Chapter Thirteen

Nora

Jack has too much on his plate, but the first priority is to see his father this morning and let him know that he's found John. As much as I don't like it, we take John with us. Jack promises me that his father won't harm him, but I have my reservations. As much as Julia had lied to all of us, her love for John had been absolute, so there must have been some truth to her story.

So far, all three brothers seem to love him, although at this point, I can't tell if I'm wrong. Not one of them has been completely alone with him for an extended period of time, and it's not like they would try anything dumb that quickly again.

The exterior of his mansion isn't as nice as Jack's, but it's still insanely gorgeous and it's the closest to the entryway gate, which explains why it was easier to take John that day. I don't know any of the details, and of course I won't ask since it's none of my business. The less I know, the better, and that's the way it is when you're a part of a mafia family.

"Don't be so nervous. He's going to sense it and try to use it against you," Jack says.

"I'm not worried about me. Don't want him to hurt John." He stops me from getting out of the SUV with his hand on my wrist.

"Look at me." I do, and he stares into my eyes with such a fierce dominance that I'm almost lost in them. "He can't, and won't, do a damn thing to John. It would give him away, and that's not something he'd risk. My father's a lot of things, but being a fool isn't one of them. Do you trust me?"

It's not even something I think twice about. "Yes."

"Good. Now get your sexy butt out of the car, and let's greet the old bastard." I step out and walk around the vehicle to where Jack is helping John out of his car seat. Once he's on his feet, we walk to the front door and ring the doorbell, and a man quickly answers.

"Hello, Thomas. I'm here to see my father." Thomas's eyes drop to John, and he gasps.

"Yes, but don't say anything. I want to surprise him." He nods, and Jack takes my hand.

"He's in the dining room, sir. Please follow me," Thomas says. We step in behind him, and I hold on to John's hand while Jack takes the lead. I see the almost six-foot, paunchy elder MacNamara sitting at the head of the table.

"Jack, you've returned. What are you doing here without a call?" I don't like that tone.

"I thought you'd like a special surprise." Jack steps aside and lifts John up.

"My son, my baby boy, my Evelyn's baby," he says, jumping out of the chair with such exuberance that I'm surprised. "You're alive," he continues and nearly reaches out to touch him, but John turns inward, curling into Jack's chest.

"It's been a long time since you saw him, and the last time was traumatic."

"It most certainly was," he snarls. Then he looks over at me. "What the fuck is a Fieri doing with you?"

"Watch what you say about Nora. She's been taking care of John."

"You brought my son's kidnapper into my house?"

"She didn't kidnap him."

"No, she just held on to him without turning him over to the police or to us for the past year, and you expect me to believe that she's not involved?"

Oh, hell, no. I've hated this man from the moment we met and he told me that he had plans after I bore one of his sons an heir. He'd use me like one of his whores and pass me to his friends. I want to rip his head off, but for now I'm going to give him a piece of my mind.

Stepping up to his face, I puff up my chest and square my shoulders. "Excuse me. You have a lot of nerve. I just did what was best for John—something you seem to have neglected for the past five years of his life."

"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" he questions, looking at me like I'm supposed to be intimidated. He has no idea the blade I hold over his head.

"I don't give a fuck who I'm talking to. So far, I've spoken to somebody who has always treated me extremely rudely. If it wasn't for me, John wouldn't be doing as well as he is or even be safe. So, you can think what you will, but I did what was best for him. And if you'd care to take notice, you'll see that he's grown in that past year."

"Yeah. All of a sudden he can do things that he couldn't do before because you were with him, and I'm supposed to believe that."

"It's true, Dad," Jack says.

"Maybe if you took the time to take your ego and put it away and focus on your child, then maybe you would have seen that he needed help. With all the money that you have, in a city with so many resources, he could have gotten the treatment he needed a long time ago. Children with autism flourish if they start young and get the assistance they need early on. He still has a chance to grow and embrace learning. If you're not so stubborn, he'll have a chance to have a semi-regular existence."

"I don't like your tone, young lady."

I scoff in his face, daring him because I've had enough of him. Suddenly all the fear I had at seventeen fades. The man I thought he was all those years ago seems to be worse than I imagined or exaggerated.

"Well, so far there's nothing I like about you."

He starts to raise his hand as if he was going to pop me in the face. "So help me God—if you put your hands on me, it will be the last motherfucking thing you do, old man. I don't take shit from men no matter how powerful they believe they are." I step back and glare at him, but it's the growl that comes from my side that causes him to step back.

Even though it appears Jack has no intention of acting, he moved John and had one hand in his suit jacket. "Chill out, Father. My fiancée is a little bit put out when you talk about John. She's worked very hard with him this past year, getting little to no sleep with him around."

"Fiancée? You're marrying her?" The bravado on his face fades.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"Of course it is a problem. We have no idea of her involvement."

"I know she's innocent." I love that he's sticking up for me with complete conviction and not letting this selfish prick change his mind. It hadn't occurred to me that it could be a possibility until now that we're standing in front of him, but these big brutes have a way of throwing their weight and power around.

"You can't be sure; it's just too convenient," he continues, glancing at me with a look of mistrust.

"Don't talk about convenience to me when you never wanted him around and then he disappeared." I storm off with Nora and John by the hand. "Come on. We're leaving."

We were in the vehicle within seconds. He wasn't wasting any time lingering at the house. Tension rolls off Jack like massive waves, and I'm afraid he's pissed at me. "I'm sorry I was so rude to your father."

"Don't worry about him. He's a blowhard that's trying to posture, but it's not going to work. By the way—we have a wedding to plan." I haven't forgotten about our arrangement. As much as I enjoy this passion between us, I remember that it's a temporary situation. I should ask about it, but I won't. There's too much going on to demand my freedom date. After all, I still have my home in Philly.

"Why isn't your dad fighting for John?"

"Because I already told him that if I found John again, he was mine and I wouldn't give him custody. Honestly, I think he prefers not having the responsibility of caring for him."

The second we got John down for a nap, the doorbell rings. Agnes goes to the entrance and opens the door. "Mr. MacNamara, what brings you here, sir?"

"I need to speak with my son."

"No, you don't," Jack snarls. "I'm pretty sure we just left your home, and there's nothing left to say."

"I want John back."

"That is tough shit because you weren't capable of taking care of him before."

"He's my son, not yours, and you don't have the right to him."

"Actually, when you were in the hospital, I was given power of attorney and I made sure to gain full custody of John. I'm the one who searched for him. Hell, you would have known that if you and your detective actually put any effort in your search."

"You're being difficult, Jack. I'll have my attorney look at the supposed custody documents."

"Go ahead. Now get out before you disturb John. Nora and I have a lot of wedding plans to make."

"When is this supposed wedding going to take place?"

"In two weeks."

"Does she know you refused to marry her before? She wasn't good enough because she's a Fieri. As you called them—trash." He's trying to needle me and put a wedge between Jack and me, but we've already discussed it, and I'm grateful that we had because it would have been a problem.

"Nice try with that, but we discussed the whole Fieri and MacNamara arranged marriage bit. Now—you heard my fiancé when he said to beat it."

"You better teach her to hold her tongue, Jack. She's going to be a problem."

"It's best if you leave."

"I'll be back with my lawyers." He turns around and leaves, slamming the door behind him.

"I'm sorry about him."

"Whatever." I walk over to the large picture window and watch to see if he drives away. He's gone, but the threat Julia mentioned still lingers in my mind. "Jack, did you ever find any of the other people involved?"

"No. It's strange; the only person I found was Joanne, which doesn't make any sense, and I'm not the one who found her."

"Who did?"

"Connor, but he got a tip from one of our guys who spotted her in town and then they tracked her down."

"That sounds pretty suspect. If she was running from you guys, why would she come back?" I already had a feeling in my heart, and it crushes me to the bone. She was leading them far away from John and me while sacrificing herself.

"Something is on your mind."

"Yes, it is. I don't know who else was involved in his kidnapping, but I do know that she was going to die of ALS, so she distracted you away from me."

"I wish things had worked out because I would have helped her with the medical treatment if she'd come to me in the first place."

"I don't know what her reasoning was. All I know is she said he wasn't safe with his family, and part of me still believes it."

"You don't believe any of my brothers would do anything, do you?" His mood darkens like I'm accusing his brothers of nefarious intent.

"No, I didn't say that."

"Good, because that's bullshit. They might not want kids right now, but they'd do anything to protect the family."

"Family includes your father?" I ask.

"Not anymore," he grunts.

"What does that mean?"

"Since our mother's death, we've had a strained relationship with him. We've all blamed him for her death."

"I'm sorry." I press my hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat intensify as I hold it there. I want to tell him about what his father said, but the way he's looking at me, I forget all about the bastard because my future husband will protect me.

"Miss Fieri, you better be careful with the way you're touching me. I might have to show you what it does to me."

"Momma," John cries out.

"Hold that thought, handsome." I kiss his jaw and tend to his little brother.