Roberto and I discuss the situation and immediately set up a security detail with a renowned, well-trusted and competent company that’s referred to us. Our plan is to eliminate all of the illegal activities my father was involved in and focus on the legitimate companies, building them up and providing them with more resources.
We aren’t sure if my mother is aware of how deeply our dad’s shady business practices extended. But I’m done with it.
No more strip clubs, narcotics or gambling dens. Roberto and I both agree that the loansharking days are over and anyone who still owes us money will be put on a reasonable and achievable payment plan. I’m done cheating people and I’m ready to make our businesses above board.
Unfortunately, we’re pissing off a lot of people in the process, but I don’t care. We’ll have new security and a new lawyer.
“Sorry to drag you into all of this,” I say, eyeing Roberto. I know he isn’t too keen on being involved in the business side of things, but I can’t fix the entire family empire on my own. It’s too big and there’s just too damn much to figure out.
“Hey, that’s what brothers are for, right?”
“We need to have a family meeting today and fill everyone in, If Finn and Ry want to come onboard and help in any way, I’m game. They might be young, but they’re smart.”
“Agreed.”
Glancing over at my phone, I realized that I haven’t heard anything from Trish in a while, but I assume she’s hanging out with Finley. Even so, I’m itching to get back to my house and make sure she’s okay. I know the compound is safe and Sully is guarding her, but I can’t help the worry running through me.
Especially now that I know she’s carrying my baby. It adds a whole new dimension of anxiety. It was a shock when she told me but, truthfully, not surprising. If that makes any sense. A part of me wants to tell Roberto right now, but I hold back. All in good time.
“Alright, I’m going back home to check on Trish.”
Roberto nods. “I’m going to get a workout in while I can. I have a feeling my fighting time is about to take a backseat.”
“Only for a little bit,” I promise him. “Once we hire the right people and get things up and running, you can go back and focus fully on your fighting.”
“Promises, promises,” he replies.
There’s a teasing note in his voice, but I can hear the underlying concern. Roberto doesn’t want to be stuck in a 9-5 office job or spend too much time in the corporate world, but that’s where our focus is moving. To the big tech companies our family owns. We need to make sure we’re hiring the best employees and keeping everyone happy so those companies keep making billions of dollars.
I turn toward the door and pause. “Thanks, Rob. I couldn’t do this without you,” I tell him.
“Oh, I know,” he assures me with a crooked grin.
“See you later,” I say and head out. There’s so much to do and my mind is buzzing as I walk across the lawn back to my house. But the first thing I’m going to do is pull Trish into my arms and kiss her senseless.
I immediately notice Sully isn’t in his usual position on the front porch and my heart kicks up a notch. Maybe he’s circling the premises. No need to freak out, I tell myself.
I unlock the door, throw it open and walk inside. It’s far too quiet and I pause, looking around. But I don’t see Trish or my sister. I know there’s no reason to panic, but the first niggling of fear creeps up my spine and the back of my neck tingles.
Something isn’t right. I’m not sure how I know, but the feeling hits me hard like a punch in the gut.
“Trish?” I call out. I jog up the stairs and go down to the bedroom where we had the most incredible night. She’s not here and I notice one of the drawers I cleared out for her to use is slightly open.
I walk over, pull the drawer all the way open and it’s empty. Eyes narrowing, I check the others. Also empty. Spinning around, I throw my closet open, and her duffel bag is gone, too.
Where is she?
The panicked thought sends me sprinting back downstairs and I look over to the chair where she always drops her purse. It’s gone.
“Fuck!” Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call her number. It rings and rings. Right before it drops into voicemail, Trish picks up.
“Connor,” she says softly. Her voice sounds odd, but relief pours through me. “Trish, thank God. You scared the hell out of me. Where are you? Where’s your stuff?”
“Connor, I need you to listen to me.” She sounds so off and I brace myself. “What’s wrong?”
“I know this is going to be hard for you to hear, but… we can’t be together.”
It’s like the floor just dropped out beneath me. What is she talking about?
“After you left, I really had time to think about things and – ” Her voice catches, and I frown. “You and I can never work.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“We can’t be together,” she says, voice suddenly cool and distant.
“Trish – ”
“I’m going back to my family. You know we don’t belong together and… I don’t want to be with you. Please respect my wishes, Connor.”
Her words tear through me like bullets, and I can’t believe they’re coming out of her mouth. After everything that we said last night, after we said I love you, how can this be happening? I refuse to believe it.
“What’s going on? Please, tell me so I can help you. Because this isn’t you, Trish. Who’s pressuring you to do this? To leave me?” My voice cracks, but I don’t care. I can’t fucking lose her. She’s my everything.
“Connor, please don’t make this harder than it already is,” she pleads.
“You’re carrying my baby,” I remind her. “He’s part of me, too, and I will be in his life. You can’t take him from me, Trish.” Playing the baby card is a last resort, but it needs to be done. Especially if Trish thinks she can just cut me out like this and act like I don’t exist. Not fucking happening.
“It’s impossible,” she whispers. I can hear the conflict in her voice, and I know someone is making her leave me.
Her father? Brother?
I have no idea, but I’m going to find out. I don’t know why exactly she’s changed her mind, but she’s running scared right now and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.
“You can’t leave me, cara mio,” I tell her. “I love you.”
“Connor..” Her voice breaks, but then she composes herself and puts the icy front up again. “You have to leave me alone. I’m begging you.”
“Beg all you want,” I tell her. “I’m never letting you go.”
A sob rips from her throat. “You have to! Otherwise – ” Her voice abruptly cuts off.
“Otherwise what?” I demand.
“Nothing,” she quickly says, backpedaling, and getting her emotions under control again.
“Listen to me, Connor. I thought maybe we had a future, but I was wrong. This morning, I found clarity and whatever we had isn’t enough. I’m going back home and moving on and I need you to do the same. Please, just forget about me.”
“Never,” I tell her, my voice firm and resolute.
I hear voices in the background.
“I have to go,” Trish says hurriedly. “Don’t call me again!”
Then she hangs up and I stare at my phone in disbelief for a long moment. There’s no doubt in my mind that someone is forcing Trish to leave me. Most likely her father or Antonio or even Giovanni.
I’m going to find out who and, yeah, I’m not going to call her again.
Instead, I’m going over to her house to confront her and demand answers. I know we can work through this together. I just need to know what the hell is going on so I can take care of it.
Take care of her and our baby.
Because if I know one thing for sure, it’s that Trish loves me just as much as I love her. I know it in my heart and this bullshit between our families is not going to keep us apart. Not now, not ever. It’s going to stop and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.
I’m going to get the woman I love back, and everyone is going to have to learn to deal with it. A Mennetti is madly in love with a Volkanov and there’s nothing in this whole goddamn world that will make me stay away from the woman I love.
Certainly not a bloody last name or an archaic rivalry.