Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
She had already used my connections to do her bidding once, and cutting off the O’Murphys may make them more inclined to work for her.
“Exactly. The one thing we should never do is underestimate that woman’s need for petty revenge.”
Luc nodded in agreement. “When are you severing the ties?”
“Immediately. I caught one of the men Ronan had working for us bad-mouthing Stella and making accusations, and I didn’t take it well. I fired him on the spot, and I may have told him to tell Ronan to go fuck himself. That he would no longer be using our distilleries, our charitable foundation, or anything else to launder money or whatever else he was using our empty warehouses for.”
“Whatever else… you don’t even know what they have been doing on our property?”
“My property. It isn’t yours yet. And no, I preferred having plausible deniability.”
Luc gave me a look that made me think he saw through my bullshit, but unlike my son, I had a good poker face. I was not about to admit that it had all gotten out of hand.
“All because some douchebag insulted Stella?” Luc crossed his arms over his chest while leaning back on the car door. “That was unusually rash of you. How long?”
“How long what?”
“How long until you announce the engagement?”
I looked at him for a few moments, debating what to tell him or what he could already know.
“Hamilton called. He is worried Stella is a bad influence on you and taking advantage of your generosity. He may have had a few choice words about your child bride.”
“She is not a child.” I couldn’t believe he would call my son.
“Probably a wise idea, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“After the event she is throwing, we’ll make it all official quickly. It will be a small, intimate ceremony for family only.”
“I thought you always said weddings were to show the world the prize you had won and opportunities to network.”
“Some are. That’s not what this marriage is about. It’s me and her, that’s it. If she wants the big wedding, that’s fine, but I don’t care as long as she is mine.”
Luc gave me a wide grin. “I know exactly how you feel.”
“You’re not going to give me shit about her age?” I had been expecting a fight, or some judgment at least.
“No, I think she is good for you.”
I chose to ignore his mockery and focus on more important topics. “Have you talked to your brother lately?”
“No, not since…” He stopped for a moment and thought. “I can’t remember the last time I spoke to Thomas, maybe when we bailed him out of that thing in Rome a few years ago.”
Thomas had the ignoble distinction of being one of the few priests ever arrested by the freaking Vatican guard.
Even then, it wasn’t him who’d reached out for help.
My son would never forgive me for the decision I forced on him ten years ago. A decision that saved his life and avoided a scandal for the family. A decision that until now, I’d refused to regret.
Secrets and regret were such quietly destructive forces on a family. I understood that now.
At the time, the Vatican had arranged for a “donation” in exchange for quieting up the whole mess. I’d paid the fines and the bribes and got him back in the Pope’s good graces.
Yet another scandal avoided.
Not that Thomas would show any gratitude.
Part of me had long ago given up hope of reconnecting with my younger son, but Stella made me want to try.
“What do you think the chances are of him coming back into the fold? Perhaps if he sees how much the family has changed? All our charitable work.”
“She is throwing a party. That is hardly new,” Luc pointed out.
“The party is still a few weeks out, and I hear she has already raised a few million for the Lincoln Center. I know she chose the center for Charlotte, and I suspect she is considering something for Amelia’s school next. Amelia will have the funds to open a second location with free tuition in the next two years.”
“If Amelia wanted to do that, I would pay for it myself, but I see your point. As we speak, Amelia’s more advanced students are creating some pieces to auction at the event. Are you worried Thomas will hijack her causes and make her choose something you don’t support?”
“I don’t care what she raises money for. I really don’t. She could put a Democrat in the white house for all I care.”
“Since when have you bothered with politics? You always said red or blue doesn’t matter. They both respond to green.” Luc tried to hide his amusement, but he failed.
“True, but you get my point,” I said, pressing my lips together, annoyed.
“I do, so what does this have to do with Thomas?”