ATTICUS
The only part I hated about having legitimate businesses was the amount of networking I had to do. However, in this sense, I hoped it would lend to my plan to shove my father out. He could try all he wanted to open his club, but without the proper connections, there was no way he’d get all of his ducks in a row. It was simple, but it worked, and for once, I gladly sipped a cocktail with men I thought were boring.
“So, Atticus, I hear you recently got married? And here I thought you were the one to envy, the rich bachelor.” The man chuckled, thinking his joke was funny.
“You obviously haven’t met my wife. She makes me better every day. I wouldn’t trade her or our family for anything.” My little speech effectively shut up the buffoon as he swallowed his drink in a nervous gesture.
“Well, yes, of course. Congratulations.”
The conversation changed after that, and I had three of the city council members in my good graces by the end of the cocktails. They were also eager to attend the secret gala we were hosting in a few weeks. It seemed like everything was aligning as we’d planned.
When I returned to the manor a few hours later, everything felt different. For the first time in a long while, I felt optimistic that I was ahead of my father. Having a family to fight for had given me a new purpose, a drive to succeed.
At first, I’d been dead set against the possibility of him being alive. Mostly because I’d wrestled with the knowledge that I’d killed him for so long, that it felt like a slap in the face to be told otherwise, when I'd finally come to terms with it. The other half, though, was denial. If my father was still alive, it meant it wasn’t over. That I hadn’t been enough, and he would take out his vengeance on Imogen and me. And well, no one liked to think of themselves as a failure.
It was trusting Loren and seeing the results from the bones that had me grappling with my new reality. When Jude had been taken, and half of the family had walked away, I knew what he was really after.
Dayton Mascro wanted to be the best. He wanted to win some arbitrary award he’d created to show who was top dog. At what, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t think it mattered. Because, however, you sliced it, it was pointless. Whatever Dayton was after didn’t exist, or at least not where he was looking for it.
If I had to guess, my father wanted the feeling of complete power and adoration from those around him. He was a true narcissist, and only being perceived as the best would tickle his fancy. My father failed to understand that the path he was taking would never lead him to what he was after.
Unconditional love, acceptance, and respect were things you couldn’t make people give you through fear. So while he was plotting our deaths and overtaking the city, searching for enough power to fill the void in his heart, I was finalizing a plan to take him out of our lives once and for all.
I didn’t need to win against Dayton. I just needed him gone. I’d already won the lottery of life and had everything he so desperately wanted.
Leaning against the doorframe, I watched the people I cherished, the ones who gave me their love unconditionally. This was home. This was everything. And it was something Dayton would never have or understand.
Immy colored on the floor with Lily and Olivia. Levi played a game with Jude and Monroe on the coffee table. Wells and Loren were sitting on the couch, laughing with Nicco and Cami. Topher and Malek played cards with Sax and Pixel, and it looked like she was winning. Food and drink were spread across the room, and I watched as my family was happy to be together, just spending time in each other’s presence.
Loren looked up, catching my eyes, and motioned for me to join them. Smiling, something I found myself doing more and more, I walked into the room. Shouts of hello rang out from the others, warming my heart, confirming everything I’d concluded earlier.
Loren stood up, motioning for me to take her seat. “Where will you sit, Bellezza?” I asked, a smile in my voice. Wells stood, letting her sit in his spot, and moved to the floor. They moved gingerly, sitting down slowly. I wondered what it was about, but the smirk on my brother’s face had me believing he either knew or was the reason.
I linked our fingers, taking her hand in mine, instantly calming at her touch. I brought her hand up to my lips, kissing it. “How did today go, Bellezza? Are you doing okay?” I asked softly. It wasn’t a secret, but it wasn’t something she wanted to discuss in front of the kids.
“It was okay. Not as hard as I thought. Does it make me a bad person that I’m glad he’s gone? Brian can’t hurt me any longer.”
I pulled her close, noticing she tensed for a second before settling into my arms. I kissed the top of her head, loving the smell of her shampoo as I did. Laying my head on top of hers, I kept her in my arms, locking my hands around her.
“Not at all. In fact, I realized that about my father tonight. I don’t need to beat him because I already have. I just need him gone so I can live the life we’ve created.”
She peered up at me, a smile on her face. “That’s beautiful, Attie. How did your meetings go?”
“Good. Everything appears to be in full swing for our secret party. All the city officials I met with are on board, willing to help us stop Dayton. He’ll never expect us to use legitimate sources. It’s where he lacks imagination. Will you come with me tomorrow to meet someone?”
“Absolutely. Just tell me when.”
“I love you, Bellezza,” I whispered, kissing her softly.
Gagging sounds erupted next to me, and I turned, glaring at my cousin. “Camila, do you have something to offer?”
“Oh, sorry, had something in my throat.” I rolled my eyes. Looking at the kids, I caught a couple of yawns, and suddenly the idea of having Loren to myself seemed like the best reward.
“Ah, look at the time. Isn’t it bedtime?” I asked.
“Ah, man,” the kids said, but no one argued. Cami took Olivia and Lily, Malek following her out. Levi ran over to give Loren a hug goodnight, and she kissed his cheek. I caught the happiness on her face at his gesture, and it made my own grow. Monroe bent down, kissing her deeply before walking out with Wells. He was still walking gingerly, making me even more curious.
Nicco leaned back on the couch, giving me a look like he knew what I was up to and wasn’t going to let me get away with it.