Temper (Knights of Fury #3) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,56
your family? I decide to end the conversation here. Even though he’s a kingpin, I’m sure he didn’t expect his illegitimate daughter coming into his life asking for help from people trying to kill her and her friends. “So can you help?”
“Abbie... I—I mean, I don’t know. I don’t think this is a good idea. There’s something you should probably know—”
All I hear is no. “You know what? Never mind. I better get going. Temper is in the car, just in case you tried to kidnap me or something.” Not knowing what to do, I offer him my hand. He takes it and we awkwardly shake. “It was nice finally meeting you.”
“You too, Abbie.”
He looks like he wants to say more, but I get up and leave, feeling overwhelmed with the whole experience.
When I get back into the car, I can see Temper is visibly relieved. I tell him what he said, and even he seems surprised. “So he just wanted to make sure you were okay?”
“Yep. And I’m as surprised as you are. I was expecting some type of bullshit to go down, but no, he genuinely thought you guys were keeping me against my will and forcing me to say that I was okay.”
“Our reputation must be really shit if a drug dealer is concerned,” he mutters, and I have to agree.
Is this the last time I’m ever going to see this man? I don’t know, but for now I’m just going to leave it as it is. I never needed him growing up, and I sure as hell don’t need him now.
“He wouldn’t help,” I say to myself. “I asked and he said no.” I don’t know what I was thinking. Why would he want to get involved and jeopardize his operation over little ol’ me? His daughter.
Temper grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Our time together is running out,” he says, risking a glance at me before bringing his eyes back to the road. “Do you know how long you’re going home for? I mean, are you going to come back? I will come and visit you every chance I can get...if you want me to.”
We haven’t had this conversation yet, but it’s about time we discussed it all. I have no idea what’s going to happen when I leave, which is probably why I’ve just been in denial and trying not to think about it. I don’t want to lose him, and I do want to make this work. I just don’t know how.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I mean, of course I want to still be with you, and for us to try to see each other when we can, but I don’t know when I can come back. I need to make sure Mom and Ivy are sorted, and that they can manage Franks without me.”
“Once that is all sorted out, you could always finish your law degree here,” he says. “I’m going to be honest, Abbie: I want you here. In an ideal world, you’d be here with me, living with me, being my old lady. The distance thing is going to be shit, but I want to make it work with you. Whatever it takes.”
Whatever it takes.
“We can make it work,” I say, smiling. “As long as we’re both dedicated to doing so, we can make it happen, I know it. But yeah, it’s going to be hard to leave you. Not going to lie.”
He exhales deeply. “Can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re not running off and never looking back.”
Laughing softly, I ask, “Did you really think that I’d do that?”
“After all the shit I’ve put you through? I don’t know,” he admits. “Maybe you’d decided to settle down with a banker or something, someone with a nine-to-five and some stability. Someone who you won’t have to worry about every time they leave the house.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” I tease, grinning and squeezing his hand.
I can’t deny that the thought has entered my mind, but there’s only one Temper.