Dean’s hand waved in front of my face. “Hey. Long time, no talk. Where the hell have you been?”
I shrugged. “Busy.” I finally pulled my gaze from Rose and took in Jasmine and Dean as they both stared back at me like I was a comical piece on display. “You going to be here long?”
Dean’s smile was knowing, his eyes moving between Rose and me. “No. Planned on being ratherbusymyself.”
“Dean!” Jasmine slapped the back of her hand over his chest, now glaring at me. “How’s my best friend? Are you being good to her?”
“I will always be good to her.”
“You were an ass to her before.” Jasmine’s brow arched, waiting for me to reply to that. She didn’t need to know how much I’d rather twist a knife in my own heart than ever hurt her best friend again. No one needed to know just how much Rose was my weakness. Jasmine rolled her eyes at my silence. “Well, tell her to call me sometime. She’s always too tired to talk when I call, so if you could stop fucking her so much, that would be great.” Dean laughed and kissed Jasmine’sforehead.
“Not likely,” I readily replied. Finding the love of your life was one thing. Good pussy? That was more believable to others. Let her think my mind was stuck there instead of where it truly was.
“Babe, go take a lap. I need to talk to Briggs for a minute.”
Jasmine obeyed immediately. Dean waited for her to be far enough away, looking at a painting in the distance before he spoke. “Your father says he’s been looking for you. Not in a good way.”
I took a sip from my drink and looked at Rose. “Is it ever in a good way?”
Dean sighed. “Look, I’ve been saying you’ve been at my house helping me with some things, but he’s not convinced anymore.”
My eyes slid to him. “So be more convincing.”
He raised a finger toward Rose. “You can’t play house forever.”
I raised a finger back toward him. “You’re the one who said I could get out.”
“Fuck.” Dean pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. “Yeah. I know.”
“So, I’m done. I’ve decided I can run the business and take it over, but I’m done being his little bitch. He can find someone else to fuck around with, I don’t care.”
Dean’s brows shot up. “You’re planning on taking over? That’s news to me. I thought you hated it.”
I nodded. “I do. But it’s what I’m good at. I can make it into something I can find enjoyment in once he’s gone.” Most of my hatred for VanAndrews, if not all, came from the lens I was given to look at it through. Without that, VanAndrews might end up being the perfect fit for me.
Dean rolled his lips in. “Gone, as in,gone?”
I took another sip, contemplating while looking at the love of my life, who smiled at whatever the director was rambling on about. God, she was so fucking pretty. “As in, I’m going to offer to run it if he steps back and moves out of the country.” Offer or force, but his position would be mine soon.
“Thought you meant you were going to…you know.” Dean drew a line across his neck.
I pressed my back deeper into the column. “If that’s what it comes to, then that’s what has to happen. I’ve got a new vision for my future, one I actually want, and as much asmy futuredoesn’t agree with it—let’s just say if he plans to stand in my way, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet through his fucking head. Or find someone who will.”
Another laugh sounded across the room, drawing Dean’s attention there while mine failed to look anywhere but at her.
“Understood. I think my daughter just got here. Looks like she brought someone…wait. Isn’t that the Audi boy?”
My eyes skated over to where he was looking as anger broiled under my skin. “August,” I growled. “Another person I wouldn’t mind putting a bullet through.”
“With where his hands are on Clarissa, I’ll join you on that one.” His hands had been in much worse places, but Dean didn’t need more ammo like I did. I wasn’t sure of his body count, but I knew it wasn’t zero. Rose began walking back over to me, and suddenly, I had no idea why I’d never killed any of the terrible people I’d encountered. I wanted this world as safe as possible for her, yet Icouldn’t do that with the strong moral compass she was born with. I thought wanting her undressed yet clothed properly was my biggest conflict—now, it turns out, it had become whether I should take matters into my own hands or let them fall on someone else’s.
To kill or not to kill, all for the sake of the one I loved.
Dean told me to find love in order to have a greater purpose in my shit life, but that also seemed to bring out the murderous side my father had always wanted to see in me. Well, congratu-fucking-lations to him for finally getting the version of me he always wanted. She stole my heartandbecame the only drive I needed to pull the trigger. As much as she wouldn’t like it, I didn’t like the thought of risking her life for the sake of another. Being in hiding her whole life wasn’t an option. And when she decided she was ready for the family I was sure she knew I desperately wanted with her, I didn’t want anyone thinking they could fuck with them.
Undeniably, I had the power to change it all.
Rose was now close enough for me to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close to me. “Hey, Dean,” she said, pulling Dean’s eyes from Clarissa and August. “Is Minnie here?” She scoped the room out, smiling when she found her friend. Then, her smile faded as she took in who Jasmine was talking to.