Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
Majority of people weren’t stupid. If my cousin took over, he would run this family and the businesses into the ground. He was too greedy, too ambitious. He didn’t look at the bigger picture of things and whereas my uncle was an ambitious man, he was smart about the moves that he made, something that his son very much lacked.
With a knock at my office door, I drew my attention away from my inner thoughts, and looking up, I saw my uncle step foot into the office with a smile upon his face.
“Uncle, I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay?”
Giving a small chuckle, he nodded his head. “Everything will be fine eventually. I just wanted to see if you were okay. I heard about the incident that happened over there, and with the resources, we can go ahead and have them moved here.”
“I know uncle, and I appreciate your help in this. I’m still trying to get used to everything. Of course, people are looking to me more now. I am grateful that you have named me your heir, and I won’t let you down. I just think that once I get her and the children here, things should get better.”
He slid his hands into his front pockets and nodded his head. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he was a man of little words. But right now, I was seeing a softer side of him that I hadn’t expected to see.
“Family is everything, James, and that is something that your father never taught you. My younger brother was not the brightest. He wanted his freedom away from the family, and some of the things he did when he was younger were the reasons why he was shunned. I’m sorry that I didn’t get to you soon enough so you could live the life you were meant to have.”
This was the first time my uncle had ever truly said that he was sorry, at least to me. And the way that he was looking at me right now, I could see the sincerity in his gaze. I hadn’t been expecting it, but I was appreciating it because, for the first time in a long time, someone apologized for the way that I had grown up.
It wasn’t my fault I didn’t have the guidance that I needed back then. I had to learn how to be a man on my own. I had to learn how to take care of myself, my wife and my child because, at the end of the day, nobody was going to do it for us.
“I appreciate that, Uncle, but I don’t regret what happened to me. It made me who I am today,” I explained, giving him a small smile.
He didn’t seem surprised that was what my answer was going to be, and in fact, he smiled nodding his head in agreement. “That is why I chose you, James. It wasn’t just to throw stones at my son. It was because you have proven in the short time you were here that you are the right man to take on what I started.”
I didn’t think that I had done much to prove myself. However, my uncle was so adamant that I had, which surprised me. “All I did was what you asked me to do. I did my job to be part of the family.”
“Yes, and that is exactly what I want,” he chuckled. “A man who will do what needs to be done to protect and support his family. Enough with that though I want you to tell me what you know about what’s going on with your woman.”
Taking a moment to try and figure out where I was to start, I sighed and held my hands up in an unsure gesture as I looked down at the photos that lay scattered on my desk.
“From what I know, the Michaelson brothers are the ones that are after her.”
“Xavier and Andre?” he gasped in an almost shocked sort of way. “Why would they want her?”
Letting out a sarcastic sort of laugh, I shook my head, letting my eyes meet his again. “Because of Neal and Allegra. Turns out their father was ‘The Hammer,’ and Neal killed Patrick, the middle brother, when he was younger. They want revenge, and they think using Becca is the way to get what they want.”
My uncle seemed to let all the information soak in as he slowly paced around the room, lost deep in thought. “We have to get her and the children out of there then. They won’t stop until they get what they want, and if they are out for blood, your family isn’t safe.”
It was odd hearing someone else call Becca and the children my family. Yes, the children were, but Becca was her own woman, and there was no telling what she would do when she found out I was still alive and had been vacant in her life.
“I know, but it’s making it happen that I’m finding the issue.”
Turning to face me, he narrowed his gaze, shaking his head. “There isn’t an issue, James. Charter a flight and go there to get them. You can deal with her issues once they get here.”
“What about Ronaldo? I can’t exactly leave right now with him acting the way he is.”
Reminding him of the issues his son was creating made him halt in his steps. He knew I had a point, whether he wanted to believe it or not. Ronaldo was a loose cannon, and if I left, there was no telling what he would try to pull.
“Very well. Call this Neal person,and figure out if there is a way he can get her here. I don’t care what you have to do, but those children are the future of this family. So if she doesn’t want to come, then they at least need to.”
I was shocked at what he was suggesting. “Becca would never allow that.”
The look he gave me made my heart race and my blood run cold. “Then don’t give her a choice, James. You know how important this is, and with how high the stakes are around here right now. You having your family here is going to strengthen your claim on all of this. So, make it happen.”
There was no room for discussion, and as I watched my uncle leave the room, closing the door behind him, I evaluated my situation. There was no changing the choice that had to be made, and as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Neal’s number, I could only imagine what his reaction would be.
There was going to be one hell of a showdown once this all kicked off.
I could only hope that they would be moved to safety before it went down.
Becca.
Ever since the conversation I had with Neal two days ago, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong with staying here in New Zealand. This place was supposed to be my happy home, my forever home with my children, my father, and my stepmother.
I was an idiot to think my life would be normal. Even now, while I stood here listening to Neal and Allegra bicker over what the best move was even after added security was placed on the house, I couldn’t help but feel more aggravated.
My dad had still not noticed. The day everything kicked off, I had surprised them that night with round-trip tickets to Australia. The last-minute trip threw up red flags, but I told them it was only for a few days because when they got back, I was going to need their help with some things around my house.
It wasn’t the truth, but it seemed to hold them over.
At least for now.
“I just don’t see what the problem is, Neal,” Allegra snapped with her hands on her hips. This was the hundredth time she had made that statement today, and if Neal wasn’t getting annoyed with it, I sure as hell was.
“I told you to stop trying to control things and let me deal with it,” he replied with just as much irritation as she had given him. They had been arguing the last twenty minutes on the best course of action, and yet, we hadn’t come up with anything.
Layla had heard the issue the other day when Neal and I were talking in the kitchen. I hadn’t realized she was present, but when we noticed her, she said nothing and went back to the children. I understood if she didn’t want to stay around and be part of this, but losing her would be hard.
It wasn’t that I needed her to take care of the children, but she had become like family to me, and seeing her go would be difficult.
“Look, as much as I want to know what’s going on, I don’t have time to keep listening to your bitching. This is beyond ridiculous.”
Standing from where I was sitting, I sighed and made my way toward the kitchen to put my glass in the sink. Neal was on his feet the moment I had moved, and with soft shuffling feet, I heard him behind me. “Becca–”
“Neal, don’t. There is much to be done, and we need to figure that out instead of arguing amongst each other,” I replied quietly before turning my attention and gaze back to him. “Have you been able to locate them?”
Taking a moment, he shook his head. “No, I have no idea where Xavier went.”
A feeling of nausea and emptiness filled my stomach at his words. I had hoped they had found him or something. Then we could have told the police to go in and arrest him. Yet, I don’t know why I didn’t realize that would only be wishful thinking.
“Then the children and I need to get somewhere safe until you do.”
As much as I didn’t want to leave, I knew how important it was that I did. It wasn’t just my safety anymore I had to worry about. It was the children’s as well, and to think something bad could happen to them all because I didn’t want to leave was unimaginable.
“You want to leave?” Neal questioned my statement as if he was surprised I came to that conclusion. “I will support you if you do.”
“Neal, it isn’t like I have a choice.” The scoffed remark made him and Allegra both sigh. Turning his gaze towards his sister, he watched as she threw up her hands and shrugged her shoulders—some untold conversation going on between them like there always was.
“I have a place you can go to. A place on the island where you will be safe from prying eyes. At least until we figure this all out,” Neal said.
An island home with two small children, and chaos brewing… why not? Not like anything else could go f*cking wrong.
******
Neal.
I had purchased the small home on the seaside after we first moved here as a possible getaway vacation spot for Becca and me. However, when things went sideways for us, I took it as a place I may have to move to in order to have a place to live.