***
I drove out to my father's place with every possible situation running through my head. I would have to play the villain once again. There was no getting around it. I couldn't help but wonder if Cole was involved. If he were working with my father to make all of this shit fall into place.
After turning the corner a little too fast and almost losing control of the bike, I pulled into my father's driveway and got off of the bike, putting a bullet in the heads of three of his guys as I walked through the house without a care for my own safety.
I'd never run the syndicate. Once my father was dead, so was his precious mafia family. I'd kill anyone who disagreed and let the rest roam free. There had to be peace somewhere at the end of the long road before me. I refused to think anything different.
"Dad?" I called out and pressed my back against the wall just outside of his office.
"Come on in, Erik."
I opened the door and lifted my gun, walking in to find him standing behind Grace. Her mouth was bound and eyes wide with horror as her makeup dripped down her beautiful face. He had his arm around her, his fucking hand on her stomach.
"Let her go. Now!" I let a shot go off just beside his head, scraping his ear.
Grace screamed and shook in his arms.
"Stop that. You're scaring her." He lifted his gun and pressed it to the side of her head. "She's in the way, Erik. She's going to be the death of you."
"Then I'll die happy." I let off another round. Hitting him in the shoulder. "I'm the best sharp shooter you got. You're playing a fucked up game right now." The emotions running through me were enough to make me wish for my death, but that would come soon. I had no doubt. My only concern was to save Grace and our son. They came first and always would.
"Then choose, boy." He pressed his cheek against Grace's and whispered something into her ear as she cried out and shook harder, her sobs causing her little frame to twitch violently.
"Stop it," I barked out. "This doesn't have to end like this. You had mom. Why can't I have Grace? What the fuck does it matter to you? She's not yours to keep safe. She's mine!"
"And you'll lose her, just like I lost your mother." My father glanced up, his steely eyes filled with so much regret. "I'm so tired, Erik. I'm tired of being a monster, and yet every time I let my guard down, death crept in during the night and stole my woman, my baby girl." He rested his chin on Grace's shoulder as she continued to cry. "I've heard your sister’s screams in my head since the day they took her." He closed his eyes and let out a soft cry. "You know how?"
"Don't do this." I swallowed my sadness and shook my head. "You're all I have left of them. Don't make me choose between you and Grace, Dad. It would have been you a few months ago, but it's not anymore."
"I know." He opened his eyes and stood up straight. "I made sure of that. No one could get away with killing me but you, Erik. Only you, my son." He nodded. "And it's time. I've built up an intolerable amount of hate inside of you, and now... I'm going to kill your woman and your child with her. You can't let that happen."
"Just move away from her, Dad. Stop this shit. We can figure things out." I glanced over at Grace, and our eyes met. She understood all too well what was happening. My father was ready to die, and the only man he'd let take his life and live to tell about it was me. I swallowed hard and nodded at her, trying to reassure her that if things went to hell any more than they already had... I'd kill him. She was my number one focus, and I loved her with a swell of emotion that scared me.
"Listen to me."
I turned my attention back to my Dad. "No, you listen to me."
He flipped the safety off the gun and moved it down to rest against Grace's belly as she cried out again. "No! You listen to me. This syndicate is what it is because of your mother's sacrifice. It's here and standing strong because of my sacrifice, because of your sister's death and your skill. It's yours to continue. You don't have a choice, Erik."
"Yes, I do." I put my finger on the trigger as sadness filled my father's face.
"No, son. Forgive me for the safeguards I've put in place. It's only for your own good. No one walks from a syndicate and lives. The other families will come to devour you, to snuff out the last seed of our name if you don't stand strong." He lifted the gun back to Grace's pretty head. "If you walk away, I have a triggered hit on you and Grace. Don't try me in it, Erik. There's no warning, son. Death will show up in the middle of the night and leave you bloody and bare. It'll force you to hear the screams of your children as they are destroyed, Erik."
"Please stop," Grace cried out and sagged in my father's arms. "Please. Erik. Make it stop. Please."
"Dad. Please." I turned my attention back to my father as he nodded at me and took a deep breath.
"It's me or her, son. I'm tired. I don't wanna do this anymore. My demons are too much. Choose now. When I get to three, I'll choose."
"No. Dad. Fuck." I took a few steps toward him as he jerked his gun just behind Grace's head and fired it, hitting the wall beside her. She screamed so loudly it echoed in my ears, and I didn't wait to fire my weapon.
It hit him square in the head, and he closed his eyes as if relieved before sinking to the ground beside her.
A scream ripped out of me as I turned and crumpled to the ground. I'd lost everyone I loved because of this fucking syndicate, because of misunderstandings and vengeance. I had to walk away, but his final words rang in my head.
I'd always be trapped. Both of us would.