“You can’t be married to this job and married to your husband.”
“Well you’re a few minutes too late, pops. Knight and King already said they’d pick up some of the slack so it’s going to be cool.”
“They both talked to me about helping you out and that’s what made me want to have this conversation with you. They can pick up your slack and that’s fine but ultimately King has a business to run and Knight is about to father two children. They can’t be depended on no matter how much they love you wand want to be here for you.
“I’m not trying to scare you or talk you out of doing what you want to do because you’re a grown ass man, but I want you to understand that we marry the way we do not just because of status and money but for the reassurance that the people we welcome into our family know that it isn’t just a blessing to be welcomed into the fold, but a sacrifice. Xavia walked in knowing what to expect. Casmi and Nova were bred and born for where they are. Asante is a man you met by chance. Nothing is wrong with that, but this life swallows people up and spits them out and if you’re going to lead our security there’s a certain level of present you need to be.”
I stared at my father while I thought carefully about my response. I exhaled.
“Are you telling me to step down?”
“No. I would never do that. I want the family business to remain in the family but I also don’t want to watch you get your heart broken because the same way you can be the first Barron to enter a marriage of choice you can be the first Barron to see a divorce and I don’t want that for you. Barron men marry for eternity.”
“Marriage, arranged or not, works out because of two people willing to make shit work even when it’s hard and inconvenientand I’m confident me and Asante have what it takes.” I exhaled. “With that being said, I’m not stupid. I know you’re right and I know shit could change with time and children and I’ll prepare for that. I’ll never leave the family unprotected because of me, but right now I’m good and I’ll start letting Wes and Hawk pick up some more shit in case I ever have to take a step back.”
“Good.” He exhaled. “And if it makes you feel any better I had a similar conversation with Knight about having two postpartum wives and two newborns but since every Barron by blood is capable of crafting passports, it’s less of a concern.” He sat up in his seat. “Bishop, you’re my son and I know what you’re capable of so if you tell me you’ve got it, I believe you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. So don’t fucking lie to me or yourself. If you don’t got it, let me know. Let King know. Let somebody know.”
“Alright. I hear you.”
“Good.” He climbed to his feet. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
“Pops,” I called out to him before he could leave. “Are you really not ashamed of me?”
He slowly turned back toward me and sighed.
“For being gay?”
“Bisexual,” I corrected.
“Yeah well either way I don’t give a fuck,” he said plainly. “I care about the strength of our family and last name, about you and your brothers staying alive, about those upcoming grandbabies and your mother. If you’d asked me this shit five years ago maybe I’d care but I can’t seem to find it in me to give a fuck and honestly even then I wouldn’t have disowned you. I would have found you some stupid little money chaser to wear on your arm and you would have done what it is you do in privacy.
“You’re a Barron and we don’t turn our back on our own even if we don’t agree with each other and let me make some shitclear, I don’t disagree with you.” He gripped me by my shoulder and squeezed. “I’m actually proud that my two youngest stood up to everything they’d ever been taught for happiness. You and Rook being ready and willing to go to war with the whole world, me included, is what all this shit is about, the family. Never waver on it.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good because turning on your brothers is what would make me ashamed of you.”
We both looked back as someone knocked on the door. I saw that it was Hawk on the camera.
“You good?” Pops asked.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Good.”
He opened the door to walk out and let Hawk in who just had questions about an upcoming walkthrough.
When I finished up with him, I gathered my things and headed out both emotionally exhausted from all the talking about feelings I’d done while working and emotionally lifted knowing I was genuinely supported in whatever it was I wanted to do.
I went straight to the club even though there were only a few hours until closing and helped Asante with some stuff behind the scenes.
We were the last people out, making sure each of the workers got out the parking lot. Asante hopped in my car and we got some fast food before heading back to the house I shared with Rook.
We took a quick shared shower then hopped in bed together and I was sleeping almost immediately.
