My father hadn’t taken a single breath since Bones started speaking. His hand rested on the table next to the gun, but he didn’t pick it up.
Bones waited for a response, even though it didn’t seem like one was coming. “I understand our families despise each other. This blood war has been going on for three generations now. The hatred for one another is in our blood as we speak. But I have no ill will toward the Barsetti family. I want to end it for good, regardless of what happens between Vanessa and me. I’ve laid down my weapons and armor, have come to your home defenseless, to prove that to you.”
My father tilted his head slightly, examining Bones with even more coldness. “Your father raped and killed my sister.” He spoke with such calmness, but I knew he was anything but relaxed. In the peacefulness around his words was the rage. “She was an innocent woman, and she died an innocent woman. Your father never showed her mercy—ever. Why should I show you any?”
“Daddy…he’s not him.” I hated the way this was going. I hated the way my family was so angry. This was so much worse than I’d anticipated. “Don’t hold that against him.”
Bones didn’t look at me. “Baby, let me—”
“Don’t call my daughter that in my presence.” My father interrupted Bones, and he was the only one who could pull it off. “She’s my daughter, my baby, and you can’t have her until I give her to you. And right now, I can confidently say I will never give you my daughter—ever.”
Bones didn’t rise to the insult, keeping his face calm.
More silence passed, just as tense as before.
Bones waited a minute before he spoke again. “Vanessa is right. I never even knew my father.”
“Blood is blood,” Uncle Cane said.
“And love is love,” Bones countered. “I don’t have much experience with the emotion, but after meeting Vanessa, I know how powerful it is. She loves you so much, and I would never hurt anyone that she loves so deeply. You’re everything to her, and that’s why I’m sitting here trying to make this work. Trust me, I wouldn’t be here of my free will. Your company isn’t exactly pleasant.”
My father and uncle didn’t react to that. My father gave a slight raise of his eyebrow, but I couldn’t be sure it really happened.
Bones continued. “After my father was killed, my mother and I lost the business and our wealth. Men turned on the family, our accounts were snatched from us, and my mother and I were on our own. My mother became a prostitute so she could take care of me—”
“Don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.” My father’s hand inched a little closer to the gun. “Because I don’t.”
“I’m not ashamed of what my mother did to support me, so there’s no reason for pity at all. Any parent who does everything to protect their child is someone to be proud of, if you ask me. I love my mother, and I’m not afraid to say it. I just wish I had been strong like I am now so I could have protected her—could have stopped the man who murdered her. Her client left her in a dumpster when he was done with her. But don’t worry, I found him and killed him. Vanessa helped me.”
It was the first time my father took his eyes off Bones and looked at me. I didn’t know what the look meant or what he was thinking since his expression didn’t change. But he stared at me, his dark eyes unblinking.
Bones continued. “I lived in an orphanage for a while, then I lived on the streets. When I became an adult, I entered a criminal line of work. I’m death for hire. I kill people when people pay me to.”
I wished he hadn’t said that. I wished he didn’t want to be so honest.
“I’ve made my own wealth in life,” Bones said. “I’m more than capable of taking care of Vanessa.”
“My daughter can take care of herself,” my father snapped. “She doesn’t need a man’s dirty money. You think that impresses me, asshole?”
“Father—”
“I want this to work,” Bones said calmly. “But let’s not bullshit here. Both of you are part of the criminal underworld. It’s where you both made your fortunes. Cane was part of the Skull Kings for years, doing exactly what I’m doing now—but more ruthlessly. And you’ve sold weapons to the mob and traffickers. I kill mob members and traffickers. Don’t sit there and pretend you’re better than me. We’re equals, sir.” He said the last word under strain, forcing himself to spit it out even though it made him sick—and he did it for me.
My father didn’t say anything to that, and neither did Uncle Cane. Perhaps they didn’t understand how much Bones knew about both of them.