Page 79 of Resurrection

She knows why. I understand why.

“My father has disappointed me a lot in my life,” she says. “So what if I disappoint him too?”

Except I realize she doesn’t mean that. There are things people don’t outgrow. “If he cares more for Eric than he does for you—”

She whirls on me. “Don’t finish that. You think I can’t get there on my own? I don’t need you rubbing it in my face.”

Her anger makes my frustration spike, and I spring away from the dresser. “That’s not what I’m fucking doing. I’m saying you deserve better than both of them. Cut them loose.” I throw up my hands. “Fuck it. Give the company to your father. I’ve got money now. We can start over—do something else—leave this bullshit behind.”

“I—what?” Her expression is startled. “Where is this coming from?”

I sigh and resume my spot against the dresser. My anger vanishes in an instant at the look on her face. “The longer it’s taken me and Jay to figure out what Eric and your father were doing, the more I wondered why we were even bothering. You have the connections and the skills. I have the money. We walk away from their bullshit and start over. You and me.”

“Doing what?” Her face morphs from confusion and surprise to consideration.

The fact she hasn’t dismissed the idea outright gives me hope. “A smaller arms company, maybe? Work our way up. Security service.” I meet her gaze. “Or, if you don’t care, you can be my mafia doll.” I wink. “I definitely understand how to build one of those empires.”

She holds up a finger. “Nothing illegal. Not if we’re starting over, okay? If I’m leaving everything behind for you, I don’t want to worry you’re going to be taken from me.”

I walk over, smooth her hair, and peer into her amber eyes. “Sounds like a deal.”

Her suitcase sits on her bed, open, partially packed. “So, are we going to Russia or not?”

“We make a clean break,” I say.

“I own a house in Cape Verde. It’s not huge, but it’ll suit the two of us. We can restart there.” She laughs and hugs me. “Are we really doing this?” She kisses my neck and squeezes me tight.

I’m glad she’s so happy, but there’s a part of me worried for later. Ever since I’ve known her, she’s wanted her father’s love and approval more than almost anything else. Leaving the company is guaranteed to piss him off.

The shrill ring of the house phone stops me from replying.

“Hold that thought.” She grins. The phone is on her bedside table, and she snatches it up. Her voice is full of happiness when she says hello. She smiles at me before wandering across the room, handset glued to her ear.

I perch on the side of the bed and riffle through her beauty products. Jesus, she has a lot.

“What are you talking about, Dad?”

That gets my attention. She’s pacing, her expression confused. “I don’t care what you’re doing in Russia, Dad.” There’s a brief hesitation before she pushes on. “In fact, I’m—I’m giving the company back to you and starting something else.”

Well, I guess we’re doing this. I didn’t realize she’d tell her father quite that quickly or over the phone. Best to fire the first shot. That’s my policy, anyway.

She stops pacing and glances in my direction, but she’s frowning, unfocused. “I don’t understand.”

Charles’s voice is muffled, and I can’t make out what he’s saying. “What the fuck?” I mouth to her, but she waves me off and keeps shaking her head.

“Yeah, fine.” She turns to look at the wall, distracted, her face pensive. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” When she hangs up, she stares at the phone. “I guess we’re going to Russia.”

“What’s going on?”

“Dad says he needs me to meet someone in Russia. After that, if I want to quit, he won’t stop me.”

“So kind.” I sway back on my heels. “Squeeze every bit out of you before he lets you go.”

Carys crosses the room and stares at her suitcase in silence, her brow furrowed. “Such a weird conversation.”

When we establish eye contact, I just raise my eyebrows.

“He was excited. The number of times my father has been excited for something could be counted on one hand.”

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