Shit.
Axel threw open the office door and stalked toward the unwelcome intruders.
Smitty’s eyes grew wide, and Rylan turned beet-red when they saw him. Mateo entered behind his family with Kelly in tow.
“Hey, guys. Look who’s back!”
Kelly grinned, the scruffy paint expert a welcome arrival, and asked, “What did I miss?”
“Not much,” Smitty said after clearing his throat. His cheeks looked slightly pink, but he met Axel’s gaze with an amused one of his own. “I’m gay and proud of it. Heller’s dad and I’d guess brother just arrived. Oh, and we now have a pregnant cat and a half-blind Chihuahua as mascots.”
“Whoa. Big news.” Kelly blinked. “I was kinda hoping you could just fill me in on the detail work for today, but okay.”
Mateo took a good look at Jannik and Maksim and whistled. “Is everyone from Germany seven feet tall?”
Jannik Heller looked at Smitty and Rylan with disgust, apparently having overheard their private conversation. Maksim made no comment and didn’t express much of anything.
Axel crossed to the conference room and opened the door with more force than needed. The door slapped against the wall. “In here,” he growled.
Once his family had followed him, he reminded the guys about the new work orders on his desk then shut himself in with his enemies. Well, enemy and one he wasn’t so sure about.
“Son, I am here to talk business.”
Axel ignored him on purpose. “Maksim, would you like a coffee?”
“Please.”
“Fine. Wait here.”
He left and returned half an hour later. He brought the guys two dozen donuts and had two coffees to share with his brother as well as a breakfast sandwich for himself. He interrupted his brother and father arguing in German. They stopped when he entered.
“Where the hell did you go?” his father snarled. “My time is valuable.”
“Then get the fuck out.” He passed a coffee to his brother, who nodded his thanks.
Jannik blinked. “What did you say to me?”
Axel hadn’t seen his father in years. Though they argued on the phone every few months, his contact with his relatives in Germany had been with his mother.
“You heard me. But you know, let’s talk.” He unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite, famished. His brother, he noted, sipped his coffee, remaining watchful. “Before we get to business and mother’s and my shares, let’s talk about how you lied for years about what you did to her.”
“I did nothing.” His father sniffed and tugged at his cufflinks. “She was not a good wife. She cheated on me.”
“You’re a fucking liar,” Axel snapped back. Maksim, he noticed, kept quiet. “I haven’t been the best son, I admit. But Mom ignored all your cheating and lies. She was a good woman, and you hurt her so much.”
“That’s not true.” From Jannik’s tone, it didn’t seem as if he cared if they believed him. “Your mother did as she was told. But she clearly failed with you.” His sneer didn’t win him any favors with Axel. What was his father playing at? If he wanted cooperation, he was going about it the wrong way. “Ilse’s shares should have come to me upon her death. But I’m fixing that. Axel, your time in the company is done. I’m buying you out, and as majority holder and committee chair, I can. It will take time and a lot of lawyers, but it’s doable. But if yousignIlse’s shares to me, I promise to give you twice what they are worth and stock in JH Autoteile.”
Axel snorted. “I don’t need your money, old man.”
“I am your father. You will talk to me with respect.”
“Or what?” He prayed Jannik would try to hit him. Now as large as his father, Axel didn’t need to cower. And he could certainly take the bastard in a fight. The need to pay his father back for all the times he’d hit their mother and she’d suffered in silence. For all the times he’d made her feel like nothing. The fights behind closed doors that would leave his mother feeling “sick” for days while she recovered from a beating.
He could have his revenge now. Hurt his father with the same size fists that had once landed on his own smaller body.
Forgiveness soothes many burdens, little bear,he could hear his mother say so clearly.The pain comes from hate and anger. But letting it go will heal you better than any kisses from your mother.She’d kissed his cuts then.
Young Axel hadn’t understood.But Mom, your kisses are better than anything.
