Page 121 of Our Broken Pieces
“Dad, can I come in? I need to talk to you.”
He steps aside, allowing me to enter, and just as I walk in, my mom appears from one of the bedrooms. “Marcus, honey, what’s going on?” she asks, concern in her voice.
My father frowns, sensing something’s wrong. “Is there a problem?”
I sit down on the couch, the weight of the situation heavy on my chest. “Gigi’s been kidnapped.”
My mother gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. “Kidnapped?”
My father, ever composed, leans forward. “Explain.”
I recount everything—how we got to this point, the ransom demand, and Grace’s threats. My mother starts to cry, while my dad listens in silence, his expression unreadable.
“What does this Grace want?” he asks calmly.
“She’s asking for five million dollars by twelve p.m.”
“Do you have the account details yet?” he asks, leaning back.
“Not yet. I can send the money when I get it, but you need to know there won’t be a wedding today.”
My mom moves to sit beside me, rubbing my arm in comfort. “The wedding doesn’t matter, Marcus. We just need to get Gigi back.”
Without a word, my father pulls out his phone and leaves the room. I lean forward, burying my face in my hands. “He’s furious. I can feel it.”
Mom offers a small, tight smile. “Maybe he’ll surprise us.”
I can’t stop thinking about Gigi. “I love her so much, Mom. I can’t stand not knowing if she’s okay.”
She rubs my back, her voice soft but steady. “She’s going to be fine, Marcus. I just know it.”
A few minutes later, my father returns, his face set in a firm expression as he sits across from me. “I’ve made some calls. I sent over the text you received, so now they have a reason to open a case. I’ve got people checking security footage from around the city and the hotel. We’ve got about two hours to find her, but don’t send any money unless absolutely necessary.”
“Dad, I don’t want to risk making things worse. I don’t care about the money—I just want her back.”
He meets my gaze. “I know, son. But there are smart ways to handle this. I have a feeling we won’t need to send the money, but we’ll have it ready just in case.”
I’m taken aback by his involvement. “I didn’t expect you to help with this.”
He leans forward, his eyes serious. “Look, son, I wasn’t convinced this relationship was real at first. And while Gigi wouldn’t have been my choice—she’s got a lot of… fire—I can see that you love her. Things have changed between you two. I saw how she looked at you in those photos from Florida. She loves you.”
I blink, stunned. “You knew it wasn’t real?”
He nods, leaning back again. “I was prepared to let you go through with the marriage and then pull the business back, but when I saw how much you’ve changed, how much you care for her, I realized I had to honor my word.”
The man sitting before me is so different from the one I grew up with. The father I’ve known would have used my mistake as leverage, a chance to put me back in my place. I’m not sure how to process this shift in him.
“I don’t know what to say,” I admit.
His gaze softens, though his voice remains firm. “I don’t expect you to say anything. In the past I most likely would have reacted differently to all this, but your mother has opened my eyes to a few things lately. I know I haven’t been the father you needed or the husband your mother needed. I’m trying to change that. I’m not getting any younger, and I realize that now. A few words won’t undo everything—I made years of horrible mistakes—but thinking about you getting married, maybe even having children soon, it hit me. I’m sorry, Marcus. For the past. For everything.”
He looks away, clearly uncomfortable with the vulnerability.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say quietly.
He stands, cutting the moment short. “We don’t need to dwell on it. Right now, we need to focus on getting Gigi back and making sure Grace is dealt with.”
I nod, grateful and relieved.
