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“She’s difficult,” Tristen piped in.
“Yes, she’s formidable, but I’ll handle her.”
“Just how long did you think you’d be able to keep it a secret, son? You’ll need to keep a short leash on her at this point,” Pops said. “Especially since I heard about the trouble you had.”
“I guess Tristen told you everything.” I yanked a bottle of Maker’s Mark from the shelf, pouring a hefty glass.
“It’s my business to know when my son’s life is in danger.”
“You forget, Constantine, that I work for the entire family, not just you,” Tristen snarked.
“And it would seem you forget who signs your paychecks. We can certainly make other arrangements.” As I turned around to face him, I lifted an eyebrow.
“Would you stop the bickering?” Danika said. “You admire each other. You hate each other. It gets old. What happened? Did you see a doctor?”
“I’m fine, sis. It wasn’t my life I was worried about.”
“So, what happened?” she demanded, concern riding her lovely face.
“Jade was attacked in the street in the Bahamas, the incident disguised as a mugging. She was almost taken.”
“Jade. A beautiful name. Is she okay?” Mother asked.
“She’s fine. Angry. Confused. But she’s fine.”
Daniel exhaled. “It would seem you’ve already taken a honeymoon. You’re still thinking the Grassos are to blame?”
“Since he was foolish enough to torch their buildings the night before last, I would guess Fantini was pissed enough to come after him,” Pops growled.
“If it is Grasso, then we have a leak within our organization.” The fact there’d been no arms secured in the basement as suggested could mean they’d wanted to push my hand.
I knew my statement would ire Pops. His nostrils flared and he grabbed his drink, almost sloshing it from anger as he brought the glass to his lips. “We need to find them.”
“We won’t go off any deep end just yet. There may be another player involved,” I said. As I took a sip of my drink, I shifted in such a way a sharp pain went through my shoulder.
“You were hurt,” Danika gasped.
“Just a scrape. Open your present, Mom. The rest can wait.”
Pops moved behind his desk, remaining standing, looking from one to the other of his children. “No, it can’t, son. I’m hearing all kinds of shit that the Grassos have significant plans for retaliation. We need to deal with our issues and with them. Now, who is this other player?”
Issues. While he remained on the board of directors, owning forty percent of the stock, he hadn’t taken an active role in the corporation for almost two years. That mean he was worried about everything that had transpired. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
“That’s what we’re waiting to find out.” My answer was clipped at this point because there was no need to disturb the family any more than necessary.
Our father finally sat down at his desk. “What’s the holdup?”
“The mystery of his identity,” Tristen answered.
“It would seem the person I’m talking about wants to keep his identity secret.” I moved toward the window, staring out at the pool. It had been refurbished more than once, looking nothing like it had when I was a child. Much of the house had been redone, my mother demanding it not long after…
I still couldn’t believe I’d told Jade about Nickolas. I’d never talked about the incident to anyone other than the psychiatrist that had been forced on me. Even then, I’d said very little. Trust and respect. My mother was right, as she’d been most of my life. I had to earn Jade’s trust in order to protect her.
And to have any kind of decent life with her.
“That sounds like a desperate man,” Pops said, half laughing.
“Or one in witness protection,” Daniel added.
