Less than nothing.
He can’t even claim ownership of his dignity.
He should have signed that document when he had a chance, but his arrogance was his downfall. It always was and always will be.
There are no more chances for him.
While I am grateful for my alliance and grateful to finally have full power over the city, I don’t take pleasure in what I have to do to my father. It exacts a toll on me in unexpected ways.
Because I am not like him, and I still value family. Even him. I didn’t want it to end like this, but when he made his choice, I had to make mine.
Each night when I get home, Georgie is waiting for me.
She makes me forget everything.
She steals me away from my stress and shows me all the things I have to live for. All the reasons that I’m doing this.
With her at my side, I have more family in my life than I could ever have had with my father.
She is my queen, my goddess, and my entire universe.
Georgie is the one who finally gave me the strength to do what I was always meant to do—to push that old man out of the picture once and for all.
Late at night, after another beautiful evening of making love to her, I pull her close to me and kiss her silky, soft cheek. “Thank you, little one.”
“Mm,” she murmurs, sleepily, already drifting into dreams.
“You are my whole universe,” I smile. She wiggles closer. Her breathing is soft and even.
For a long time, I just watch her, my heart swelling with happiness.
Chapter 24 - Georgie
Jess’s name appears on my phone as it rings, playing one of my favorite songs. I smile, swiping my finger over the green button to answer her call. At the same time, I close my textbook. It’s time for a break, anyway. I was at the point where I’ve been reading the same paragraph over and over without absorbing anything, and my hand is cramping from taking notes.
I stand up and press the phone against my ear.
“Hi,” I say happily. “How are things?”
“Hi, you. It’s all going well on my side, and Emmanuil tells me that things are moving smoothly there.”
“Yes, shame, I can see how tired Kris is when he gets home every night. I imagine Emmanuil and the other guys are all feeling the same. It’s so much work, breaking apart what your father’s done.”
She makes a little sound of agreement. “I think it’s about time he faced the consequences of all of his horrible choices. He’s been cruel his entire life. He didn’t deserve anything good. He didn’t deserve any success. I’m glad he refused to sign that document, even though I should never say that out loud.”
I walk down to the kitchen with the phone cradled between my shoulder and my cheek. I’ve been craving a cup of lavender tea for the past hour, but I didn’t want to stop studying and break my focus.
“You know you can always tell me how you really feel, Jess. It’s healthy to get it out, anyway.” I smile. “I don’t think it’s bad to want someone to feel the consequences of what they’ve done. Justice isn’t unfair.”
She huffs, a soft, lost laugh. “I don’t know what I did in a past life to end up with a father like him,” she says as I walk into the kitchen. I flick the kettle on and pull a mug from the cabinet.
It’s funny that she feels that way. I wonder if she and her brother have spoken about this in the past.
“Kris said the same thing. But at the end of the day, having him for a father is what led you towards the life you have now. It was a part of the journey that led you to your happiness. If he wasn’t your father, you might never have met Emmanuil…and I might never have met Kris.”
“True. That’s a far better way of looking at it,” she says thoughtfully. “Focus on the results.”
The kettle bubbles noisily, and I switch the phone to speaker so I can talk hands-free.
