Page 121 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
RAND
It’s beentwo days since the pictures came out, and I’m waiting in the foyer, pacing anxiously. After a small eternity, the doors open and Joe steps into the space.
“Well?” I ask, terrified of his answer.
“Luca and his guys took care of it. There’s no more video, and all future threats have been squashed.”
“Are you kidding? Oh my God,” I say, wrapping my arms around him. “That is such a fucking relief. I still have to handle the company, but at least we won’t have this hanging over our heads anymore.”
He kisses my forehead. “The company will probably be less of a problem than you think. I know you’re worried about how the employees are taking it, but I think we forgot that we’ve just been ourselves this whole time. A lot of people had already figured it out, and since we’re gay, they don’t want to be seen as bigoted. So…yay for progress?”
I let out a long breath. “I’ll take it. But I still want to address the company at some point.”
“Of course. But I don’t think we have to approach it like an apology. I think we get to approach it the way we wanted to. This is who we are. We love each other. And we want to make the company better together.”
I smile and kiss him. “But that’s not it, though, is it?”
Joe shakes his head, his face grave. “I didn’t just ask Luca to find out who took the pictures. I needed him to find out who footed the bill. It took a while to get through the layers of obfuscation between the guy who flew the drone and the one who paid for it.”
“But they know?”
I nod. “It’s preliminary, but Luca is confident in his sources. And you’re not going to like it.”
My heart sinks in my chest. I know the answer before he gives it.
“My father.”
He nods.
I knew there would be a price to pay for turning the board against him.
More than that, I did what Joe suggested and started hanging out with my mom. I quickly realized I didn’t really know her at all, including the fact that she is deeply unhappy and my father has been essentially blackmailing her to stay in the marriage.
She had an affair, and he had her followed. There are pictures and videos, and if she divorces him, he will release them.
So, yeah. It’s not a surprise at all.
“I’m so sorry, baby. Guys this rich, you gotta go over after their source of power. So, once he’s got everything, I’ve asked Luca to relay a message to your father.”
“And that was…?”
“Retire or else.”
“Do I want to know what the ‘or else’ is?”
“It’d be better if you didn’t. I asked Luca to look into your mom’s situation as well, and that’s been handled too.”
I lean into him. He’s so protective of everyone in our small circle of friends and family, and it surprises me even less that he’s taken care of my mom. “Wow,” I joke, “I’m beginning to think that having a mob friend is almost as helpful as having a billionaire boyfriend.”
Joe shrugs, smiling as he holds me. “I’ve got both, and I gotta say, it’s a nice balance.”
“Yeah, but you like your boyfriend better, don’t you?”
“Only because you won’t put a bullet in my head if I command you to lick my toes.”
“True.”
Joe cups my face, still looking concerned. “I know we’re joking around now, but this was really serious. How are you doing?”
“Honestly, it feels like I’ll finally be able to cut out the last of the necrotic tissue from Wolfe Athletics. My father has only been a hindrance these last several weeks. He’s not about actually winning anything or making anything better. He just wants other people to lose, and I don’t have any use for that kind of small-mindedness. Not anymore.”
“You do have use for me though, right?” Joe asks, grinning as he takes my hand.
I thread my fingers through his, loving the way this small gesture makes my heart speed up. “You, Joe, are my most valuable asset. I could lose every penny, but if I still had you, I’d be the richest man in the world.”
