Page 73 of Charity's Redemption

“It’s not funny.”

I wiped a tear from my eye and tucked the broken phone back in my pocket, hoping that with some luck, it took the picture. “Oh, no, you’re right. It’s hilarious.”

“Stop laughing.”

His shoulders sagged as he slid into his seat, clearly doing something he didn’t want to do.

“Why does it seem like he’s being punished?” I said through my laughter.

“He’s not. I want him there while I play golf with your father.”

I choked on my laughter like a bitter pill, losing all humor in the conversation.

“Come again?”

Luca turned away from me, placing the bagels back in the box, “Your father invited me to play a game with him this afternoon.” He took two steps towards the fridge and returned the cream cheese.

I slid my plate away from me and jumped from my seat, pointing my finger at Luca.

“No,” I shook my head, “absolutely not.” I crossed my arms across my chest. “You will have nothing to do with my dad.”

“It’s rude to decline.”

“I don’t care if you look like the biggest fucking asshole in the world, Luca. I don’t want you near my father.”

“Charity.” Nico spoke up, putting his hand on my arm. “We are going to be together for the foreseeable future. Don’t you want us to all get along?”

“No. I want you all to pretend they don’t exist like you have been doing since the beginning.”

“I’ve been working with your father since before you joined us.” Nico pulled on my arm and forced me to sit.

“That’s different. You don’t go out of your way to see him.”

“I have.”

I spun in my seat to face him. “What do you mean?”

He sighed and splayed his hand on the counter, then diverted his gaze to Luca. “When everything happened between us. I stopped in and spoke to him.”

My brows pulled together with confusion as I shook my head. “Why?”

Why would Nico go out of his way to speak to my father?

Nico’s kind eyes flicked back to me. “I told him he was missing out on your life and to make amends before he died.”

“Nico?” I gasped. “You threatened my father?”

Rage and disbelief screamed through my system in a fight to the surface, making the outcome indiscernible.

It was out of character for Nico to threaten someone’s life. He left that to the judge at sentencing or his father and Luca. Never did he take it into his own hands.

“No. Of course not.” He sighed. “It’s no secret that he’s getting older. I just wanted him to pull out of his shit before he kicked the bucket.”

I sealed my lips, thinking through my response before blundering this conversation.

“We need to put this on the back burner for right now,” Luca said. “I want to hear what you intend on doing with Adams.”

I stared at the marble countertops, mesmerized by the swirls of sparkling color, while I weighed the pros and cons of my father being around Luca. He was too volatile to be around my father. Who’s to say what would happen when they get together.

---