Then, softer: “And Louis?”
I couldn’t believe how casually we were talking about his death.
“Have them bury me next to Frank. Fuck Nixon—that spot’s mine.”
I huffed. “Weird that you both have a claim on the same grave.”
He shrugged. “Either way, I’ve got time. They put a price tag and a clock on my head.” His eyes flicked toward the monitors. Toward the party. Toward his life.
“Let me kiss my wife. Let me hug my kids. Let me look at all of it and know I did good. I made mistakes—but I did good.” Hisgaze locked on mine. “Watch how I raised them. How I loved my friends. I was a father first. A boss second.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes. “Sir… I wouldn’t know what a father looks like.”
Dante smiled. “Funny. I said the same thing once.” He stepped closer. “Then Phoenix told me to look in the mirror the day I became one. Makes you grow up faster than a gun. Faster than being made.” His voice dropped. “Being a father is scarier than being a boss. There’s more to lose.”
Before I could speak, he pulled me into a hug so tight I couldn’t breathe.
“Treat her right,” he murmured, “or I will claw my way out of hell and kill you myself. Deal?”
“Deal.”
Fuck.
“No second guessing,” he added, pulling back. “It’s either you or one of theirs. I’d rather it be a son than a stranger.”
A tear slid down my cheek. “I’m not your son. I’m your killer.”
He smacked my cheek lightly. “Course you’re my son. The minute you said ‘I do’—regardless of your reasons—you became mine too.”
23
TEMPEST
He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men.” — Immanuel Kant
“That’s shit timing,” Raven said to my left while Ace watched with a wince on his face. “Louis’s been downstairs with Dad at least forty minutes. I’m surprised they’re both alive.”
Louis looked more pale than my dad.
Poor guy.
I stood and walked over to him. “You okay?”
He shuddered and pulled me in for a hug. “Never better.”
“Save it for later,” Dad joked, then smiled warmly at me. He always had the most stunning smile. My mom said he should have become an actor or politician like Uncle Chase. “You look beautiful by the way.”
I blew him a kiss and did a little twirl. “New dress.”
“I hope Louis paid for it.”
Louis went still next to me. “I’ll take her shopping and pay for a ton of new dresses, sir, I promise.”
“What the hell?” I shoved him. “Are you high?”
“Huh?” Louis shook his head. “No, just… thinking, you need more dresses.”
“I love a new dress.” Mom drew up next to dad with a glass of champagne in her hand. “Then again Dad always liked them off so?—”