit to start off. Kind of like your own security company. With simple state licensing…probably for Arizona and Nevada as you’re practically on the border. Maybe Utah too. It’s completely legal, and a good way to generate revenue while you’re sorting things out with my father. Think about it as a potential transition plan, and a win-win for everyone. You have some extra options for your MC, and my father won’t be able to dish out any ultimatums to you like he just did, because you won’t be relying solely on his business. No one will have any control over you, and my law firm provides referrals all the time. So why not to you? That’s how I see it, anyway.”
His jaw hardens. “It’s an interesting thought,” he finally says.
“Praise the Lord. The man speaks!”
He shakes his head. “You suggested the same idea to Axe, right?”
“Well, yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s smart, and keen to retire from illicit gunrunning.”
That earns me a spiteful look, but it’s worth it. He’s considering it, which is more than I thought possible. Silas surprises me by moving in closer, and kisses my forehead with a tenderness that makes my breath hitch. As quickly as he does that, he turns and heads out to my father.
“I’ll consider everything and let you know within a week,” he tells Dad.
“Fair enough.” My father takes his phone out of his pocket, searching for something on his phone. Then he looks over at me. “Sabrina, I assume you’re leaving with him. Is that what you were trying to tell me just now?”
