87

Allison
“I don’t know,” Papa murmurs at last, shaking his head. “It’s a good offer. I just don’t know.”
“Paul’s going to kill you. I have no real reason to. That should be all the logic you need to make the right choice.”
“It isn’t that simple.” Papa sounds miserable. “I’m already entangled with Paul.”
“Then detangle yourself. I won’t make this offer again.”
Papa nods, looking miserable. “I understand.” Then he glances at me. “Allison, darling, you can see how dangerous things are for me right now, but if you were to go back to Paul and apologize-”
Gregory cuts him off. “If you speak to my wife like that one more time, I will kill you.” He makes his threat as if he’s ordering steak at a restaurant. There’s only hard truth in his voice. “She is not going anywhere.”
“Yes, very well.” He takes a deep breath and slowly blows it out. “I’ll have to think.”
“In the meantime, send Paul a message for me. I’m open to working out a negotiated settlement to our current predicament, assuming he’s ready to cede control of half his grow operations for fair market value.”
Papa looks aghast. “You’re insane. He’ll never do that.”
“Then it’ll be war.” Gregory pushes his chair back and stands. “You have a lot to think about, Bogdan. Think fast, because I can’t promise how long you have to keep drawing breath.”
He walks off, only pausing to glance back at me.
I don’t stand right away. Papa turns to me, looking deflated, like Gregory strangled half the life out of him. I should feel something-victory, excitement, joy-since Papa deserves this and more.
Only I can’t manage to enjoy watching my vibrant father wither away.
Despite everything, he’s still my father, and I can feel myself getting angry and hardening and hating the world. If I keep letting bitterness dig its claws into me, I’ll be as lost as he is.
“Gregory’s not the enemy,” I say, keeping my face composed. I want to scream, shout, kick him in the face. Instead, I keep it together. “Paul’s the one that killed your daughter.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Who else could have done it?” I feel my nerves starting to fray. “Just think, please. I know you’re in deep, but don’t be stupid.”
“When did you get like this?” A hint of anger ignites in his expression. “When did you get so willfully blind?”
“Enough.” Gregory returns to the table, takes me by the arm and drags me to my feet. People stare, surprised that he’d manhandle me in public, but nobody dares to approach. Not that I can blame them. Gregory’s terrifying. “Think about my offer.” He pulls me away.
I wrench my arm out of his grip. “I can walk on my own.” I push past him out onto the sidewalk, pacing back and forth. “That asshole. That stupid asshole.”
“I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” Gregory says, watching me with an utterly cool expression.
“My father,” I say, throwing my hands up. “Also, you a little bit.”
“I figured as much.”
“What is with him in there? Seriously, does he want to get himself killed?”
“He’s not telling us something.” Gregory gestures toward where his black sedan’s parked. “Come on. We have to get off the street.”
I grind my teeth but follow him. No need to keep taking risks. Once in the safety of his back seat, he puts a hand on my leg. I try to brush him aside, but he doesn’t budge.
“I’m not in the mood for you to pretend like you give a damn.”
His left eye tics slightly. “I do care.”
“I doubt that very much. Business arrangement, right? And don’t give me that look. Yes, I’m being stupid and emotional right now, I’m aware of that, but my papa’s going to get himself murdered. I’m a bit stressed.”
“Allison.” He leans closer. “Do you want me to save your father’s life?”
The question makes me pause. He’s staring at me intently, Gregory’s gorgeous face inches from mine, his strong hand on my leg, and I begin to calm down. I’m safe in here with him, my husband, with two of his soldiers sitting up front. Now he’s offering to give my father a way out, and suddenly Papa’s life is in my hands.
What do I really want? There’s a part of me that hates Papa for siding with the man that killed Freya. I still don’t understand how he could possibly want to work with Paul after all this.
But he’s still my father. It’s not exactly easy, letting him get killed.
“I want him to do the right thing.”
“That’s asking a lot from most people.”
“Yeah, well, here I am, expecting the world.”
“If you want me to keep your father alive, all you have to do is ask, and I’ll try my hardest.”
I chew on my lip, surprised by his earnest expression. “Why? What do you get out of it?”
“Aside from making my wife happy? Nothing at all.”
“I’m not really your wife. I mean, not your real wife. You shouldn’t care about making me happy, only making good on our deal.”
He’s quiet for a long moment as the car heads back toward our house. He continues looking at me, like he’s studying my face, and his maddening hand remains on my leg.
“I find myself wanting to provide for you.” His face twitches again as if he’s not happy with the way he phrased that. “I want to make you happy for no other reason than to make you feel good.”
I hesitate, surprised by his answer. “Well, uh, I guess that’s not the worst thing in the world.”
“No, but it’s strange. For me, at least.”
“Strange for me too. Imagine being married to a man that actually gives a shit about you? Hard for me to picture.”
I get another one of his tight smiles as he removes his hard. “I wouldn’t go that far. Making you happy is one thing. Giving a shit about you is another.”
I snort, unable to help it, as he turns and looks out the window.
Gregory’s not the enemy. I have to keep that in mind.
Yes, he’s using me to get what he really wants-but I’m using him, too.
That man drives me crazy. Hot one moment, cold the next. But despite everything, a strange flutter rolls through my guts, and I don’t mind the idea of him trying to make me feel good.