Page 38 of Best In Class (Savannah's Best #7)

Dom

I ’m picking up Lev for racquetball. We haven’t played in a long while. A really long while.

So, we’ll probably pretend we’re still twenty-five and not two men who now stretch before a game because we’re smart and not old.

“He’s in?” I ask his assistant.

Mrs. DeVry looks angry as hell. “He is.”

“What’s wrong?”

“His parents are in there with him.”

I sigh and note the loud voices coming from Lev’s office.

“Since when?”

“Fifteen minutes.” She looks at her wristwatch. “If I hear something getting thrown, I’m calling security.”

Mrs. DeVry has been with Lev for over a decade, first as his assistant when he was just another executive at Steele Corporation, and then right by his side when he stepped in as CEO. Her loyalties are crystal clear: Lev walks on water, and everyone else can go straight to hell.

“Maybe we won’t need security.” I flex my muscles.

She rolls her eyes.

“I’m going in, Mrs. DeVry. Wish me luck.”

“You take care of our boy, Dom.”

“Will do.”

I don’t bother knocking. I push the door open and walk in.

Lev’s standing behind his desk, his jaw clenched so tight I can see his muscles twitch.

Jenn is slumped on the leather couch like a fragile swan left too long in the sun, her silk blouse half-buttoned, her heels dangling off her feet.

Nathaniel’s pacing, red-faced and gesturing like he owns the goddamn place, which he most definitely does not.

“You can’t condition payment like that.”

“Sure, I can. It’s my money,” Lev quips. “She goes to rehab, I take care of everything. She doesn’t, you get paid what you earn for the ten percent of your shares and not a cent more.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do with my wife!” he snarls.

“She’s not your wife.” Lev leans and puts his palms on his desk, as if that act will prevent him from flying off the handle. “She’s your excuse for being pathetic.”

Jenn doesn’t say anything. Her eyes are unfocused, rimmed in red.

She’s high as a fucking kite .

Christ!

Luna was right. These people have money, but not an ounce of freedom. They’re trapped in a world of things they think matter—like money and property, and social standing. And the worst part is that they’re not happy. They’re fucking miserable .

Nathaniel points a finger at Lev. “I built this business?—”

Lev laughs. One short, brutal sound that cuts his father off. “You burned this business. You lost everything but the name. Luna and I pulled it back from the brink. You get your ten percent because I let you keep it. Don’t confuse that with power.”

I close the door behind me and set the racket ball gear on the floor by it.

I’m making enough sound that I am noticed but no one greets me.

Lev probably thinks my friend is here, and I know he’s there for me .

Nathaniel probably thinks the help is here, and he doesn’t need to acknowledge me.

“You ungrateful?—”

“I’m done.” Lev’s voice drops even lower. “I’m done, Dad.”

Nathaniel, who has the EQ of slime, bellows, “What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means I’m done having a relationship with either of you. You need something, fend for yourself. Don’t come to my home. Don’t come to my place of work. I’ll have your ass hauled out. ”

“I’m your father,” he roars.

Jenn lets out a soft sob.

Lev looks at her. Not Nathaniel, but her . His mother. The woman who disappeared in front of him slowly, year by year, until there was nothing left but pills and party dresses.

“You have a choice, Mama ,” Lev says, and his voice breaks on the word Mama. “You can go to rehab. I’ll help. I’ll pay for it. I’ll drive you there myself.”

Jenn doesn’t speak. Her hands fidget in her lap, twisting the edge of her blouse.

“Or,” Lev continues, “you can keep living like this. With him. But if you do…I’m gone for good.”

Jenn looks up then, and there’s fear in her eyes—but not resolve.

Nathaniel scoffs. “You’re bluffing.”

“I’m not bluffing.” Lev turns to me, acknowledges me for the first time since I walked in. “Tell him.”

“Never known him to bluff, Nathaniel.” I cross my arms and lean against the door. “He’s the most loyal man I know. But even loyalty has a limit. He stayed for Jenn. He’s done with that now.”

Jenn finally speaks. “I can’t leave him, Lev.”

Lev flinches. “Then I’m leaving you.”

She gasps. “Baby.”

“I love you.” He rubs his face with both his hands. “But I can’t bleed for you anymore.”

And then he walks.

He brushes past Nathaniel like he’s invisible.

I follow .

He makes it all the way to the parking lot before he stops. He just stands there, breathing hard, staring out at nothing.

“I always thought there’d be a different ending,” he murmurs. “That if I kept showing up, she’d choose me.”

“I know.”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing.” I put my hand on his shoulder. He looks like a lost boy and not the man he has become. “You want your parents to be people they never were.”

“I hate that it hurts,” he whispers.

“Me too.”

We stand in silence for a while, just the sounds of cars passing and the hum of a hot Savannah afternoon.

Then he sighs, pulls off his jacket, and throws it into the back seat of my car.

“Still feel like racquetball?” I ask. “Burn off some energy?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. Let’s go grab a beer.”

“Fine. But I’m still wearing my wristbands,” I say, cracking a smile. “And I have matching ones for you.”

“Hard pass.” Lev actually laughs. It’s real even if it is bitter-edged and broken-hearted.

And I know he’s going to be okay. Because I’ll make sure he knows that sometimes walking away isn’t weakness, it’s the strongest thing you can do.

Hours later, I deposit a drunk Lev at his place and go to Luna’s. It’s late, she’s already in bed. I called her and told her what happened and that I was going to be with Lev .

“Dom?” Mama calls out as I reach the stairs.

“Mama. It’s late. What are you doing up?” She’s by the kitchen.

“Waiting for you.”

I go to her, and she takes my hand. “I want to talk.”

“Okay.”

We sit at the breakfast nook.

“Luna told me what happened with Lev and his parents. Is he okay?”

“Yeah, Mama.”

“Good.” Mama has a cup of steaming tea in front of her, which she picks up and drinks. “Son, it’s been a few months since…well, you’re almost living here.”

“Yes, Mama.” I’ve been waiting for this to come up.

“It’s not right.”

“She’s not ready.”

Mama frowns. “For what?”

“Marriage. The ring.”

Mama sighs. “That girl is too careful.”

“She just needs time.”

“I don’t like this.”

“Would you prefer it if I didn’t stay the night here?” If she said so, I’d do it for her. Luna would understand. None of us wants to distress my mother.

She lets out a long breath. “I’m being an old woman, aren’t I?”

“No, Mama. You’re holding to your values.”

“No, I don’t want you both apart. I…that’s not right. In my heart, and I know in yours and hers, you’re already together, married.”

She’s justifying my presence, and I’m okay with that.

I take her hands in mine. “How about if I tell you I’ll ask her to marry me this year, and I think I can convince her to have the wedding before next summer?”

Mama’s eyes brighten. “You think that’s possible?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then maybe I can see some grandchildren soon.” Mama’s eyes fill with tears.

I let her hands go. “Mama, she hasn’t even said yes, and you’re thinking kids!”

She smiles. “That’s my job. Now go to bed and do yours.”

I make a face. “Please never say that again.”

She flings a kitchen towel at me. “I didn’t mean that . You…be there for her. That’s what I meant.”

“Sure, you did,” I tease. I lean down and kiss her. “Let me walk you to your place, yeah?”

I get her to her place and wait until she gets into bed before heading back to Luna’s.

When I get into bed, she shifts and nuzzles into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Miss Abigail give you the third degree?”

“She did.”

“And?”

“I blamed you.”

“Asshole,” she mumbles and bites my chest gently .

I kiss her forehead. “I’m going to ask you soon,” I warn her.

“I’ll be ready,” she promises sleepily.