And if Dani didn’t stop, she’d risk losing her appendages.
If he didn’t kill us first.
“Max, please. I’m sorry.”
The sob in her voice broke my heart. I wanted to go to her. I wanted to save her. But I didn’t dare move. I knew the second I did, my father’s men would unload on both of us. Pump us full of lead before--
I sniffed the air again. “Who did you incinerate this time?”
Dad shrugged. “Poor Dani. I’m pretty sure it scarred the girl.”
“You killed a man in front of her? Are you insane!?”
I took another step toward him and the guys moved in closer. I heard a couple more of them cock their guns as my father’s grin grew into a wide, empty smile. A smile that haunted my nightmares. A smile that followed me around as a child, just trying to endure my father’s spontaneous wrath.
“It’s kind of cute, really. Her trying to save you,” he said.
I blinked. “What?”
He nodded. “It’s true. Isn’t it, little bird?”
“Don’t you dare talk to her.”
“You might want to answer me if you want him to live, little bird.”
I heard Dani swallow. “I thought you were at the bar. You never showed up on campus, and I got so worried, and I just--”
Dad interrupted her. “It’s cute. But stupid. I have to say, I expected more from a college student.”
I snarled. “What do you want?”
He leveled his eyes with me. “Your time is done here, Max. You’re finished. Progress requires compromise. And sacrifice. Neither of which you’ve been good with. And in order for me to expand my business, I need to get my hands into deeper pockets. I need to change up the game. And a certain pesky thorn in my side will stand in my way if he finds out what is required to get into said pockets.”
I stood my ground. I tried to take even breaths. I knew exactly what my father was saying, though. He’d made new business deals outside of the crew. And it sounded like he was dealing with even more unsavory characters than we were used to. In any other situation, I would’ve told my father to kick rocks. I would’ve shot him, taken Dani with me, and gone back to my men just to tell them we were on our own. I had dreams of turning my father’s mansion into a place where we all congregated. Where we all lived, if we wanted. A place no one could take from us. A place where we dominated in private, held meetings away from our loved ones, and enjoyed the expansive surroundings before us when we needed time to rest.
I couldn't do any of that with my father about to kill Dani, though.
None of it meant anything if I didn’t have her with me.
“You knew I wouldn't let you go through with it. That’s why you’ve done all of this. To get me out of the way.”
Dad nodded. “Maybe you’re not as stupid as I figured. Nevertheless, I thought I would eliminate the obstacle before it had a chance to fuck up my operations. Just as you would do if you were in my shoes.”
I scoffed. “I wouldn't kill my own goddamn son in order to do it.”
He growled. “You are no son of mine.”
“Good. Because I have a hard time calling you ‘Dad’ anyway.”
“You could’ve had everything, Max. Everything! You could’ve ruled at my side. Had all of the wealth and the riches and the women you could’ve ever wanted. And yet, you chose a life of scraping the bottom of the barrel. Scrounging around for money just to eat at night. You chose a woman like her instead of women who deserve to be with a Ryddle man. You chose a woman that comes from nothing instead of woman of substance.”
“You won’t speak about her like that a second time around. I can assure you that.”
He held out his arms. “You could’ve chosen all of this! A life of ease and no worry. But you chose backroads and mediocrity. You chose them over your own flesh and blood.”
“They’re more flesh and blood to me than you’ll ever be. You’re a disgrace to this family.”
He got in my face. “I built this family!”