Page 32 of Tainted Blood

“Who do you believe she needs protection from? The men who attacked you?”

“Yes.”

“My daughter has protection on her twenty-four hours a day. I won’t allow anyone to harm her. The choices she made with you were at her own discretion and, as she’s an adult, I didn’t have my men intervene.”

“That’s fucking good because that would have been a waste of good fucking soldiers. I would have ended every single one of them.”

“Good to know. I’m hosting a party for my daughter in three weeks. She doesn’t know it, but there will be several mafia families here as well prominent men and women. If you’re feeling up to it, consider this my invitation.”

“I’ll be there,” I snarl.

He gives a short laugh. “I thought you would. I’ll send you the details as we get closer to the event. I truly expect to see you there. Despite what you may believe, she doesn’t hate you.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Get better. Three weeks isn’t a long time to deal with all the sharks.”

“I’m well aware of it.”

“That’s good. I expect you to be sharp and also in control.”

“I won’t start a war, but I’ll finish it.”

“It looks like you weren’t so good at it the last time.”

“I was ambushed by the man that raised me,” I say. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Pinche guey. Let me know if you need some assistance. I have people that are good at hunting fuckers down.”

“Thanks.”

“See you in three weeks.”

“Yes, Sir.” I end the call, and then slide the phone onto the small patio table. Rolling my head, I gently work out the kinks and then take a drink of my coffee.

The patio door opens and Connor says, “They’re here.”

I check the time on my phone, and it’s already eleven. Damn. I’m going to be emotionally drained before the middle of the day.

Today is our first visit with Saunders and John meeting. I sit on one chair as my father enters Jack’s home. We’re all sitting in the living room while the housekeeper welcomes him. We decided it was best to have it here because of John’s comfort.

“Calm down, Jack,” Nora says. “John can sense your distress.”

“What if he wants to take him from us?” he growls.

“He has to go through a massive custody battle that I won’t let him win.”

“But John is his son.”

That stops all the hushed conversation as Saunders enters the room. “Hello. Good afternoon.” He looks more nervous than I’d ever imagined. His eyes darted to me, and he asked, “How are you, Ian?”

“I’m a lot stronger, and I’m almost back to my full workout routine.”

“That’s good to hear. I’d like to talk to you after this. Privately, of course.” I nod, knowing there’s something I want to mention, too. In all the years that I’ve possessed the ring, I never mentioned it to anyone. Not even to my brothers because I didn’t want them to get jealous. Now, I know it was meant for me because it came from my father.

“Saunders,” Jack snarls.

“I don’t know what to call you. I understand that it’s not your fault, but it’s hard, given your name, and it actually makes my stomach turn.” Jack was named after my father, a man who Saunders couldn’t hate more.

---