Page 37 of Vengeful Reign

Chapter Thirteen

Nora

Jack has too much on his plate, but the first priority is to see his father this morning and let him know that he’s found John. As much as I don’t like it, we take John with us. Jack promises me that his father won’t harm him, but I have my reservations. As much as Julia had lied to all of us, her love for John had been absolute, so there must have been some truth to her story.

So far, all three brothers seem to love him, although at this point, I can’t tell if I’m wrong. Not one of them has been completely alone with him for an extended period of time, and it’s not like they would try anything dumb that quickly again.

The exterior of his mansion isn’t as nice as Jack’s, but it’s still insanely gorgeous and it’s the closest to the entryway gate, which explains why it was easier to take John that day. I don’t know any of the details, and of course I won’t ask since it’s none of my business. The less I know, the better, and that’s the way it is when you’re a part of a mafia family.

“Don’t be so nervous. He’s going to sense it and try to use it against you,” Jack says.

“I’m not worried about me. Don’t want him to hurt John.” He stops me from getting out of the SUV with his hand on my wrist.

“Look at me.” I do, and he stares into my eyes with such a fierce dominance that I’m almost lost in them. “He can’t, and won’t, do a damn thing to John. It would give him away, and that’s not something he’d risk. My father’s a lot of things, but being a fool isn’t one of them. Do you trust me?”

It’s not even something I think twice about. “Yes.”

“Good. Now get your sexy butt out of the car, and let’s greet the old bastard.” I step out and walk around the vehicle to where Jack is helping John out of his car seat. Once he’s on his feet, we walk to the front door and ring the doorbell, and a man quickly answers.

“Hello, Thomas. I’m here to see my father.” Thomas’s eyes drop to John, and he gasps.

“Yes, but don’t say anything. I want to surprise him.” He nods, and Jack takes my hand.

“He’s in the dining room, sir. Please follow me,” Thomas says. We step in behind him, and I hold on to John’s hand while Jack takes the lead. I see the almost six-foot, paunchy elder MacNamara sitting at the head of the table.

“Jack, you’ve returned. What are you doing here without a call?” I don’t like that tone.

“I thought you’d like a special surprise.” Jack steps aside and lifts John up.

“My son, my baby boy, my Evelyn’s baby,” he says, jumping out of the chair with such exuberance that I’m surprised. “You’re alive,” he continues and nearly reaches out to touch him, but John turns inward, curling into Jack’s chest.

“It’s been a long time since you saw him, and the last time was traumatic.”

“It most certainly was,” he snarls. Then he looks over at me. “What the fuck is a Fieri doing with you?”

“Watch what you say about Nora. She’s been taking care of John.”

“You brought my son’s kidnapper into my house?”

“She didn’t kidnap him.”

“No, she just held on to him without turning him over to the police or to us for the past year, and you expect me to believe that she’s not involved?”

Oh, hell, no. I’ve hated this man from the moment we met and he told me that he had plans after I bore one of his sons an heir. He’d use me like one of his whores and pass me to his friends. I want to rip his head off, but for now I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.

Stepping up to his face, I puff up my chest and square my shoulders. “Excuse me. You have a lot of nerve. I just did what was best for John—something you seem to have neglected for the past five years of his life.”

“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” he questions, looking at me like I’m supposed to be intimidated. He has no idea the blade I hold over his head.

“I don’t give a fuck who I’m talking to. So far, I’ve spoken to somebody who has always treated me extremely rudely. If it wasn’t for me, John wouldn’t be doing as well as he is or even be safe. So, you can think what you will, but I did what was best for him. And if you’d care to take notice, you’ll see that he’s grown in that past year.”

“Yeah. All of a sudden he can do things that he couldn’t do before because you were with him, and I’m supposed to believe that.”

“It’s true, Dad,” Jack says.

“Maybe if you took the time to take your ego and put it away and focus on your child, then maybe you would have seen that he needed help. With all the money that you have, in a city with so many resources, he could have gotten the treatment heneeded a long time ago. Children with autism flourish if they start young and get the assistance they need early on. He still has a chance to grow and embrace learning. If you’re not so stubborn, he’ll have a chance to have a semi-regular existence.”

“I don’t like your tone, young lady.”

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