Page 46 of Loving Smoke

“No.” I shook my head. “Not at all.”

“Then everything’s fine.”

“You don’t understand. Today I began to see him in a different way. I started to get close to him.”

“Exactly what you’re supposed to do.”

“Please just listen to what I’m saying. I’m done. I’m not working at The Tropics anymore and I’m not doing anything with Smoke anymore.” I spit the words out fast, not letting him interrupt me or try to convince me otherwise. I had to stand firm, I couldn’t let him intimidate me.

My father swiveled his chair and gazed into the dark night with the view of the colored light illuminating the pool, and beyond that the path leading to our private beach.

“I enjoy looking out at my accomplishments. I’m also proud I’ve been able to give my family such a good life—but like most things there have been sacrifices.” He turned back to face me. “And sometimes those sacrifices are unpleasant, but necessary.”

“I know, but we’re talking about me, not you and?—”

He held up his hand. “I’ve never asked my children for anything, but there comes a time when a father hopes his children will support him.”

“I understand, and thought I could do this, but it turns out I’m not as much like you as you thought.”

“Totally untrue. You’re exactly like me, you just haven’t experienced the struggles I have—and I blame myself for perhaps making you too weak. I’ve made you and your brother’s lives too easy.”

“Manny and I appreciate everything you’ve given us, but I’m an adult, and now I see taking on this task was a mistake. You said yourself you have Smoke where you want him, so you probably don’t need me anyway.”

“Like your mother, you underestimate your beauty, and the power it holds.” His eyes darkened. “The way it can make men do exactly what you want.”

His phone buzzed on his desk and he swiped it up and listened. His face twisted, then he barked out orders. He was definitely talking to police or some authority and he was definitely not happy.

“Damn it!” He swiped away the call and slammed his phone onto his desk. He drew in a few deep breaths, then turned his stormy, dark eyes on me. “There will be no more talk of you backing down.”

“What happened?”

“Smoke and Blood have found a way to not only cheat me out of my product but save themselves.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m talking about giving the monsters who killed your mother exactly what they deserved. By using you as a diversion, I hoped to make Smoke careless. I also expected both him and Blood to be rotting in jail by tonight. Then I arranged to have more drastic tactics implemented with my connections within the police department, but they’ve managed to double-cross me.”

I marveled at the easy way he talked about drastic tactics like I didn’t know it was a euphemism for murder. And yes, I fantasized many times about torturing or killing the people responsible for my mother’s murder. I wasn’t naive enough to acknowledge my part in his scheme, but I never would’ve bragged about it.

“Now I need you more than ever.”

“But I?—”

“By doing what I say, you will be honoring your mother.” His words tumbled over each other in a manic way. “You were a distraction to keep Smoke off his game, but now you are my last hope to bring them to justice.”

My father used words like justice and loyalty, but his meanings were twisted to suit this vendetta.

His dark eyes widened a second before he slammed both palms onto his desk. “You will continue to do this, and there will be no more discussion.”

“You can’t make me.” His outburst made my words sound small and childlike.

“You’re right, I can’t, but perhaps I can convince you another way.” He paused for effect and it was working. “Over the years you’ve grown quite fond of Rita.”

“Yes.” I rubbed my sweaty palms against the hem of my t-shirt.

“And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see her hurt or upset in any way.”

“Of course not, what are you saying?”

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