“Good to see you boss.” Johnny makes eye contact and returns the smile. Ballsy. Johnny is most certainly ballsy. He’s been a friend of mine for years and I sure as shit couldn’t do this business without him. But I don’t like that he’s sneaking around with my sister. And I sure as shit know that Pop’s doesn’t like it. He better give it up soon and put a ring on her finger.
“Hey Pops.” I lean back in my seat and then stand to greet him. “Didn’t know you were coming.”
We share a quick hug and I motion to the liquor, but he shakes his head.
He takes a casual seat on the sofa and I relax in the spot next to him. He’s come here a few times, usually because we’re meeting up for a family event… or a family event. But I know about it ahead of time.
“What’s going on, Pops?”
“I just wanted to make sure you’re doing alright.” He looks me in the eyes and I almost look away. I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees and set my chin on my clasped hands. I take a moment to answer him. I don’t know what to tell him. I’m not okay.
I settle on what I hope is the truth. “I’ll be alright.”
“That was intense Dom. Never seen you like that.” I gaze at the floor and take a deep breath in and a long exhale.
“Yeah, well.” What’s he want me to say? My memory flashes back to a few nights ago, to my fists beating the piss out of them. They were tied down when I got there. Just like they tied her down. I saved the one with the dragon tattoo for last. I wanted to make sure he knew what was coming. I wanted him to watch the rest of them die. De Luca was second to last. No one gave a fuck that I took the lead.
I needed to. I had to. For her.
“Sean went to see her the other night. Rebecca.” Hearing her name brings me back to the present.
“It’s Becca. And I know.” His brows raise in surprise and his lips turn down.
“She called you?” he asks.
“No, I went over there. Just to tell her she was safe.” My gut churns and my heart freezes in my chest. I wanted to go up there and talk to her, to convince her to just give it a chance. But I’d be a fucking asshole to do that to her and Jax. They deserve better. So I stayed in my car. Thinking about what a prick I am for wanting her. “I saw him walk up and waited.”
“Well what’d she tell you about it?” Pops leans into me.
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I swallow the lump in my throat and lick my lips before sitting back in my seat. “I didn’t talk to her.”
“Ah.” Pops looks to the left at Johnny and then sighs. “Well,” he turns back to me, “she didn’t giveaway anything. So she’s cleared. I told Jack to back off.”
“What the fuck is Jack saying now?” My blood heats and anger stirs inside of me hearing that shit. Back off? He better fucking back off.
“Nothing, Dom.” Pops puts his hand on my shoulder. “He’s just paranoid as fuck. He’s happy now.”
I search his eyes and nod. “He better be fucking happy. She may never be mine to claim, but she’s off limits.”
“I don’t understand, Dom.” He lowers his voice and looks at me with a sad expression. “Is it cause she’s got a kid? He’s a good little guy and he’s-”
I rear my head back to look at him. “That’s not it. That’s not it at all.”
“I don’t get it Dom. What the hell’s a matter with you?” It’s been a while since my father has talked to me that way.
I chew on the inside of my lip not wanting to say it, but he asked. And he’s the boss. “She’s got to protect her son. She can’t be messing around with me.”
“I didn’t say anything about messing around Dom. I saw the way you two looked at each other. What you did for her. I know what she means to you. And you’re just going to let her go?”
“I have to. She can’t live this kind of life.” I wave my hand in the air and sit back with a heavy weight on my chest. My hand runs down my face.
“Then give it up. If you think she’s worth it.”
“Give up the familia?” I can’t believe what he’s saying.
He purses his lips and sucks in a deep breath. “That’s not what I meant. Get outa this here. Lay low. Get a boring ass day job with your degree. Do what you gotta do.”
“Do what I gotta do?” I swallow hard. I don’t like subtleties. I’d rather be smacked hard in the face with a blunt answer.
“I can’t tell you anymore than that son. I will say Sunday dinner will always be at our house with the family.”