Doc heads for the door. “I’m leaving.”
I block his path. “We need a decision.”
“What about Adriano?”
“He’s already agreed to a contract.”
For a second Doc is dumbstruck, but he recovers fast. “He’s cracked out on pain meds!”
“He knew what he was being asked.”
Doc pushes a finger in my face. “He fucked us all over! He started all this!”
“You think I don’t know that? We don’t have time to deal with it, but he’s infatuated with January, and he wants her safe.”
Doc sinks his fists into his hair and pulls. “Thiscannotbe happening.”
Bobby gets to his feet and walks over to a computer monitor. He types briefly then points to the screen. It’s a live feed into January’s room. She’s sitting on the end of her bed in a towel, singing to herself as she combs her long dark hair. Warmth breaks open inside of me, the way I used to feel when Dolce curled up in my lap.
Doc stares at the screen, his blue eyes glassy. What is he seeing? Himself as a teenager? Alessia? Or maybe just an innocent creature we still have a chance to save.
“Doc?” I prompt. “What are you thinking?”
He closes his eyes. “Say, theoretically, we agree to a contract. Who’s gonna draw it up? Who’s gonna enforce it?”
The backs of my knees go weak. Until that moment, I didn’t realize how much I thought he’d walk or how relieved I am he hasn’t.
“John Bianchi,” I say. “He’s the only person with enough power to hold Parker to account if he betrays the contract.”
“And our terms?”
“It’s hard to say,” I begin carefully. “But at its core Parker would be relinquishing his claim to January and we’d agree to set aside our revenge. Call it square.”
“That might not be enough,” Bobby says, tearing his gaze from the monitor. “What about the money Parker spent on January’s stepmother? He’s gonna want compensation.”
“Then I’ll pay it.”
“It’ll be millions!”
“I’ll sell some stock. Some sapphires. We’ll manage.”
Doc stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You’re serious, aren’t you? You’ve already picked a broker, you’re gonna hock your mom’s jewelry, you’re completely sold on this.”
“I don’t want the girl to suffer. Do you?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I fucking do.” Doc flings a finger at the monitor. “That girl betrayed us, she ran away and had us all thinking she’d been raped and killed. I’m going to take every inch of that disrespect out on her virgin pussy and if you or anyone tries to stop me, I’ll murder them.”
So it’s sexual compensation he wants. To punish January for making him feel things he hasn’t felt since his sister died—if he’s ever felt them at all. That is understandable and something we can work toward. But not now. Now I need to save the girl’s sister and her sanity for all our sakes. “Do you agree to a contract or not?”
Doc looks at the floor. “Do whatever you want.”
“That isn’t going to work, Valente. What’syouranswer?”
“Fine. Do it.”
