I stared at my father, his face concealing any emotion or reaction to my question. He sat there like a fucking statue. He didn’t have to respond verbally to my question in order for him to answer it. His body language was all the response I needed to know that he had in fact killed Rico. I had lived twenty-one years surmising what my father was capable, but always hoping that someone else had executed his crimes, but right there in that moment I learned the ugly truth.
I shook my head in disgust. It wasn’t just learning what he was capable of, I conceded it was also knowing that the life he chose made us all susceptible to his crimes that we all suffered being a part of his lifestyle. My sister and I now had to drop our lives and go into hiding because my father couldn’t be a nine to five guy and instead had chosen to be a thug.
“You really are a monster.” I whispered grimly.
My father remained mute and perfectly still granting me no reaction at all. I couldn’t stand to look at him anymore and escaped to the bedroom, slamming the door behind me leaving my father to battle his conscience that’s providing he had one at all.
Chapter Seventeen
I was leaning against Victor’s black Escalade when the door opened, forcing me to glance up as Victor and Jimmy emerged from the cabin. I groaned when I saw them walking towards me realizing that I couldn’t escape them anymore and now I had to actually deal with the pile of shit he unloaded on me.
“You should be getting a move on soon.” Victor said, shoving both his hands into his pockets. “Try not to make too many stops the risk of you being found won’t be so bad once you are at Gina’s.” He tilted his chin towards the cabin. “Just have patience with Nikki she’s going to be difficult.”
“Great.” I said sarcastically, looking back at Victor. My nerves were shot the pressure of all this was just too much for a guy like me. “Vic I think you’re making a mistake.” I admitted taking a deep breath. I had been mulling it over out here while they had been inside and the thought of being Nikki’s pretend husband the man responsible for her well-being until the storm passed well it was fucking insane.
“How so?” He asked, but something in his eyes told me he wasn’t really paying attention to my nervous rant and was more likely just appeasing me by listening to my concerns or at least pretending to listen.
“I don’t know you and your sidekick…” I said, pointing my thumb over my shoulder at Jimmy who was smoking a cigarette behind me. “…are making me and Nikki disappear for a while because there are fucking mad men with guns out to get us because of our association with you. You are entrusting me to get Nikki down to Florida safe and sound and make sure that she stays safe. Am I right?”
“Yes.” He said evenly.
“That’s a big fucking responsibility Vic! You’re putting her life in my hands!” I yelled realizing how desperate my voice must’ve sounded. I watched, as he looked at me expressionless. I didn’t get it, didn’t he understand that I wasn’t capable of this shit that making me responsible for Nikki was a serious miscalculation on his behalf.
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.” He said sincerely as he reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. He placed his free hand on my cheek forcing my eyes to meet his. “You managed to get Nikki out of that club last night. You kept her safe. You did more for her than I did so if there is a question of who is best fit to protect my daughter the answer is you.” He dropped his hand from my shoulder and poked my chest with his finger to emphasize his words. “I trust you to take care of her.”
I gazed at him warily, but it was hard not to believe his words when he was saying them with such conviction. The corners of his mouth lifted in a tired smile.
“You remind me so much of your father.” He said releasing his hold on me.
“I’m nothing like my dad. He had much bigger balls than I do.” I said rolling my shoulders. I was sure my father didn’t have a meltdown every time Victor gave him an order. Suddenly I didn’t feel like busting his balls anymore and I didn’t have the energy to do so either. Victor and all the bullshit his lifestyle came with was fucking exhausting. I was whipped from last night and now I had to drive down to Florida, which would take at least twenty hours if we didn’t stop. I hated my life. Fuck that I hated Victor. He was responsible for every fucked up thing that ever went wrong in my life.
Victor laughed slightly. “Not always.”
“Clock’s ticking Vic.” Jimmy said impatiently as he walked around the SUV to climb into the driver’s seat.
“Give me a minute.” He said adding to Jimmy’s fury. I smirked at the asshole behind the wheel before looking back at Victor. “You and I are overdue for a talk wouldn’t you say?” He asked me his voice sounding full of regret. It was almost as if he needed to speak his mind because he wasn’t sure if he’d ever have another chance.