“No,” I snap. “Ben is not getting involved in this one.”
Ben’s eyes meet mine. “Joshua, it’s what you pay me for,” he snaps.
“Your role in this family has changed and you know that,” I reply.
Ben shakes his head angrily in disgust. “It’s what I’m trained to do,” he snaps.
“And you should have thought about that before you fell in love with my sister-in-law.”
“I didn’t say I was in love with her,” he replies.
“You didn’t have to!” I reply. “If you are becoming a part of this family that’s it, no more fucking hits, no more dealing with the underworld. You leave your military training in the past. You are already being investigated for the prostitute’s murder. I will not have Bridget alone with two kids while her husband is rotting in jail.”
Ben drops his head angrily.
“Well I hope nobody is going to jail.” Dad frowns. “You pay good money to not get caught I would expect.”
I nod. “Do you have the money?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes.”
My eyes hold his. “Do you have untraceable money?”
He thin
ks for a moment and then shakes his head. “No,” he answers.
My eyes meet Ben’s. “How much is in the safe at home, Ben?”
Ben narrows his eyes as he thinks. “I don’t know, about two million I think.”
My eyes flick back to my father. “It’s yours. You will need to pay before you leave the country, organise it while you are here. We can’t get that much money into Australia without being noticed,” I reply. “Ben, give my father the contact numbers. That is as far as you can get involved in this one,” I reply. Ben nods angrily like a naughty child.
“You will need to stay in the US until it is done,” I mutter.
My father nods. “Yes,” he replies. “I will get a hotel for your mother and me. We won’t burden you any longer.”
My eyes hold his. “Are you two going to be ok?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. How do you get past something like this?”
My stomach drops. What a nightmare.
My father stands. “Thank you, Joshua.” He nods at Ben and leaves the room.
Ben stands still and defiant with his eyes fixed on me.
“What?” I snap.
“I’m not changing my whole life to be with Bridget.”
My eyes hold his. “Yes you are, go with my father and give him the money and stay with Natasha until I know they have this sick fuck in custody.”
He nods and walks toward the door.
“Ben,” I call. And he turns to look at me.
“I don’t want you involved in this because I want you and Bridget together. You have my full support, but you need to leave that life behind. Bridget needs you to leave that life behind,” I say.