Page 26 of Dearly Betrayed

“Okay, big brother, I didn’t come here to chat about Vetch. I’m here to talk about my future.”

Adler cocks his head. “I thought we already dealt with your future.”

“Yes, my wife, but I mean what happens next?”

“Well, you put children in her. I believe you know how that works.”

“I watched a movie in gym class twenty-five years ago. I’m pretty sure I can figure it out.”

Adler laughs and cracks his neck with a sigh. “That’s all I want you to focus on for now.”

I take a sip of whiskey and linger on my glass for a moment. It’d be nice to do nothing but think about fucking Fallon for a while, try to forget about what happened in London, but that would be impossible. I’m not sure even my wife’s beautiful lips can make me forget, and even if they could, I don’t want to.

There’s too much pain, too much loss.

“I want to go home.” I lower my glass, meeting my brother’s gaze. I can’t tell if I’m speaking to the Don or to my sibling. “I’m sure Fallon wouldn’t mind.”

“Home? Back to London?”

“Yes, back to my house and my life. Back to managing the family’s interests abroad.”

Adler leans back. He doesn’t immediately tell me to get on a plane, which is concerning. I assumed that I’d marry the girl, we’d spend a few days hanging around the Sunrise until she got acclimated to being my spouse, then I’d take her back to my London home, the place where I’ve lived for the past decade.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I sit very still. My heart’s beating quickly, and I steady myself. “Why not?” I ask, keeping my voice as neutral as I can. There’s no reason to escalate. Not yet.

“Things overseas are still problematic.” He hesitates and looks away. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go back there just yet.”

“My life is in London.”

“Your life is here with the family. Fallon needs more time to get used to her new reality, and it’ll be good for her to be around Casey and my kids. Isabel and Hellie are leaving soon, but they’ll be here for another week or so.”

“Then we’ll leave in a week.”

“No, brother, I’m sorry.” His voice hardens. “That’s not happening.”

I let it sink in. His tone, the way he’s looking at me, I decide I’m dealing with the Don. Not Adler, my brother, but the head of the crime family that controls both our lives. I sit up straighter, meeting his gaze, drawing on all my time as head of my own little kingdom, as the leader of a war-time army. Adler may be good at ordering his scared little capos around New Jersey, but I’ve killed and watched men die in my arms, something none of my other brothers have done.

They’re hard, my brothers. They’re vicious, ruthless killers. But they don’t know what it’s like to wake up every day wondering if it’s going to be their last, which I do.

“I’m not asking now,” I say, again struggling to contain my temper. “I’m telling you. Out of respect, I’ll stay in the Sunrise for another week, but I’m going back home.”

Adler takes a long breath before shaking his head. “No.”

“That’s it? You’re just going to forbid me?”

“Jayson, it’s not time. I know you’re eager to return, but please believe me when I say, you’ll only make things worse. Your properties are being managed by your hand-picked people at the moment, and everything’s running smoothly. If you go back, that might be seen as a provocation.”

“How the fuck is me going home a provocation?”

“Because part of the deal is that I keep you here in New Jersey for at least one year.”

I sit back, stunned.

His words don’t make sense.

My throat tightens. My fingers grip my glass. I take a long drink, throwing it down my throat.

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