Page 85 of Captivated By Him

Dominik closes the door behind him softly, leaving me and my father alone.

“What is it?” I ask, turning to him. He looks so much older now; maybe it’s the oxygen tube in his nose. Or the heaviness around his eyes. He’s not sleeping well with the breathing machine at night.

“You think because I put Dominik in control of the family, because we’ve keep you more on the outside of things, I don’t respect you. That we don’t see you as an equal.”

My jaw tightens. “I’ve never complained.”

“No. No, you haven’t, but you’re my son. And you have your mother in you. She was no good at hiding her thoughts from me either. I know you, Jakub.” He wags a finger at me. “Your mother died when you were young. Dominik has had to grow up much faster because of it. You took the responsibility of watching out for your sister and he took the responsibility of learning the business.”

“I know all of this already.” I feel more like a petulant child at this moment than ever in my life.

“But you don’t know why.” He coughs a bit, pointing his finger at me when I lean toward him. The stubborn goat will take no support from us at all.

“Dominik is older,” I answer for him while he catches his breath.

“No.” He shakes his hand. “I mean yes, he is, and he was always going to be my next in charge. But we keep you as far from the dirty business as possible because you have a head for business. Legitimate business, Jakub. Look at the clubs.”

“They’re bars and dance clubs. So what?”

“So, your brother and I couldn’t run them like you do. You keep the legitimate businesses running so smooth it makes us profits that keep us mostly ignored by the feds.”

“You’re protecting the businesses?”

“I’m protecting you.” He leans back in his chair. “I spent months exiled in Poland with your sister because the feds went digging. It could have cost me a lot of years behind bars.” He takes another breath. “I’d be missing everything.”

“I figured you just didn’t think I could be as good as Dominik at this.”

“Of course not. You’re smart. My boys can handle anything given to them.”

“So, you want me not to get my retribution for what the Kaczmareks did to Nicole?”

“I want you to trust your brother will handle it. When the time comes, you’ll be there.”

Dominik will deal with it in his own way, I have no doubt about that. But Nicole is mine.

“It will make me look weak if they get away with this. Nicole is my wife. My responsibility.”

“She is, yes.” Joseph nods. “You’ll get your retribution. I agree with Dominik, Christian is telling us the truth about Piotr. More than likely, he will be dealt with from within their family. And then they’ll blame us.”

“But since it helps us both, no war.”

“Exactly.” Joseph pats my arm. “You focus on your wife. She deserves a good life, Jakub.”

Staying out of the Staszek dirty business keeps Nicole safe. Not only from fallout, but also from having to watch me carted off to jail if the feds ever get something real to pin on us.

“Let your brother get his hands dirty.” Joseph smiles. “You both have your strengths. Use yours to make me the richest bastard in the world before I finally keel over.”

I roll my eyes. “Now you get dramatic.”

“Not dramatic. Look at me, for Christ’s sake.” He lifts the oxygen tube running from his nose to the tank behind his chair.

“The Kaczmareks will pay?” I want a promise. Leaving the details in their hands is fine, so long as every bit of retribution is received.

“This will not go unanswered,” he promises.

Odds are good Piotr will be hunted down by his cousin first. More agreements, movement of territory lines, and it will all be over. It should enrage me, but then I think of Nicole.

She deserves not to have to look over her shoulder every time she leaves the apartment. She shouldn’t have to have ‘babysitters’ everywhere she goes. With an agreement for peace, she can have all of that. And even though she could be a target if we piss off enough families, she has more safety with my name than danger.

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