Page 178 of The Devil's Heir

After the shitshow eleven years ago, Joey took Zita back home to Italy to break the news of Rossi's death. Zita's brothers took it better than I thought. Come to find out, they were waiting for someone to take their father out. They couldn't bring themselves to do it, so they happily accepted my best friend with open arms. Joey and Zita were married before they returned back to the States. It was at the Rossi brother's insistence, since Zita was already pregnant at the time.

"You know how it is when you take over a new position. The only difference is that I already knew my boss was the biggest asshole around." My friend smirks.

"There's a reason I call him the Devil…" Lily murmurs as her lips twitch.

I narrow my eyes at them both.

"You would be too if you had to put up with what I put up with; a smartass best friend and a brat for a wife."

"We have to keep you on your toes somehow,Boss," Joey smirks.

I ignore my friend and turn to Jackson, who now heads my technology department. Once he and Heidi got married and started their family, Jackson wanted to do something legal while continuing to work for me. So, I paid for his schooling and gave him a high-paying job. I owe the guy a lot for everything he's done for me.

After Seth died, Jackson was a little off for a while. It's not as if they were in love or anything, but Seth was one of his closest friends. Heidi was there for him, and things took a turn. They're both now happy with two kids of their own. They're our extended family, just like Joey and Zita are with their twin boys.

"I took care of that problem you came to me about. He won't be stealing from anyone anymore," I tell Jackson matter-of-factly.

"Jarek!" Lily gasps.

I fix my gaze on my beautiful wife. "What would you have me do to someone who's stolen millions of dollars from the company over the past eight years?"

"I'm sure there are other ways you could have dealt with it, but that's not what my problem is," my wife replies.

"Then what's the problem?" I shrug.

"I do not want to hear about you killing someone over dinner. Have you forgotten about your crotch goblin I'm carrying, who tends to get sick over the smallest thing?"

"Please do not refer to my unborn son as a crotch goblin, Lily." I frown.

"Fine, your spawn then…"

The table erupts with laughter, and I glare at everyone, but even my lips twitch. My feisty little pauper always keeps things interesting. I'm just about to retort when a loud, obnoxious voice reaches us from just outside the dining room.

"Oh great, she didn't forget after all," I drawl, wiping my mouth and sighing.

Lily slaps my arm. "Stop it. You know you love her, too."

I roll my eyes just as Fran walks into the room. Even after all these years, the old bat is still as crass as ever. She just dresses a little better.

Fran took over the Greco family business after Carlos' body was returned. His kids fought it, but they were all bastards and didn't have the right to it while Fran was still alive. We did worry about whether her nephews would try taking her out, but she won them over somehow, and even though they're practically running everything, it all has to go through her.

It's surprising, really, since the old bat was always against what I did for a living, but I guess it changes once you are the one in charge. There's a lot less killing in her area, however, but that's only because people are afraid of the woman.

"It's so nice for you to wait for my arrival, you little bastard…" Fran glowers at me as she walks in.

"Well, last I checked, dinner was at seven sharp. It's almost eight," I reply dryly.

"Haven't you ever heard of being fashionably late?" she asks, taking her seat beside Heidi, who's trying to hide her grin.

"Actually, I have. However, I see nothing fashionable about you," I quip.

"I'll have you know that I was the prettiest girl back in the day—and very fashionable—you dick!" the older woman bites back.

"Okay, that's enough, you two. Don't make me stick you both in a room with each other until you can get along," my wife threatens with a grin.

"You know," Jackson chimes in, adding, "If Jarek and Lily weren't married, I'd think you two had the hots for one another…"

"Do you want to live for another day?" I grit out.

"He has a point,Sir," Lily says, hiding her smile behind her glass of water.

"Please, I've turned down bigger dicks than what he's got. Sorry, Lily, but it's true." Fran shrugs and digs into the food the staff just set down in front of her.

Lily gives me a warning look before I can return my own insult, so instead, I paste a smile on my face and say, "It's so nice that you could join us tonight, Fran. I hope you enjoy the meal."

I'll do whatever it takes to keep Lily happy, even if I have to swallow my pride and look like a pansy in front of my friends. The thing is, they all do the same for their wives.

"Good thing I have a steel stomach. You probably had my food poisoned…" Fran mumbles, but I choose to ignore her taunt.

As I sit around my dining room table, surrounded by familiar faces—some I've come to know, others I've grown to love—I can't help but feel like a fortunate man, Fran included. My life could have taken an entirely different path had my pauper not returned to me. Now, I have a life I cherish and heirs who will carry on the Falcon name. So, even though she calls me the Devil, I thank God every day for bringing Liliana back into my life.