Page 39 of Heir

“How is everything going with the inventory?” he asked.

“It’s going according to plan. We should be right on schedule.”

He knocked his fist on the table once. “Good. I fucking knew you could do it.”

I smiled a little at that. I had been involved in the club business for two years now, but this was the first time I was put in charge on such a large scale. Everyone thought I had it easy, being Dominic Madden’s son, and in some respects, I did. But I was also trying to prove to myself and to everyone else that I didn’t get to the top simply because of nepotism.

I fucking earned it.

I looked at him, waiting for what he wanted to say next, and there was a brief moment of silence between us. And sure enough, he didn’t disappoint when he said, “I heard about something interesting happening at the bar after I left last night.”

I resisted the urge to groan.

Fuck, of course the story would have traveled to himthis quickly.

“The bastard deserved it,” I said.

“I’m not saying he didn’t. I’m just surprised. You’re usually more levelheaded than that.”

“We don’t need to talk about this. I’m happy you’re happy with Emmy. Okay? But not everyone needs to be in a relationship.”

“I wouldn’t discount the importance of a good woman’s love. Especially if that woman can love men like us unconditionally.”

“Don’t you think that makes us selfish?”

He nodded. I wasn’t saying anything he wasn’t thinking. “Perhaps so. But that means we have to love them harder, hold on to them tighter, and protect them fiercely.”

“What if I’m not the man for the job?”

“I didn’t think you would ever back away from something good just because it’s hard, son.”

I ran my hand to the back of my neck. “Gemma’s…different, Dad. I’ll fucking ruin her.”

He frowned. “Do you think I ruined Emmy?”

“Fuck no, but we’re different.”

“Are we? You already have my face. Is it so hard to believe that you’re like me?”

I sighed but didn’t say anything.

He stood up.

“Think about it, son. I think William Gallagher’s niece will be good for you.”

I looked up at him in surprise. “You know?”

“Of course I do. You think I let anyone join the club without doing an intensive background check on them first? Including who their friends are and if they would pose a threat to my club?”

I leaned back in the chair. And here I’d thought I was the one with the control issue. Seemed Dad never left anything to chance. I supposed he was right—that we were more similar to each other than I’d thought. That didn’t mean I was right for anyone. There was a demon inside me, trying to claw its way out. Every day was a battle, and I—

I was just so fucking tired.

He reached over and patted my shoulder. “Think about it, son.”

He walked out, probably going home, back to Emmy, Braxton, and the twins.

And I would go back to my apartment alone.

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