by Alex Wolf
“If you’re concerned about hurting her, you won’t.”
“I don’t know.”
“Dex, look at me.”
I turn to face her.
“You’re not perfect, kiddo. Nobody is. You’re gonna screw up.” She gestures toward the kitchen. “She’s gonna screw up. It’s how you deal with the screw-ups that defines the relationship. If you love each other, nothing is irreparable.”
“So… verdict?”
“If she makes you happy, she makes me happy. But I do like her. So you can relax. You and your brothers are so high strung. I worry about you boys.”
I bend down and kiss her on the forehead. “Thanks. I’m glad you like her.”
Mom bumps me with her hip again. “Noticed she made you pudding.”
“Yeah, sorry, I know that’s our thing, and I told her about it. I kinda felt like I betrayed you a little.”
“Don’t apologize. I’ll keep sending it. I like that you want to share our little thing with the woman you love.”
“Really, I thought, I don’t know. Thought you’d react different. Like maybe, I don’t know, like she was moving in on your territory or something. This is all new to me. I’ve never felt this way before.”
She gives me another hug and does her best to get her arms all the way around me, like she always does. She whispers, “You’ll always be my little boy. But I can relinquish being the number one woman in your life with grace. That’s how it’s supposed to be. I’ll always love you, no matter what.”
“I love you too.” I look out at Abigail. “I love her. So much it hurts.”
“I know.” She winks. “Moms always know.”
I smile as she walks off and Dad wraps her in his arms. They sit back, watching everything unfold in front of them. When I glance back to Abigail, I wonder if that’ll be us someday, watching all our kids as adults.
“You boys got any other women around the office for Donavan?” Dad grins his ass off. “Looks like he could use some pointers.”
Donavan rolls his eyes. “You guys keep this shit up and I’m leaving.”
Mom glares. “Language, son. There are ladies present.”
“Sorry, Mom. I forgot Deacon was here.”
“So you could ask me for my number, big boy?” Deacon laughs.
Without thinking, Donavan says, “Fu—” He looks at Mom. “Uhh, screw you guys.” He shakes his head and mumbles. “A-holes.”
“A-holes. Well done on that one,” says Deacon.
I can’t stop laughing. “Hey, Abigail has a crazy-ass roommate. I can hook you up. Just let me know.” I slap him on the back, and apparently he’s had enough because he yanks me into a headlock and down to the floor.
We go at it like we’re ten years old all over again. Decker and Deacon take bets on who will tap out first and egg us on.
“You see how they act?” Mom says to Tate, Quinn, and Abigail. “I raised a bunch of animals. Boys! Knock that crap off!”
We get up and I dust myself off. “Totally won.”
“Like hell you did.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Dad gestures toward the hall. “Let’s go to the study. I brought cigars.”
“He was not talking to you.” Decker holds his arm out in front of Jenny’s date as he starts to follow.
Fuck, that kid has balls.
I glance back to the kid and shrug. “Sorry, ol’ smoke crotch isn’t any fun, is he?”
Decker glares lasers at me.
I hold my hands up. “Hey, just saying. The ol’ rug is getting a little silvery up there.”
“I’m not Donavan, I’ll lay your ass out for good.”
“Please. Snap those brittle bones like twigs if you come at me.”
“All right.” Dad looks back to make sure Mom is out of earshot. “Knock the shit off.”
We get into Decker’s study and Dad leans against the desk after passing out cigars and lights his first. The rest of us follow suit.
Dad has that serious stare on his face, like he did when we’d get in trouble as kids. Fuck. I have no idea what this is about, but it’s not good. An ominous feeling fills the room.
He glares back and forth at Decker and Donavan and points a finger at each one of them. “Front and center, now.”
They both glance at each other and for a brief moment in time, we’re kids again and not high-powered attorneys. They both know what’s up.
“What the hell is this?” says Decker.
“Boy, I will knock your fucking dick in the dirt you talk to me that way again. This shit has gone on long enough. You’re lucky I didn’t fly my ass up here a long time ago. Your mother has been a wreck for months. You know how she gets when you’re not getting along.”
We all stare at him like we can’t believe they know.
“Yeah, she knows. That woman knows everything going on with her boys at all times.” He stares around at all of us, pointing his cigar. “This is family. You don’t have anything but each other, and you’d better not fucking forget it. This shit gets aired out and resolved right now. I won’t have your mother endure another minute.”
Donavan stares at Decker, then at Dad. “He merged the goddamn firm without discussing it with us first. I have to share my criminal law department with a bunch of incompetent assholes out of Dallas. Then, he took Tate’s side over mine with a client and fucked up—”
“Enough.” Dad turns to Decker. “Well?”
“The shit wasn’t personal. It was business. I built the firm. I run the firm. I make the decisions. Nothing changed other than a lighter workload for all of us. Excuse me if I didn’t want to be a piece-of-shit absent father to my only daughter. I was thinking about Jenny when I made the decision to merge the firm and now the bonuses are bigger and the hours are less for everyone.”
Donavan looks away, shaking his head when he mentions Jenny. “I get the dad stuff, but fuck, man. You let Tate waltz in here like she owned our damn firm, boss people around, all because you fell in love with her.”
Decker shakes his head. “It had nothing to do with my feelings for Tate or you for that matter. You’re my brother and I’ll always have your fucking back, always. But when you’re wrong, I’ll call you out on that shit. I have to. At work I’m the boss, and family shit comes second. As soon as we walk out the door, it’s family first.”
“It sure fucking felt like you were picking her over us.”
“Look, maybe…”
Dad glares at Decker.
Decker holds up both hands. “Okay, I maybe could have communicated things better. It was never my intention to piss you off. I knew you’d throw a fit and I’d have to deal with all of you for months to get you on board and I didn’t have that kind of time. Every minute I didn’t get with my daughter was torture for me, don’t you get that? But regardless of your feelings for Tate, that lawsuit was petty as fuck and you know it. It was a frivolous loser. You wanted to tank a nine-figure business deal because you were up in your feelings. I couldn’t have that. Too many jobs on the line and people who aren’t in our family would be affected by it.”
Dad turns to Donavan. “Donny?”
He shrugs. “Okay, maybe the lawsuit was bullshit. And yeah, it did hurt when you ignored us for a woman. I’m glad you found someone and I’m happy for you, I just…” He sighs in frustration. “It was our thing. The firm. It was ours. Our name was on the wall and now it’s gone and we’ll never get it back.”
Decker’s glare softens. “Isn’t it better, though?” He raises his shoulders like, come on, man. “It was just a name on a wall. It doesn’t take away who we are or where we come from.”
Donavan looks away. “Yeah, I mean, I guess it is. I just… I wish you’d done it differently and I’d have been on board, maybe. But fuck, why does your fiancée…”
“She’s the way she is because she won’t get any fucking respect if she isn’t. You know this. We all know how women associates get treated. Fuck, we’re all guilty of doing it. Do you kno
w how many times she’s begged me outside of work to reach out to you? That she hates being a wedge between us. It keeps her up at night. Do you know how many fake promises I’ve made to reach out to you to try and resolve this? I’ve just been too damn proud to do it and no time ever seems like the right time. You know how I get.” A tear slides down Decker’s cheek. “It’s why our fucking wedding has been delayed, because she refuses to marry me while I’m pissed off at you! You don’t know her. Not like you think you do.”
“I-I didn’t know she felt that way.”
Decker finally cracks. He walks over and puts a hand on Donavan’s shoulder. “Look, maybe we can talk when we get back to the office after Thanksgiving. If you want a more managerial role all you have to do is say something. I think you’d be great for it and I have a ton of shit on my plate I’d gladly farm out if I could.”
Donavan’s eyes light up, but he tries to play it cool. He nods. “Yeah, maybe, I’d be interested in something like that.”
Decker glances to Deacon and me with his eyebrows raised.
At the same time, we both hold our hands up. “Fuck that,” says Deacon.
“Yeah, you guys can have that stress.” I grin.
Simultaneously, it feels like a weight just lifted off all our shoulders. Like every burden in the world just removed itself from the room. For the first time in months, it feels amazing to have them getting along. It just took Dad putting his foot down.
“You two know what to do.” Dad waves his cigar hand between the two of them.
They both hug it out and they’re actually smiling. It feels surreal. I didn’t think it was possible at this point.
“Work your problems out from now on.” Dad throws an arm around me and Deacon and moves us in closer to Decker and Donavan, almost like a football huddle. “I don’t want to see this shit happen again. You’re fucking Collins’s. That’s not a light responsibility, I raised you better than that. Honor, integrity, respect. You have responsibilities and duties to your family. I’m proud of all you boys. You’ve all amassed more than I ever dreamed for you when I was working two jobs to get you all the way to college while your mom took care of you. It’s the only thing that got me through it, knowing I was providing, and your mother was making sure you didn’t kill each other, so you could have better lives than we did. So you could accomplish everything you wanted.” He leans back and takes a puff off his cigar. “Respect and love for your family is the glue that holds it all together. We have a role to play and when one cog in the wheel isn’t functioning right, it’s up to all of you to get off your asses and fix it.” He turns to Donavan and me. “Tate and Quinn are already part of this family because your brothers have made promises to them.” He turns to Deacon and Decker. “And when a Collins man gives his word, he follows through.” He grits his teeth and gets that angry-as-hell look on his face that sends a shiver up my spine. “Tate and Quinn are to be treated like you would treat your mother. They are to be protected at all costs and they will NOT be disrespected in any fucking way. Or if I hear about it, I will fly up here and kick every ass in this room personally. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” we all say in unison.
He smiles. “Good. There will be peace in this family, as long as I’m breathing. Now, let’s finish this little get together with me sharing a cigar with my boys. It’s been too fucking long.”
“Amen to that,” says Decker.
I grin. “Where do you keep the whiskey in here?”
“Great idea, son. I like the sound of that.”
Decker and I pour everyone a glass and things go right back to normal, just like that. No more fighting, no more tension.
We laugh and joke and bust each other’s balls. It’s perfect. I glance over at Dad, laughing and cutting up. I haven’t always agreed with him on everything, but he’s a good father and I hope I can be somewhat like him one day, with the things that matter anyway. I could imagine it eating me up inside if my sons weren’t getting along, whether they’re rich or poor. Some things are more important than money and status, and he’s right, at the end of the day, the people you love are all that matter.
“This is how family is supposed to be.” Dad stamps out his cigar in an ashtray, wearing a satisfied grin. “I don’t know about you fucking clowns but I’m ready for some dessert. Tone down the goddamn language in front of the ladies. It bothers your mother.”
We all file back toward the kitchen when Decker puts his arm across my chest. “We need to talk shop for a second, while I’ve got you here.”
“Dude, it’s Thanksgiving. What the hell? Can’t we forget about business for a few hours and enjoy everyone getting along?”
“It’s about Covington.”
“Seriously? You’re still on that shit? Let it go. I already secured part of his business, and I’ll have it all by the end of the quarter. It’ll be a big fuck you to Cooper and all those pompous pricks in midtown Manhattan.”
He shakes his head. “Not gonna happen. I had Rick look into him.”
“You what? What is the goddamn deal? You don’t do this type of due diligence with any other white-collar clients.”
“You don’t know what I do. There’s a lot I don’t tell you guys and there are reasons for it.”
“Why are you trying to fuck this deal in the ass? Where Covington goes, the money follows. Do I need to spell it out for you? This is what you pay me huge bonuses for. I can’t do my goddamn job with you hamstringing me behind my back.”
“Will you just cool your temper for two seconds and listen to me? Jesus Christ.”
I wave an arm out. “Well go on. You’re going to anyway.”
“I run a clean house. I had Abigail and Rick both look into him. It’s all bad.”
My face heats up and it’s not good. I can already feel the rage building in my chest. “Abigail knew about this?”
“Shit.” Decker looks away then back at me. “You two weren’t really, serious, when I put her on it. And I told her to only report to Rick and me, nobody else.”
“Why the fuck wasn’t I read in? I’m the one dealing with him.” He’s always pulling this clandestine shit and I’m sick of it. And him and Abigail are keeping secrets from me?
“It was need-to-know and your emotions are clouding your judgment. Look, your buddy owns a few corporations with ties to cartels and organized crime shit. They’re money washing operations. He also owns a large portion of a shipping company, and we think they may be involved in human trafficking.”
“Does it tie back to him? Legally?” I have to put an emphasis on that, because he’s speculating right now.
“None of it ties back to him, legally, but I don’t want him on our roster. Do you really want your name associated with that shit?”
“Fuck you. Our criminal law department defends murderers. Do you want our name associated with that? Money is money and we don’t know for a fact that he’s doing any of that shit, or if he’s aware of any of it. He’s at such a high level he looks at spreadsheets and data. He owns interests in thousands of companies. I know him personally. You’re biased because he likes all that BDSM shit and you’re looking for a reason to fuck this deal up.” I shake my head and all I can think about is how Abigail didn’t say anything. “No. I know what’s motivating this. Fear. You’re pulling this shit because you’re afraid of ruffling feathers in New York. Cooper has you scared like a little bitch.”
He gets up in my face. “I will say this once and it’s final. Fuck Bennett Cooper. And Covington is done, so get him out of your thick fucking head and move on.”
“Fuck you. He’s my client. I’ve been working on this for months if not years. It’s happening. We don’t need to know about any shady shit he has on the side. We have plausible deniability. When did you become such a fucking saint? Tate put you up to this or something?”
He points a finger in my face. “Don’t bring my fiancée into this because you’re pissed off about being wrong and because I gave your
girlfriend an assignment. Business is business and she was just doing her damn job. Covington’s not to set foot in our fucking offices until I say so.”
“Fuck this. I don’t need it. Not from you. Not from anyone.” I throw a shoulder into him as I storm out of the study.
Abigail
I’m in the kitchen helping Tate serve dessert as the guys stroll in from the study with Mr. Collins leading the way.
Donovan and Deacon fall in behind him and grab a plate.
“This pudding is amazing.” Jenny beams at me and gets a second helping.
“Thank you.” I turn to Deacon. “Where’s the other half of you?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, he stayed behind with Decker for a minute. Maybe something with work?”
“Holy… this pecan pie reminds me of home,” says Tate, trying to make idle conversation, but I see her keep glancing toward the study too.
I slide into a seat next to her where nobody else can hear. “Thanks again for having me. I know Decker wasn’t thrilled at the thought of Dexter and me. I hope it’s not a problem. I don’t want to cause tension in the family.”
“Oh, trust me. Whatever is happening in there right now… It has nothing to do with you. All these boys like to act tough, but inside they’re all softies. You just have to be around them outside of work to get to the good stuff. I think they’re at each other over a potential client.”
My stomach drops and I wonder if this is to do with the file I gave Decker about Wells Covington.
Finally, I see Dexter and I know the look on his face immediately. I’ve seen it once before and it wasn’t a good outcome.
Decker storms in right behind him, looking just as pissed off, if not more.
“Oh shit,” Tate whisper-sighs the second she sees them.
Dexter doesn’t slow down at all as he marches past me. He shoots me an angry scowl and goes straight out the front door.
“What the hell?” I look at Tate.
Decker goes to the fridge and yanks the door open so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t fly off the hinges, then takes out a beer.