Page 44 of Mending Our Chance

24 Marcus

I got very drunk that afternoon, which was something of an anomaly since my tolerance was high and I knew when to stop. But after Felicity had left, her brothers breezed into my office. It was a battle I could face—a proper place to focus my wrath. I had risen to my full height, which was taller than they could ever dream to achieve. Looking down at the little dark haired spitfires, I had ordered them off the premises. I told them if they wanted to sign contracts, they could have their father come deal with me himself. He had messed things up and he would answer for the damage.

Miracle of miracles, they had left. That had been hours ago. Hours I spent nursing a bottle of the South’s finest bourbon.

It was dark out when Argento entered my office suites, and without looking at me, went straight into my conference room, flanked by his brutish sons. I left my private office and with a small wobble in my step, I charged into the room, ready for round two.

“I do not hold a portion of the underworld in the palm of my hand, Signore, but this,”—I gestured around my office suite—“is not something to be scoffed at.”

“No one is laughing, Mr. Bowers.” Argento dropped a pile of papers on the table. “In fact, I heard that tears were spilt.”

Brushing off his dramatic speech, I barked, “What are your terms?”

“The same as before. I am part owner with a generous profit slice. You don’t pay me, and I take everything.”

Simple.

“Or,” a wolfish grin played on his lips, “we can merge, yet remain separate entities.”

“No.” I shook my head, hoping spittle didn’t fly from my drunk lips. “I can’t do that to Felicity.”

“If you had informed her, if she was here…” Argento’s voice trailed off and he looked around. “We could be great.”

“I said no,” I growled. “If you want more, you need to talk to your daughter. We’ve done enough behind her back.”

“Very well, then here is the original contract offering you financial assistance.” Argento slid the paper from a folder. “But quit treating her like a helpless babe. You and I both know she could take us both on and stand a fair chance of victory.”

Defeat suddenly snagged my shoulders. I toppled and managed to find a chair on my way downward. His words had struck a chord, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was right. What had I been hoping for? That he would clear the slate for the sake of our mutual relationship with his daughter? I had bargained with the devil and now it was time to pay. Regardless of how things turned out, this still had to happen. I sighed. “Where do I sign?”

Argento jerked in surprise. He was not a man to show such emotion, but what I had said had clearly startled him. “My secretary marked the places.”

Ripping a pen from my breast pocket, I began to scribble my soul away, reminding myself that it was the right thing to do. I might not be the expert on business, but I knew it would bring security to the company, and soon I would be able to stand on my own two feet amongst the halls of my ancestors.

At what cost? That voice in my head had been hammering at me all afternoon. My personal life was in shambles. With every brick I used to raise my empire, I took from the pile designated for the dream castle I had built with Felicity. Shutting that voice down, I scrawled my name with a finality that made my stomach twist.

When I was done signing, I replaced the lid on the pen and sat back. The three imposing Romanesque men sat right across from me. I was of the northern European stock as far as bloodline was concerned, but in these men I found a common alliance. Straightening my backbone even further, I addressed the head of the family. “Now that business is concluded, Signore, I would speak of personal matters.” Argento dipped his chin ever so slightly, inclining me to continue. “Sir, I love your daughter. But we have both hurt her.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

And suddenly, in that very moment, the answer finally came to me. “I can only fix it if you and Felicity reconcile.”

Argento’s lips pealed back in a smile, showing all his crooked teeth. “Good man, I knew you were the door that would reopen my relationship with her.”

The bastard! He had been using me! However, in all honesty, I was not surprised in the slightest. Choosing to end the fight with the Old Italian before it had really begun, I decided to make him my greatest ally. “I’m not doing this alone. You have to mend the bridge alongside me.”

Argento nodded as if he’d expected my return. His sons, whispering in Italian, seemed to be having a hot debate.

“Spit it out, guido. Don’t pitch a hissy fit when I can’t fucking understand y’all.” Strength was returning to my resolve and I wasn’t going to stand for these regal, pompous ways. They might do things differently from their dark thrones, but I was still in charge here—especially in the absence of my queen. I will bring her back, I reminded myself firmly. I will redeem myself.

“Felìcita won’t have you now,” one of them said.

“She’ll run away before she comes back here,” said the other.

Grinding my teeth, I hoped that they were wrong about her, but before I could speak my piece, Argento murmured, “She won’t leave. She threw her lot into this.” He gestured around the office suite. “This is her empire. It isn’t in her blood to let it fall without a fight. That we can all count on.”

How right he was! The man knew his daughter as well as I did. But still, hearing those words were more helpful than anything else he could have said to comfort me. He had just dropped a key piece to the puzzle and I was going to run with it. I had been right to tell him he needed to help me. I threw him a bone to silently confirm our alliance. “If we don’t watch out, Felicity is going to cream our corn, old man.” Enjoying the confusion on his face, I tossed a key to Argento. “Lock up, partner, I have work to do.”

Filled with the determination of a man with a plan, I almost ran to Felicity’s apartment. The distance did not faze me, and there was no use taking a cab when I needed physical exertion to clear my mind. Plans were formulating and purpose was driving me. I hadn’t fought for her before, but dammit, I was going to give my dying breath to make her mine now.

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