Page 96 of Malicious Wedding

“Your family is finished. Your organization is either dead or on the run. You will renounce any ties to organized crime. You will retire outside of the city. And you will allow your daughter to be with Iain, if that’s her choice.” I glance at her, thinking of Ashlyn. “And itisyour choice.”

She blinks rapidly. “Does he want to see me?”

“Very badly.”

She chews her lip, glancing at her father. “I’d like to see him too.”

“Then I’ll arrange it.” I stare down the former crime boss. “Do you accept my terms?”

He signs, shoulders slumping in resignation. “I have no other choice. If my daughter wishes to be with that man, I can’t stop it anymore. Too many people have died.”

“You should be among them. However, I think letting you live gives you more time to look closely at how your own actions led to their deaths. Think about that in your final years, Jan Minda, and if I ever hear your name again, I will make sure everyone you love is dead.” I glance at Joanna. “Except you.”

I stand, ready to dismiss them, when there’s a knock at the door. I hesitate, annoyed that anyone would bother me right now, but I tell them to enter.

Ash appears. She glances at Jan Minda, now climbing to his feet, and Joanna, still seated. If she realizes these are the two people that caused her so much pain, she doesn’t show it. “Carson. Something came up.”

“My wife,” I say, going to her. I can’t help myself. I kiss her cheek gently. “What’s wrong?”

She stands on her toes to whisper in my ear. “It’s your father. He took a turn.”

I stare at her, barely comprehending, before I look back at my guests. “The staff will escort you out. Joanna, I’ll make sure Iain gets in contact with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” she whispers.

I usher Ash from the room, back into the hall. She gives me a hard look. “That was him, wasn’t it? The Minda guy? And that’s the girl Iain got pregnant.”

“He was surrendering.”

“Looked more like he was offering his neck for you to cut.”

I smile and stroke her cheek. “I love your metaphors, darling.”

She bats me away. “Don’t get too excited.” Then she softens. “Your dad’s in bad shape.”

I nod tightly. Father’s been suffering for the last few weeks, each new breath like a panicked gasp. The doctors keep saying he doesn’t have long, but the old bastard’s clinging on to life and won’t let go.

We move through the house together. It’s quiet, like my father’s impending death cast a hush through the halls. I can’t imagine the staff much cares—he wasn’t a kind employer—but I do like that they have enough respect not to take glee in his painful end.

Mother meets us at the entrance to his room. Her eyes are red and wet from crying. “Carson. Oh, honey, he’s—” She doesn’t need to finish.

I’m too late.

I wrap my arms around my mother. Ash stands nearby, looking distraught. She must’ve wanted to give me a chance to say goodbye. But what she doesn’t realize is I told my father goodbye already, when I made it clear that I’d control the family after he was gone whether he liked it or not. I tighten my hug until my mother gathers herself, wiping her face with a tissue.

“He’s not suffering anymore,” she says.

If he’s lucky. “Yes, you’re right.”

“Carson…” She hesitates, glancing at Ash.

“You can say whatever you want. Ash knows everything.” Mother hasn’t gotten used to Ash’s status in my life just yet. Many mob wives aren’t intimately aware of the business, but I keep nothing from my partner. At least when she asks.

“Your father named you as his successor. You’re the new boss of the Crowley Organization.”

I let that sink in for a long moment.

I should feel something. Elation, excitement, victory.

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