I’m paying a hefty fee for the so-called protection service of the very organization I once ran. I’m not doing it because I need that protection. I’m doing it to keep the peace. For Zoe.
Alexis is pissed off that I took the diamond business with me when I left. I have no doubt he’d love to come after me, take me out, and claim said business for himself. He can’t, however, shoot the brother-in-law of the man who provides the diamonds without killing the business all together. He knows that, and he hates it. The only way to get rid of me is to make it look like an accident, but I know my brother and how he operates. I’ll see him coming long before he strikes.
Gnashing his teeth, he says, “I’ll put you six feet under. When I do, your pretty little wife will be mine after all.”
I grab the front of his shirt from over the desk. “If you lay a finger on her, I’ll cut it off before I kill you.”
He smirks. “That’ll be hard to do from your grave.”
“Don’t count on it, little brother. I’ll bury you long before you get a chance to try.” I let go with a shove.
Straightening his shirt, he says, “Are you threatening me? ‘Cause the last time I checked, that was reason enough for a man to be taken out.”
“This isn’t about business. This fight is personal.”
“I suggest you leave,” he says through thin lips.
“I suggest you stay the hell away from my family. If I catch you sneaking around my building, you’re dead.”
Hatred burns in his eyes as he watches me leave.
Jerome follows me outside. He grabs my arm when I make to move past him. “Maxime.”
I look pointedly at where he’s gripping me.
Letting go, he says, “Alexis has it in for you.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“What I’m saying is I wouldn’t come around here if I were you.”
“You’re not me.” I start walking.
“Wait.” He runs to catch up. “Alexis doesn’t have what it takes. He’s making bad decisions.”
“Complain to my father.”
“Your father handed over the power.”
“I’m out, Jerome. What do you want me to say?”
He sighs. “I don’t know. Fuck. All I know is Alexis is screwing with the wrong people.”
“Not my problem,” I say, opening my car door and getting inside.
He catches the door before I can close it. “He’s double-crossing the Italians, his own brother-in-law. You have to talk sense into him.”
“Alexis is a grown man. He’s capable of carrying the responsibilities of his actions.”
“Dammit, Max.” He shakes his head. “It’s going to blow up in his face. Don’t you care?”
“It seems not.” Shutting the door, I start the engine.
He bangs on the window.
My impatience mounting, I wind it down. “I don’t have time for this.”
“At least talk to him,” he says, leaning on the roof with his arms.
“Do you think he’s going to listen to me?”
Jerome doesn’t answer.
“Neither do I,” I say.
When I start driving, Jerome doesn’t have a choice but to move away from the car.
Instead of heading home to Zoe, I drive to my parents’ house. It’s Saturday. My father will be lunching at the club. I’m not welcome here, but the guard who announces my visit to the house lets me through the gates. My mother meets me at the door. With her pale and drawn face, she looks ten years older. It pains me to see her like this.
“You’re taking a risk coming here.”
“I have news, Maman.”
“If it’s not offering me an apology, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I apologized for ruining your party.”
“You threw everything away,” she says, clutching the string of pearls around her neck. “Alexis isn’t cut out for heading the business. He’s not a leader. He’s making dumb mistakes.”
“You’re an expert on the business now?” I ask with a teasing smile to lighten the mood.
My mother doesn’t bite. “You were born to lead. You were the one.”
“It’s over. You have to let it go.”
“I don’t understand,” she exclaims.
“I married her.”
My mother’s face goes even whiter. “What?”
“I found Zoe in South Africa. I brought her home. We got married yesterday.”
She staggers. When I reach for her, she holds up a finger, shaking her head. “You married her. Now you come tell me like I’m an afterthought and not your mother.”
“Even if I wanted you there, Father wouldn’t have let you come.” From the way Zoe reacted about Sylvie and Francine’s presence, I doubt she would’ve wanted my mother present. I’m not insensitive to Zoe’s reasons. My mother hasn’t exactly been welcoming.
Tears shine in my mother’s eyes. As always, she fights them. Crying is a weakness, one she’s never allowed herself or us. “I always thought you were a clever boy.”
“Maman, stop. Don’t insult my wife. It’s not something I’ll forgive.”
“You have to go.”
“Why don’t you give her a chance? She’s a good person. Strong. If you can look past your personal ambition for me, you’ll see in her what I see.”
“All I see, Maxime, is that you threw away your future and broke my heart for a woman who doesn’t deserve you.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I don’t regret my decision. If given another chance, I’ll do it again.”
“Your father will be home soon.” She backs up a step. “You better go before he catches you here.”
It’s a lie. My father won’t be home for hours to come, not while the girls are performing.
“Maman,” I groan. “Since when have you become so blind?”
The answer I get is the door shutting in my face.
Chapter 16
Zoe
Three hours later, Maxime returns with a shopping bag under each arm. He walks straight to the sofa to hover over me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.”
He glances over his shoulder at the fireplace. “You kept the fire going.”
“I know how to keep a fire burning.”
“You do.” The corner of his mouth tugs down.
Is he thinking about how we used to sit together in front of the fire in the library of his old
