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"What's done is done. There's nothing you can do to get the hotel back. I owe him almost a million dollars. He won't release the hotel until I pay him back."
"You could have found another way," I snap, my fists clenching at my sides. "You could have asked me for help. But instead,yougambled with the mafia, andwelost everything. How could you do this to us?"
"I didn't want to drag you into my mess. But Tristano is a friend, and I know how to handle him."
"A friend? What kind of friend takes another friend's business?"
"The kind that would rather take my hotel than see me die."
"Die?" I stare at him trying to decipher if he's serious. "Tristano isn't the handling kind. What are you really involved in?"
Jeff remains silent, his gaze shifting away from mine. I can see the fear in his eyes and my heart sinks. I'm scared now. What kind of trouble has he gotten himself into?
"Dad, please tell me what's going on."
His eyes round. I never call him Dad anymore, not until situations like this when Ineedhim to listen to me.
He sighs and shakes his head. "It's too late to make a difference now. You're better off just forgetting about it."
I take a deep breath and try to steady my racing heart. He won't tell me anything and I'm left with more questions than answers. But I know one thing for sure, Tristano is up to something sinister, and I have to do whatever it takes to protect our family.
I turn towards the door. "I'm going to find out what Tristano is planning before it's too late."
I grab my purse and storm out. There comes a time when talking just doesn’t work, and I’ve reached that point with Jeff. His constant use of ‘trust me’ and ‘I'll fix it’ makes my blood boil. But I don't want Jeff to die, and a part of me prays this is what he needs to get his life in order.
That's down the road. Right now, we're at the height of his irresponsibility.
I jump in my car, slamming the door.
"Aurora, don't get involved in this."
I stare at him through the window. "You should have thought about that before you let him takeeverything."
I reverse and drive away, fuming.
That's all I think about as I drive to Casey's apartment. She's my crazy cousin. Always the life of the party, and the best person to hang out with in times like this.
I get to her complex in twenty minutes. I run up the stairs and let myself in.
I drop to the couch and spill my guts. She sits in the chair, listening as if I've paid for her professional services.
“There has to be a way out of this," I mutter. "I won't sit back and do nothing while the hotel falls in the hand of that predator."
"But didn't Jeff say Tristano saved his life?"
"Yeah, but what kind of friend takes a friend's business?" I feel like a parrot, but I can't make sense of any of this.
"Tristano bought the debt and now owns the property. There's nothing anyone can do about it."
"Whose side are you on?" I can barely stand to hear the truth.
"Yours. But one day, you’ll have to deal with knowing Jeff needs help and that help can’t always be from you."
"Why do I have reject parents? Mom left me. Dad gambles away our business. Casey, I'm literally starting over." I sit up, swinging my legs over the couch.
"Crying won't help."
"I won't cry. But damn."
