“Well, considering that’s his wife’s sister,” I said, my throat tight and constricted. I shook my head. “You’re a monster.”
“Some may think that.” He nodded. “But whenever I act, it’s necessary. Just like you, I can imagine, with me and your failed attempted.”
“I’m nothing like you.”
“But aren’t you?” he asked, my eyes blinking. He waved a hand. “You saw an obstacle and what you felt was a threat to your family, and you attempted to take care of it.” The smile graced his lips again. “And how is my son and his wife? I can imagine Royal is going stir-crazy at that cabin, seeing as how he’s a workaholic just like his old man.”
My mouth dried.
He grinned. “Of course, I know where they are, Dorian.” He sat back. “I even know you’ve had people tailing me. Well, you and your friends can rest knowing that my stay here will once again be short. I don’t have a place here in Maywood Heights anymore, as I’m sure you know.”
The way he continued to trivialize what had happened to my aunt had me snarling.
Grandfather’s head cocked. “Fortunately, I’ve been able to create a new life for myself. A handsome one with privacy and no ridicule from this town.”
“Hence your new name.” My eyes narrowed. “Montgomery?”
His chuckle was light. “Yes, an old family name actually,” he said, his lips pulling in. “Something you’d know if my son ever bothered to tell his own son about his family history. The Montgomery name is tied to my mother’s side. I merely took it up again. It allowed me to start over with no retribution. The name wasn’t classy, you see. Left behind, but never forgotten.”
Thatcher had said it came from some bootleggers—not classy as my grandfather said.
“And so a Prinze becomes a Montgomery.” My laughter dry, I braced my arms. “And right. You really had to start over with all your money, your power?” My eyes narrowed. “I’m sure that was so hard for you.”
He studied me, and the lack of emotion in his eyes shouldn’t surprise me, but it did. This man was a vault, showed even less emotion than my father. Dad had obviously gotten it from this man.
“You roll through here like a fucking freight train,” I said. “Destroying lives, and boo-hoo, you have to start over.”
He let me go off on my rant, entertaining it. He appeared to find me and this whole conversation amusing.
“I told you. I do what needs to be done for my family. To protect my family, even if they don’t agree with how I go about it.” His brow lifted slightly. “Who knew what that Mayberry woman would have done after you and your friends kidnapped her. You’re eighteen, son, and though you may feel you’re above the law, it’s best not to test it.”
He said this so casually, and I stiffened.
He nodded. “Yes, I took care of that too. Didn’t take much. I told you the woman had enemies. I just had to direct them where to go.”
My stomach soured, suspecting this. “You did that,” I said, gut turning. “And the police coming to get me?”
“That was a warning.” Grandpa’s eyes narrowed. “I forgive you for that situation at my home. You believed your family was threatened, and I understand that, but going forward, nothing like that is ever to occur again. Ever, grandson.”
“But…” I started, blinking. “I tried to kill you.”
He appeared casual about this, his hand lifting from the table. “Like I said, I understand. You were trying to protect your family and no one gets that more than me.” His lips tightened. “And I’d never hurt your father, Dorian. I’d never hurt my son nor you.”
“Only my mother.” I hated how my voice shook, that this asswipe affected me.
His head shook. “I act when I need to. I don’t go by emotions. Something you yourself can learn from.”
I swallowed.
“Anything I ever do
is to protect you. And anything I’ll ever do will.” He sighed. “I don’t wish to be at war with my only grandson. I merely wanted to get to know him. You may not believe it, but those last few months I had with you I enjoyed immensely. I’m getting along in years, boy. These moments are all I have, and I have no interest in harming your mother.” His head tilted. “Truly. I just wanted to get to know you.”
He made himself sound like an aging man with innocent desires, not the cruel bastard who not only threatened my mom, but used to beat my father. Where had his protection been then?
Where was it now when it came to me?
“And is using Sloane to do your dirty work part of that plan?” I asked. “She helped you with my arrest, right? Told you where I was?”