Page 145 of Say I Do

I dragged him toward me. “No,” I said. “Don’t do that. We’ll figure this shit out.”

“Together?” He whispered.

“How the fuck else?” I asked. “I’m not cleaning up this shit alone.”

Harlow punched me in the chest. “Asshole.”

I pressed my lips against his briefly. As much as I wanted to stay like that, there was a whole lot of shit that needed to be dealt with first. I moved back and looked at the place on his hip where Qiang’s knife had pierced his flesh. I ripped the dress enough to be able to see as I frowned. Carefully, I examined it and shoved my hand against it to stop the bleeding.

“This is the shit I’m talking about!” my father yelled.

I groaned. The fighting had stopped, but my father seemed ready to tag in for round two. I glanced up at him as he stormed my way, his face twisted with anger. He crossed the space before he stood in front of me and glowered.

“If you hadn’t been so fucking stupid this wouldn’t have happened,” he snapped as he waved a hand around. “Look at this shit!”

I stared at the damage. People on both sides had been injured. A few of my men lay on the ground, dead. I would have to send their families a lot of money. Not that it would make up for the fact that they would be missing someone they loved. But it was the least I could do to protect and support them.

“This is a mess,” my father groaned. “Do you know how bad this is going to look for us? Everything I’ve built for us—”

“Stop!” I growled. “Shit, I get it. You’re pissed at how this turned out. I’m not happy about this either.” I waved a hand around. “And this?I’mthe one that built this, not you! Everything I’ve done has been to take care of this family and make it legit after you tarnished it. You and every goddamn relative that was less than careful with this business. For years I’ve done my best to follow the rules. To live like an upstanding citizen. Guess what? I can’t control everything!" I snapped. “Shit happens. This is happening. Qiang and Andre both wanted to fuck with everything I've made. If someone’s fucking with my family, with the man I love, I’m going to do whatever the fuck needs to be done to stop it. So back off. Now!”

My father stared at me. As the last words left my lips I was stunned by how much had finally slipped free. For years I’d pushed it all down, kept my mouth shut, and did what I was told. No more. Yeah, I had shit to clean up, but I was used to that. I’d cleaned up my mother’s messes, my brother’s, hell even his, and I would sure as fuck clean up my own. I was done hearing him rip into me.

Harlow’s fingers slipped between mine. I glanced down at our joined hands before my eyes met his. The soft smile that touched his lips made every word I’d spoken worth it. Everything I did from now on, I did for Harlow. He was worth living and dying for.

“Benito.”

I turned to my father. “Like I said, back off. You used to run things, but you gave this business to me. I know what I’m doing. Shit, I’m almost forty years old, and I still have to prove myself to you? I don’t want to do that anymore. Let me run this family the way it needs to be run. You can continue working with Italy and keeping our connections there. Some of those old men are never going to listen to me, but they will listen to you. That’s it. I’m done with the disrespect.”

My father’s gaze burrowed into me. As his eyes swept over my body from head to toe and back again, I felt the old part of me, the young one, bristle. All I’d ever wanted was his approval, but I realized I didn’t care anymore. My brothers dealt with my shit. Even when we fought, we were there for each other. Harlow dealt with my shit. Even when he hated me, he loved me. I didn’t need anyone else.

“Move!” Melony’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Move back,” she snapped at my father. “Harlow, shit. You’re bleeding.”

“Yeah,” he muttered. “Hurts like a bitch too.”

“Chelsea go into my bag and grab the bottle of pain pills.”

“Got it!” she called as she took Mel’s bag and dug into it. “Anything else?”

“No. Give Harlow two pills—”

“Three,” Harlow cut in.

“Two,” Mel growled. “And then give me the bag. Sit down, Harlow. I’m going to get you stitched up.” Her eyes roamed over me. “You in one piece?”

“No, but I’m in better shape than he is.”

“I’ll get to you next.”

I turned to my father while Melony worked on Harlow. He searched my face before he gave me a single nod. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. A tacit agreement. He would step back, or I would continue to tell him to. There was no going back to the way things had been before. I didn’t want that. It was time to look forward to the future. No matter how fucked up that future might be.

“You should check on mom,” I said. “I’m sure she’s freaking out.” I glanced around. My brothers each emerged with their partners. As my father glanced at them, I sighed. “Yes, they’re with them. No, don’t ask,” I said quickly. “Enzo is with Tex. Gin is engaged to Ash.”

“Engaged?” he asked, confusion coloring his features.

“Yep. He proposed right away.” I slapped my father’s arm. “And they’re both happy. So leave them alone.”

“I wasn’t going to fuck with them,” he muttered. “I’m just shocked they’re both with guys. I guess you are, too, now.”

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