Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“You know what, forget it. I hope when you take your last breath, you’re all alone, and you’re in so much pain you beg for the end. You’re already dead to me.”
The sobs that come from the room after he hangs up tear a hole through my heart. True is such a sweet boy. I had no idea.
I move away from the door, wiping the tears from my eyes. There has to be something I can do. I know the girls have asked before when Josh can adopt them. It truly is something they want just as much as Josh does.
“Whoa, you all right?”
I look up as I run into Jeff. He and Josh are going to Château Brione instead of me. I’m glad Josh isn’t going alone. He’ll need someone to help with that temper.
I still haven’t told him it was Jeff who told me about the fake engagement. He asked once, but we were interrupted before I could answer. I truly don’t think Jeff meant any harm by it. He was just talking.
“I’m fine,” I say and wipe my face.
He pulls out his handkerchief and hands it to me. I take it and give him a small smile. “Come take a walk with me. Tell me what’s going on,” he says, placing a hand on my back.
“It’s nothing.”
“You’re in tears. If Josh sees you like this, he’s going to assume it’s his father’s doing and that’s going to set him off.”
“It’s not his father. It’s the kids’ father. Do you know much about him?”
“No, not really.”
“He sounds like a piece of shit. Those kids want Josh to adopt them and he’s blocking the way. I wish there was something I could do.
“Some way to get him to see reason. You know, maybe if it came from me and not Josh or the kids, he’d separate his anger with Josh from the situation.
“Sounds like he and Kelex are triggers for each other. I don’t know much about him, but I’ve seen the look Kelex gets when he’s mentioned.”
I jerk my head back as he calls Josh Kelex. I think that’s the version of Josh with the dark side. As that thought occurs, it sets into my belly that this is none of my business. I don’t want to call that side out.
“You know what, never mind. I don’t know what happened between him and Josh. It had to be something big for him to do this to his children. Forget I ever mentioned it.”
Kelex
I walk into the restaurant, barely holding my anger in. I should’ve had him come to a private location where I could strangle him and watch the light disappear from his eyes.
“Joshua,” my father croons. “I wasn’t expecting you. Where’s your lovely wife?”
“Wife?” Jeff says while standing beside me.
“Ah, you don’t know? My son here is a married man. Come, sit.”
“How do you know who she is or about our marriage?”
“I still have family in Greece and I’m a resourceful man. Please, Joshua, sit. We need to talk. You have a lovely wife and I want to get to know her. I brought a wedding gift for her.”
I start to see red. There’s no way I’m sitting through dinner with this man. Not knowing what I know.
“I’m going to say this once and only once,” I hiss low, trying to hold on to my composure. That grip slips quickly. “You stay the fuck away from her, or I’ll kill you. Why care about me now?
“I don’t need shit from you. I never ask you for shit. You made it clear you wouldn’t help me if I did.
“You’re a selfish prick. You’ve never thought about anyone but yourself. All the lying and stealing.
“If you didn’t stand to gain something from me, I don’t think you would have ever tried to be a father to me. Not that you’ve been worth a shit at it, to begin with.”
“Josh, just sit down. Come on, you’re making a scene,” Jeff says as he tries to tug me down into the seat next to him.
“No… you stay out of this,” I bark, then turn back on my father. “I know what you want from me. I know what you’ve been waiting for. You’re going to die waiting if I have anything to say about it.
“Or you’ll have to kill me to get it like you did my mother, you son of a bitch.” With that, I turn to leave.
I’m so pissed off my face is burning. I pace the front of the restaurant as I wait for my car to pull up. I’m surprised when Blake appears before me.
“Are you ready to listen?”
“To what?”
“There is more going on here. Information you need so you can be on guard. We need you to find the missing answers.”
“Answers to what?” I bellow.
“To who’s trying to take you down?”