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Did it, though? I no longer thought so. “I wish you had told me what was really going on. Why didn’t you bring me in on this from the beginning?”
“I knew Franco would target you. I… I wanted to protect you.”
“Thank you, but I hope I’ve proven that I can take care of myself.”
“You’ve proven you’re as stubborn as ever.”
That wasn’t going to change. “One of X’s men will pass on the list of Franco’s associates. Would you like Arturo to stay here until they are dealt with?”
“Yes. I don’t want him here again until things are calm, but I expect you on the next plane.”
“I’ve gotten the information you need, and I’ll make sure you have the necessary assistance to remove everyone who was loyal to Franco, but I won’t be the one helping you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not coming back.” Rhys’s eyes went wide, and I squeezed his hand.
“Do you think you can just walk away from me and your family?”
I took a long, slow breath before continuing. “What I would prefer is to have your blessing to leave the family business, with you knowing that in an emergency, if you need my services, you can call on me. I’d like to stay in contact with you, but I won’t return to be your hitman. Dario should be your heir, not me.”
“He’s too young.”
“Are you planning on retiring soon?”
“No.”
“Then he’s got years to learn, and he’s eager to. I saved the family today. Even when you didn’t want to tell me what was going on, I stepped in. You lied to me and made me believe you valued Franco over me. The least you can do now is let me go.”
“I want time to think about my terms.”
The fact that he didn’t refuse outright meant I was winning. I just needed to stay strong. “I’m willing to negotiate anything that doesn’t include me there with you day to day or me being expected to take over the whole business.”
“And we’ll be even then?” I knew that was Dad’s way of asking if I would forgive him and if I would still consider myself his son.
“Yes, we’ll be even.”
“Then I believe we can work something out.”
“Good. I’ll talk to you again later tonight.”
As soon as I ended the call, I stood and pulled Rhys up with me. “We’re going somewhere private right now. I’ve waited as long as I can to get you naked.”
32
RHYS
Itried to keep TJ from pulling me out of the room. “So we’re not going to talk about what just happened?”
“Me telling off my scary-as-shit mob-boss father? No, we’re not. We’re going to fuck.”
I rolled my eyes. “You can’t just—”
“Are you telling me you haven’t needed me since the moment I ended Franco?”
“I’ve needed you since the moment I woke up today, but you just said you weren’t going back to your family.”
“I’m not.”
