“John,” Tucker says.
John looks me up and down, shock on his face, and I hate it. Clearly, he knew Tucker before, and he’s as surprised as everyone else that he could have any interest in me. It’s really starting to lower my self-confidence.
“Your father would like a word with you beforewe…”
“We got her,” Jethro assures. “We’ll get her back home safe. Take your time.”
Benito’s still alive. But not for long.
“Baby, this is John. Joanna’s father,” Tucker says. “John, this is my girl, Phoebe.”
Joanna’s father? Oh God. No wonder he looks surprised. He probably sees nothing of his daughter in me.
“Hello.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say. “I’ve heard great things about your daughter. And I’m very sorry for what happened to her. I can’t even imagine the pain you felt.”
His brows shoot up. “Thank you. You’re… not what I expected.”
“I’ve been getting that a lot.”
He smiles. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”
“I’ll be home as soon as I can, baby,” Tucker says and kisses me.
It’s a strange feeling. Getting kissed in front of the father of his dead love of his life. But he’s not hiding me.
He loves me.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Pacino
Iswore I’d never fall in love again. That I’d never let another woman become so important that I would risk everything like I did with Joanna. And for so long, I’d been certain my heart didn’t exist anymore. It shattered into a million pieces as I held Joanna while she took her last breath at the hands of my family.
But then came Phoebe. She hit me like a ton of bricks, and I’ve been helpless to fight against it since the day I met her. I tried, but it was futile. She’s the one I’ve been waiting for, and she needs me as much as I need her.
I walk outside with John to get on my bike, but he stops me. “She’s different.”
“She’s perfect,” I snap.
“I didn’t mean it as a bad thing. You got out of the life, and I don’t blame you for it. It makes sense you’d find someone to fit your new lifestyle.”
There’s not much to say to that, so I just nod and follow him to an empty warehouse. It gives me a sick pleasure as I climb off my motorcycle that Father won’t be comfortable in any way before he dies.
It’s exactly what he deserves.
Blood dribbles from the corner of his mouth as I walk up to where he’s sitting on a chair, his hands and feet bound. He’staken a decent beating, but they’ve gone easy. Probably because of his condition.
“Father.”
Tanner walks in after me, and I frown. He shrugs. “If I’m taking over, I should be here.”
No, he wants to give our father a small comfort of not being alone to die at the hands of enemies. Maybe he shouldn’t be the head of the family after all.
“You can stop this,” Father says.
