“Yeah,” Antony says, “what Nora said. We don’t want anything to change, boss.”
“It’s what I want,” I say again. “This isn’t a topic I’m going to debate. Cherry and I will get married in two weeks, and I will be stepping down right after.”
“Don’t think this means I’m happy about that idea.” She glares at me. “What exactly are you going to do if you aren’t leading us?”
I glance away, but when I look back, I can see in Nora’s eyes that she already knows what I plan to do.
“Cherry and I will be leaving Cascade Falls,” I say firmly. “I’m not cutting ties with you as my family, but I am stepping down, and I will no longer be a part of the family business.”
“You can’t just walk out,” Antony says. “In fact, with everything going on, we should be keeping all of this under wraps, especially you and Cherry. Some people wouldn’t understand.”
“How do we keep it under wraps with the Ramsays out there?” Twos interjects. “They’ll spill. They’ll even tell people you two are siblings and start all kinds of rumors.”
“Not happening,” I say. “I don’t want Cherry to live like that, not after everything she’s already been through.” I look over at Cherry and give her a slight smile. “It won’t matter once we’re gone anyway.”
“So, you really are leaving?” Nora says softly. “You’re just going to pick up and go, forget you were ever part of this family?”
“I’m not going to forget the family, Nora. Cherry and I will retain the family name. I am not a Ramsay; I don’t care who my birth parents are. Regardless, we are not going to be involved in the family business, and that means leaving town…permanently.”
“We’ve thought about this a lot,” Cherry says. “I don’t want to give you all up—I’m thrilled that I’m in this family—but I don’t want to be a part of the family business, and we can’t stay here.”
“My first priority is to keep Cherry and the baby safe and happy,” I say, looking directly at Nora. “I know that changes a lot, but it’s what I have to do, and I need all of you to respect that.”
Again, silence looms over the room for a minute, and Nora refuses to look at me.
“Well, what’s the alternative?” Antony finally asks.
“I’ve spent my whole life living for the Orso family,” I say. “I think it’s time for that to change.”
“That leaves a bit of a power vacuum,” Threes says.
“Nora can do it,” I say immediately. “She’s already said as much. If she doesn’t want it, Antony can lead. Honestly, I don’t care. I’d trust any of you in the position.”
“What about the Ramsays?” Threes asks. “They are going to try to use this against us.”
“That will be the issue,” I say. “The Ramsays will just have to go.”
“Go? Go where?” Antony shakes his head.
“Either leave town or be eliminated,” I say. “I won’t have us constantly looking over our shoulders while we’re raising our kid. The Ramsay threat has to be eliminated, and I can’t count on them to keep their end of a bargain. In fact, I think we need to completely throw out the old treaty and start over again.”
“I agree,” Threes says. “I think it’s time to put an end to them.”
“Does it have to be like that?” Cherry asks softly.
“I’m not sure there’s an alternative,” I say. “There is too much bad blood. They can’t be trusted.”
“But why?” Cherry asks. “Can’t you just…bury the hatchet and all? You and I can be a bridge to—”
“No.” I shake my head. “Not after everything that’s happened in the past.”
“But we can drive them out of Cascade Falls once and for all,” Nora says. “It doesn’t mean we eliminate the family. We can just make them leave.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Well,” Threes says, “I think that’s actually possible. Their business isn’t doing well. I think that’s why they’ve been harassing you and Cherry. I think it’s a desperate move to take over.”
“They don’t have the numbers for that,” Antony says.
“Maybe that’s why they need Cherry on their side,” Threes says. “We don’t know if Janna and Jay know about the kid swap. Janna and Jay don’t have any heirs. It’s really just the two of them unless you count a couple of cousins or whatever.”
“Hey!” Antony smacks Threes on the back of the head. “Nothing wrong with cousins.”
“I’m all for driving them out of town,” I say, “but I don’t think that will be easy. They’d need a good reason, and we don’t have one for them.”
“What about some of the business we’ve set up in Cincinnati? Could we offer them that to leave?”
“Maybe.” All of this is starting to give me a headache. “I’m not sure that would be enough though.”
Andrea suddenly pokes her head in the office door and motions for Antony. He stands and goes to the door. I glare at Andrea, still annoyed about finding her with the pool boy over my desktop, but she ducks out with Antony right behind her before we make eye contact.
“Maybe I should stay out of this,” Cherry says.
“You’re part of this family,” Nora says. “You should know what’s going on.”
“But I’m also the one holding you back. I don’t understand how things work, and I don’t think I want to. Maybe I should leave so you can make…whatever decisions you have to make.”
“No, Cherry.” Nora takes her hand. “You have a say in what happens too. Your opinion is just as important as everyone else’s.”
The door opens again.
“Boss?” Antony says. He motions for me to join him.
I sigh and walk out into the hallway.
“We have a guest,” Antony says quietly.
“Guest?” I’d assumed he’d gone out because
