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I hate the thought of her being out here alone. After the ass-kicking, I gave the Italian, he’ll be gunning for vengeance. But it gives me time to prepare. Meet with my crew and discuss the move we’re going to make against Alfonso. If we’re lucky, we might learn a thing or two about the bastard who jumped my Brianna.
We kiss before she leaves my car, and then it’s back to the grindstone.
Chapter 10
Brianna
The Next Night
I’ve laidmyself bare to Mickey, and he hasn’t chased me away. I feared admitting dad’s debts would scare him off. I’m not sure why, though. Dad clearly owes him more money than we can pay back, but the thought of another loan shark made me feel like broken goods.
Instead, Mickey embraced me. He held me tight in my most vulnerable state, and made me feel whole. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve him.
“Bree, can you come here for a second,” Dad shouts from the living room.
Oh no, I wasn’t expecting him to call me over before my shift tonight. When I chose my outfit, I planned it around seeing Mickey, not having a father-daughter discussion. My tits are spilling out from the top of my shirt and the skirt, which was too small when I bought it, rides straight up my legs, displaying everything I have on offer.
Shit. What’s he going to think of me? First, I go out with the man holding a not so metaphorical gun to his head, and now I’m dressed like a slut.
In a mad scramble, I search through my closet for a gown. I find a fluffy, pink one balled in the bottom and pull it around my body.
“Bree? You here?” Dad knocks on my door.
“One second,” I say, tightening the chord around my waist.
He won’t buy that I’ve plastered my face in makeup but haven’t gotten dressed, but then again, he probably isn’t going to be lucid enough to care. It’s Wednesday night and he’s been in town. I’m sure he’s found his way to the bottom of at least a few bottles.
I swing my door open. To my surprise, dad’s face lacks the usual flair of half-shut drunken eyes, his chin is clean-shaven, and he’s dressed in his Sunday best.
“Did you go to a funeral or something?” I ask. I have to make a joke before the weight of our reality comes tumbling back down on me.
A weak smile parts his lips.
“I went to a job interview. It’s Upstate and doesn’t look promising, but—” He sighs. It’s a nightmarish, hollow sound, so close to a wheeze, I might have thought him sick if I didn’t know any better. “But I used the hundred Mickey gave me to get there.”
“You did?” My brow scrunches.
“I did some thinking after the last time we spoke. Then, when I saw you with him the other night . . . Brianna, I don’t want you to feel obligated to do something you shouldn’t because of me. Especially not with a man like Mickey Byrne.”
I knew he’d have some bombshell to drop about Mickey and me seeing each other, but he thinks I’m selling myself to pay off his debts? Could this be anymore awkward?
“I’m going to try and fix this. I’ve been unfair to you. I shouldn’t have thrown myself off the deep end when mom passed, but I couldn’t stop it, either. She was the rock that held this family together, but it’s my time to buck up or shut up.”
“Oh, dad,” I fling my arms around his shoulders and pull him into a gentle hug. The last time we had one of these hard conversations, I refused to cry on the principle of it. This time? I don’t give a damn if my makeup’s a little runny. He’s doing the best with what he’s got, and I’m thankful for it. “We’re going to be okay. I’m sure of it.”
I ignore the comments about Mickey, and focus on dad’s growth. I’ve suffered enough embarrassment with him even bringing it up, let alone trying to defend my actions.
“I’m sorry, Brianna.” He tries to hold back the tears rising to his eyes. His lower jaw quivers with his words, and he wipes away a soft sniffle with the back of his wrist. “I’ve been a lousy father, but I will make things right. That’s the most important thing to me.”
As much as I’ve tried to latch on to the anger and hate he’s put in me, I can’t. These moments of clarity remind me that my dad’s still a good man. He fell off the wagon, damn hard at that, but he’s still a good person beneath it all.
I disentangle myself from him.
“It’s okay, dad. But can we talk about this later? I’m running late.” Apart from shying away from the conversation before it circles back to Mickey, I’ll be late if we chat for too long. I didn’t budget my time well for the extra effort I put into my hair and makeup, and it’s set me way back.
“Of course,” he says. He wipes away a tear that hasn’t fallen yet. “Just thought you should know. I’m gonna stop the drinking and get myself straight. For you.”
I plant a soft kiss on his cheek and brush past him.
