The Marriage Debt (De Vos Mafia #2)(95)

“Yes,” I reply, grabbing Jill’s hand to hold it tight. “I do, in fact. And you know what else I expect from you? That you’re going to end this feud. Right here, right now.”

“Wha—” my mother scoffs, but it ends in a laugh.

“The debt you wanted them to repay no longer exists,” I say in a low tone.

“My son is still gone,” my father rebukes.

“He chose to leave,” Jill replies. “Just like I chose to replace my sister when you forced her to marry Luca so you wouldn’t destroy my family.” She throws them fiery looks, and I’m all here for that burn. “Yet even after I married him, you still decided to go after their business.”

That really got them quiet.

“You owe us,” Hugo suddenly says out of the blue.

“You took my daughter like she was yours to take,” Vera adds, leaning over to grasp Jill’s knee. “But your son is alive, so there is no debt. This marriage needs to be nullified.”

Jill pushes her mother’s hand off. “No.”

Vera and Hugo throw her confused looks. “But you hate him,” Vera says.

“I don’t hate him.” Jill looks at me, and we exchange lust-ridden smiles. “It’s more of a hate-to-love-him kind of thing.”

My mother laughs, swiping away her tears. “This is some Freudian mess. Vera, do you have wine? This coffee is not going to do it for me.”

“Wine is reserved for friends,” Vera snaps back.

“I think we’re all friends here … right?” Jill retorts, raising her brow. “Because none of you have a reason to hate the other anymore.”

“Well, he did try to destroy our business,” Vera says, eyeing my father.

“Enough,” I interrupt. “What’s done is done. It’s over now.” I look at my father. “You’ve already built enough wealth. You don’t need more. You will stop fucking with their business and be actual partners again.”

“Or what?” he growls. “My own damn son trying to threaten me?”

“You want me to take over your business when you’re gone? Better start appreciating what I’m giving you here. A fresh start.” I fish a napkin from my pocket and hand it to him. “Or do you want to be left without a wife and only regrets on your deathbed?”

His whole face turns white as snow.

“Because I know my mother. If the money is gone … there is no more reason for her to stay,” I quip.

My mother is too mortified to respond, but I know their love language. It isn’t as savagely sexy as mine and Jill’s. It’s based on power. My mother only yielded to my father when she realized what kind of materialistic things he could offer her.

But all of that would vanish, along with her, should the business crumble.

My father’s face darkens as his lips turn upside down. “Outplayed by my own fucking son.”

He coughs into the napkin and throws it onto the table, so everyone can see the blood. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? If we’re sharing secrets now, might as well throw this one in too.”

“Is that … blood?” Vera asks, making a disgusted face.

“Yes. Yes, it is,” Hugo answers. “You’re sick, Lex?”

“Don’t act like you care,” Lex spits.

“I would if you wouldn’t try to destroy my family for once,” Hugo responds.

Vera clutches her husband’s arm. “Stop. It’s enough.”

“Please, can everyone just stop? Look at the pain you’ve all caused,” Jasmine says. “Can’t you all start over? You know, with a blank slate?”

“Only if our livelihood is no longer threatened,” Vera says. “Or our family.”

My father and mother both look away in shame for what they’ve done. Or maybe just because now their dirty little secret is out, and they can’t hide behind it anymore.

“My parents will stop trying to steal your business, and they’ll start being actual partners again,” I tell Hugo. “You have my word.”

“Yours?” He raises a brow at me.

“My father doesn’t have long to live. All his assets and the business will be handed over to me. And since he wants me to keep it going … I’m the one who calls the shots now.”

Because that’s just it.

The simple fact that’s given me all the power I need.

My father’s only wish is for his legacy to continue, but he needs me to do it.

And I wouldn’t care if it all bleeds to death.

Not unless he does exactly what I want him and my mother to do.

So I take a big sip of my coffee while gazing over the room, enjoying as this last chess piece is put into place.

“Now, what’s it going to be?” I muse.

“Fine. We’ll be equal partners again,” my father says under his breath, not at all pleased, but I care as much about his feelings as he cares about anyone else’s. None.

“And?” I say, squinting at him and my mother.

“We apologize for ever trying to ruin you,” my mother says.

“Dad?” I look him straight in the eyes.

I want him to submit.

Openly.