Chapter Twenty

~ Scotty ~

"This is the security keycard," Jake said as he handed it to me. "Don't lose that, but if you do, go to security. They can get you a new one. And don't worry, I've already told security not to let anyone up to your apartment without your express permission."

"Thanks for that."

"I am going to assign one of my men to be a driver and bodyguard for you for the next few weeks, at least until we know Cynthia isn't coming after you for sure."

"I don't have a car."

Jake smiled. "Don't worry. I have an extra car down in the parking garage. You can use that until you come up with something yourself." He shrugged nonchalantly. "You might not want to get a car. Driving in New York City can be a bit of a nightmare."

I reached back and rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah, a car might be a little ways off for me right now. I haven't even started working for you yet."

Jake patted my shoulder. "Not to worry. You've got the next week off so you can get your family settled. Work starts at nine o'clock next Monday morning, bright and early. You can ride in with me and Jai if you want."

"Are you sure it's okay to get me a job at your company, Jake? You haven't even interviewed me or anything. I could be horrible at what I do."

Jake's smile was weird. I'd say it was self satisfied, but I had no idea why he'd be smiling about that or even thinking that considering my statement.

"I have a friend that can get information on just about anything. I had him look into you. You were at the top of your class at the university before you had to leave and your work since then has been stellar. Your father was right to choose you to run his company. Cynthia didn't see that." Jake shrugged. "Or maybe she did and kept you in the lower ranks because she knew you'd outshine her."

My eyebrows lifted as surprise swept through me. "You had me investigated?"

"Friends are one thing, but business is business. If you had turned out to be a flake, I still would have helped you, but I wouldn't have given you a division head position in my accounting department."

Jaw drop.

"Division head?" I whispered. "You made me a division head?"

"Sure did." Jake patted my shoulder again. "You've got the experience and the qualifications for it. You deserve this position, Scotty, and I have no doubt that you'll do a wonderful job."

Jake had more faith in me than I did. It had been ten years since I had to leave the university. For him to have that much faith in me after all of this time was astounding.

"I appreciate all you've done for us, Jake. I'll pay you back someday, somehow."

"That's what frat brothers do for each other, Scotty. You know that."

"I do know that." We had all taken our oath of brotherhood seriously. We might not have been brothers by blood, but we had chosen to be brothers of the heart.

"Come on, let's get you upstairs to your apartment." Jake grabbed Jai's hand and led us toward the elevator.

"Wait, where's my father?"

"They had to use the freight elevator to take your father upstairs so I had Spencer and Fred, my head security guy, take him up and get him settled. I wanted to introduce you to the security crew before I took you upstairs so they would know your faces."

That was actually a really good idea.

The ride up in the elevator took just a few minutes. When we arrived on the fifth floor, Jake led me down to an apartment at the very end of the hallway.

"This is it," Jake said as he pushed the door open. "Welcome home."

I heard Beck's sharp inhale when we stepped into the fully furnished apartment. I wanted to say something, but my mind was blank. I couldn't think of a darn thing to say.

This wasn't an apartment. It was more like a condo, and it was decorated like a high end condo at that. I knew from my time around Cynthia that the furniture in this place was quality furniture.

But it wasn't just that. The decor of the whole place was understated, but elegant. Lots of wood colors and earth tones. There were several floor to ceiling windows on the far side of the room that drew my attention.

I walked over and glanced down at the scene outside the window, gasping. "Is that Central Park?"

"It is," Jake replied. "You have a small balcony here that wraps around to the master bedroom. It's just big enough for a table and a couple of chairs. Jai and I like to have our morning coffee out on ours, but being up this high takes a little getting used to, so be careful."

"This place is amazing, Jake."

"Jai furnished it for you, but if you want to change anything go right ahead. This is your place after all."

"How?" I asked as I tore my gaze away from the scenery and looked at him. "What's the rent on this place?"

A three bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park?

Could I afford that on my salary?

Jake grew serious in an instant. "I don't want you to worry about that right now. I own this apartment as well as several others in the building. I figure it's going to take you guys about six months to get settled and get on your feet. We'll discuss the rent then, okay?"

Was this guy for real?

"We can't live here rent free for six months. How is that fair to you, Jake?"

"Do you know who I called when Jai was in trouble?" Jake asked.

I shook my head.

"Miles."

Okay, that made sense. They worked together and lived in the same building. They had always been close friends, even when we were at the university.

"Do you know who he called when his husband was in trouble?"

"You?" I wondered.

"Me and Joe. And Joe called both of us when he had problems. Lucas called Miles, Alejandro called all of us, and so on. We all dropped whatever we were doing and came running, and we never once asked for payment, and do you know why?"

"Because we're frat brothers?"

It was just a guess.

"Because we are brothers, full stop. At any time, in any situation, I know that my brothers have my back. Right now, you need us to have your back." Jake grinned as he patted his shoulder yet again. "It's a no-brainer, brother."

I didn't know what to say to that. Jake was handing me a new life of freedom—one I could live with the love of my life and my father—on a silver platter all because of a couple of years we spent in the same frat house a decade ago.

"Thank you," I choked out.

There wasn't much else to say.

"You can thank me by living your best life." Jake's grin made me nervous. "And be there if another frat brother needs our help. We do tend to get mixed up in some weird shit."

I narrowed my eyes. "How weird?"

"You trying to get away from your stepmother? Small potatoes. My husband was sold to a mobster and I had to pay a million dollars to get him back."

Yeah, at this point, I was going to get a pillow and strap it to my chest so my jaw would have something to land on every time it became unhinged.

"You had to buy your husband back from a mobster?"

"Oh, yeah, and that was after giving Jai's family a hundred thousand dollar dowry." Jake's eyebrows lowered suddenly. "Strangely enough, I'm now pretty good friends with that mobster's grandson, who runs Manhattan for the Italian mafia by the way."

I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"After you get settled in, I'll call the guys and have them over. We can all sit around with a good bottle of scotch and tell you what life has been like for us in the last ten years. It's sure to turn your hair gray."

Again, I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"Look over there." Jake pointed to the imposing auburn haired man. "He runs Queens for the Irish. If you ever need some good booze, he's the man to talk to. He can get anything."

Why was I not surprised?

"His husband is a doctor. Spencer graduated from medical school at like twenty-one or something. Smart as a whip, but crazy as shit. My only word of advice, don't piss him off. He's crazier than the guy that runs Queens."

Noted.

Man, I couldn't believe my life now included mobsters. But, as weird as that was, they had to be better than Cynthia and Julia.

"I know you're all tired and need some down time so Jai arranged for dinner to be delivered. It should be in the kitchen. I've got one of my security guys posted outside your door so I want you to get plenty of rest. You are perfectly safe here, okay?"

I nodded absently because speaking just wasn't going to happen. I couldn't remember the last time I felt truly safe. There was a still a small sliver of concern in me, but not much. I knew Jake wouldn't let anything happen to us.

"Spencer and King are going to stay in the spare room for the night in case your father has any problems. Spencer will also check on him periodically through the night so you two can get some rest. We'll arrange a night nurse tomorrow."

"Beck is going to stay home and care for my father."

"Beck needs sleep, too," Jake said, "and until we know the true nature of your father's condition, its best to have someone with him at all times."

Yeah, that made sense.

"We're going to head out," Jake said as he grabbed Jai's hand and pulled the man to his side. "I'll give you a buzz around ten tomorrow morning. We can have coffee on our veranda."

"Sounds good." I smiled at how excited Jake sounded at that prospect. I really could use a rest, just a few minutes to sit and not think. I'd prefer to do it with Beck wrapped in my arms.

"We'll see you then."

I walked Jake and Jai to the door and then shut it behind them before going to find my husband and the others.

"Scotty, come eat," Beck said as I walked into the dining room. "Jai had food delivered. I don't know where from, but I want that phone number. This is delicious."

"Has Dad eaten?"

Spencer nodded. "He ate and I gave him something to help him sleep. He should be good until morning, but I'll check on him a couple of times during the night just to be sure."

"Thank you." That was what Jake had said he'd do.

I took a seat next to Beck and accepted the plate of food he held out to me. After a few bites, I couldn't keep my gaze from going to the imposing man sitting across the table from me.

When King saw me looking at him, he let out a small chuckle. "Yes, I'm a gangster."

"You're a mafia don, get it right." Spencer snorted. "Gangster sounds so thuggish."

King brought up Spencer's hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "Yes, my queen."

Uh...He did know Spencer was a guy, right? I mean, with that eyeliner, lipstick, and the red painted nails, he looked pretty enough to be a woman, but he was still a guy.

The conversation flowed pretty easily as we all ate. I made sure I stayed clear of asking about anything having to do with the mafia. King seemed nice enough, but I didn't know where his boundaries were. I had enough trouble without creating more.

"I really appreciate everything you're doing for my father." I wanted to make sure they knew how thankful I was. "He's been sick for a long time now and getting him away from my stepmother..." I shook my head, not sure how much more to say.

"She won't get to him or you," King replied. "I have a few of my men placed in the shadows around the area, keeping an eye out for your stepmother and Beck's sister. If they come here, we'll know."

"Why would you do that?" I asked. "You don't even know me."

"I might not have been one of your frat brothers," King said, "but I do understand the concepts of brotherhood and loyalty. Jake and your other frat brothers have been there for us when we needed them, no questions asked. How could we not do the same for one of you?"

I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat. I'd been gone for ten long years, and yet every single one of my frat brothers that I had called had stepped up, and even some of their friends.

I should have called sooner.

"I'm not a doctor or anything like that, but if you ever need an accountant, give me a call."

King chuckled. "I just might."

Yeah, that wasn't ominous at all.