Page 130 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

I clench my jaw.

“Damn, you’re just gonna let shit like this keep existing? Man, I thought better of you,” Riale throws out.

“Nigga, I got a family to think about. I’ve got my kids.” I stand up, moving toward him in a rush until we’re chest to chest.

“I have kids that I missed out on their lives because of you and your ideas. So, excuse me for not wanting to follow you to the end of the earth. I’ve got people to think about.” I deliver the words with lethal calmness, even though I feel anything but.

“Yeah,your kids,” Riale drawls, and my fingers flex, demanding that I ball them into a fist and punch the shit out of Riale.

“What the fuck is your goddamn problem, Riale?” I shout, and Axel places a hand on each of our chests, pushing us away.

“My problem is you! Your spoiled little rich boy act is exhausting,” Riale yells.

“Exhausting? Please!” I scoff, letting Axel push me back a step before rushing forward and bumping into Riale.

“Yes, nigga! You are the most entitled person on the goddamn planet. ‘Oh, I’m gonna break up with my girlfriend and expect her to keep it on ice for me until I get around to being with her again.’ Are you fuckin’ for real? You’re too emotional, too selfish, and the reality is, we don’t need you.”

Each syllable from his mouth ratchets my rage tenfold until I feel like a bomb about to explode all over the goddamn room.

“This is bigger than one man or your feelings, Sandoval,” Riale continues, sounding as exhausted as he claims to be. “We’ll do this for you; we’ll keep standing by you to get your justice. But you can’t expect Axel and me to just sit by while others are hurt. We have to do right by everyone, and not just as part of your plot for revenge against your uncle.”

I take in every word he says—the man who once was my best friend. Am I approaching this through a lens of entitlement? Probably. It’s hard to see the painting from inside the frame, right? Buthisfeelings don’t change the facts.

“We’re still only three people, Riale. And you say you don’t need me, but you all sure as fuck need my money to fund whatever the fuck you wanna do.”

Riale’s jaw moves, his teeth grinding.

“My number-one objective is to make sure this world is safe for Shae and my children. That’s it. My focus has forever been on taking Lakeland down because he poses a direct threat to my family. I hear what you’re saying, Riale. I understand why this is critical to you.Andunless we can get more help, I’m not signing up to take down an entire cabal.”

There.

Maybe it makes me a selfish, entitled motherfucker.

Maybe it makes me my father’s son.

But I don’t give a single shit.

My family comes first. The rest of the world?

It can burn for all I care.

TWENTY-EIGHT

SHAE

The kids are upset, especially Tempest. She still wants to go home—not to our condo, but to my mom’s house. Raiden sits at the table and picks at the breakfast made by Storm’s chef.

When I try to talk to either of them, they mumble and look at me with varying degrees of petulant expressions.

So, when a woman named Matilda materializes at our outdoor seating to introduce herself as the twins’ au pair, I’m okay with letting them go.

With the sound of Tempest interrogating Matilda fading as they move deeper into the house, I sit at the covered table and try to breathe.

What is it I know for a fact?

Thinking of the quick scroll through my work email, I know that I’m facing some serious corporate fuckery when I do finally return to the office. Zane’s called the board meeting, bringing everyone together for a procedural vote. I know what’s coming: he wants to push the Keystone deal forward. I want to pause.

Hell, I want to scrap the deal altogether at this point.